Moving to Belgium from Gambia

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Gambia to Belgium — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Gambia to Belgium, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brussels averages 57°F vs 90°F in Banjul, making it significantly cooler.

Get free moving quotes to Belgium

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Gambia to Belgium, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
98 ↓ 31% vs 2022

people moved from Gambia to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Belgium?

Top countries of origin for Belgium's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Gambia to Belgium.

Is it safe?

Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

GM
59%
BE
62%
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GM
22.0
BE
4.6

Belgium performs significantly better than Gambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GM
$94
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GM
1.0
BE
63.9

Gambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GM
90.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GM
0.2t
BE
7.3t

Gambia generally does better on environment, though Belgium leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GM
0.2
BE
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GM
2.2%
BE
51.9%

Gambia generally does better on infrastructure, though Belgium leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GM
6.5%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GM
$2,900
BE
$63,600

Belgium performs significantly better than Gambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GM
67.6 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GM
37.2
BE
3.2

Belgium performs significantly better than Gambia across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Banjul Rain: 32.3 in/yr (821 mm)
90° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Banjul Brussels
Jan–Mar 91°/65°F (33°/19°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 89°/70°F (32°/21°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 92°/71°F (33°/22°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Banjul Brussels
Jan 90°/64°F (32.4°/17.9°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 92°/65°F (33.2°/18.3°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.6°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 89°/68°F (31.8°/19.9°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 89°/70°F (31.6°/21.0°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 90°/72°F (32.4°/22.4°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 89°/74°F (31.8°/23.2°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.4°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 92°/75°F (33.5°/23.9°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 93°/71°F (34.0°/21.6°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.7°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Department of Water Resources Department of Water Resources, Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Gambia and Belgium. To live, work, or study long-term in Belgium, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belgium's immigration authority.

Gambia passport

Gambia passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Required
Gambia passport holders need a visa to enter Belgium.
Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Gambia

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Gambia without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Belgium?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Belgium has 43.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Belgium safe for expats?

Belgium performs significantly better than Gambia across all safety metrics. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Gambia?

Gambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 1.0 in Gambia. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Gambia: 46).

What's the weather like in Belgium compared to Gambia?

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 90°F in Banjul. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Banjul gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Gambia, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

GM BE
Population 2,413,403 11,847,338
Currency Gambian Dalasi (GMD) Euro (€)
Languages English Dutch, French, German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +220 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112