If you lived in Gambia instead of Senegal, you would:

Health

be 28.8% less likely to die by suicide

Senegal has a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gambia, it is 4.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 4.3 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Senegal, 0.3% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2024.

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live 2.9 years less

In Senegal, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024. In Gambia, that number is 66 years (64 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 54.2% less spent on your healthcare

Senegal spends $206 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gambia spends $94 as of 2023.

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have 17.4% fewer doctors per person

Senegal has 1.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Gambia has 0.9 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 2.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Senegal, 2.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gambia, that number is 6.5% as of 2025.

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be 42.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Senegal, 37.5% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Gambia, however, that number is 53.4% as of 2020.

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make 53.0% less money

Senegal has a GDP per capita of $1,955 as of 2025, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $919 as of 2025.

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Life

be 49.4% more likely to die during childbirth

In Senegal, approximately 237.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Gambia, 354.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 13.1% more likely to die during infancy

In Senegal, approximately 28.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Gambia, on the other hand, 32.7 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 17.7% less likely to have internet access

In Senegal, approximately 60.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gambia, about 49.5% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 54.4% less on education

Senegal spends 6.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Gambia spends 2.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 33.1% less on healthcare

Senegal spends 4.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Gambia, that number is 2.9% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 84.9% less coastline

Senegal has a total of 531 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

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Infrastructure

live with 86.4% less strain on fresh water

Senegal withdraws 16% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gambia withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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find 87.1% less home broadband

Senegal has 4.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Gambia has 0.5 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 76.6% less CO2

Senegal emits 0.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gambia emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 38.5% more likely to die from air pollution

In Senegal, air pollution causes 65.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gambia, it causes 90.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). How we calculate this

Gambia: At a glance

Gambia is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 10,120 sq km. The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.
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How big is Gambia compared to Senegal? See an in-depth size comparison.

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