Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Gambia instead of South Korea, you would:

Health

live 15.4 years less

In South Korea, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Gambia, that number is 68 years (66 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.2 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gambia, that number is 10.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 94.8% less money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $42,300 as of 2020, while in Gambia, the GDP per capita is $2,200 as of 2020.

be 3.4 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Korea, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Gambia, however, that number is 48.6% as of 2015.

Life

have 4.2 times more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Gambia, there are 28.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

be 54.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Korea, approximately 11.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Gambia, 597.0 women do as of 2017.

be 48.2% less likely to be literate

In South Korea, the literacy rate is 98.0% as of 2019. In Gambia, it is 50.8% as of 2015.

be 13.0 times more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Gambia, on the other hand, 37.2 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 51.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In South Korea, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2020. In Gambia, 49% of the population do as of 2019.

be 61.9% less likely to have internet access

In South Korea, approximately 97.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Gambia, about 37.0% do as of 2020.

be 10.4% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Korea, approximately 100% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Gambia, 90% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 35.6% less on education

South Korea spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2018. Gambia spends 2.9% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 53.7% less on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Gambia, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2019.

Geography

see 96.7% less coastline

South Korea has a total of 2,413 km of coastline. In Gambia, that number is 80 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

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 South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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