Moving to Turkey from Gambia

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Gambia to Turkey — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Gambia to Turkey, and you’d need to navigate life in Turkish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ankara averages 64°F vs 90°F in Banjul, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Turkey

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?

Real numbers on people moving from Gambia to Turkey, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2022
162 ↓ 69% vs 2021

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

Who's moving to Turkey?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Gambia and Turkey stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

GM
59%
TR
61%
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GM
22.0
TR
6.5

Turkey 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
TR
$1,769
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

GM
1.0
TR
21.7

Turkey generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Gambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GM
90.0
TR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GM
0.2t
TR
5.4t

Gambia generally does better on environment, though Turkey 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
TR
22.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GM
2.2%
TR
43.4%

Turkey generally does better on infrastructure, though Gambia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GM
6.5%
TR
9.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GM
$2,900
TR
$34,400

Turkey generally does better on employment & economy, though Gambia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GM
67.6 yrs
TR
76.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GM
37.2
TR
19.4

Turkey 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

Ankara Rain: 15.0 in/yr (382 mm)
64° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Banjul Ankara
Jan–Mar 91°/65°F (33°/19°C) 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 89°/70°F (32°/21°C) 72°/48°F (22°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) 83°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 92°/71°F (33°/22°C) 55°/37°F (13°/3°C)
View all months
Month Banjul Ankara
Jan 90°/64°F (32.4°/17.9°C) 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C)
Feb 92°/65°F (33.2°/18.3°C) 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C)
Mar 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.6°C) 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C)
Apr 89°/68°F (31.8°/19.9°C) 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C)
May 89°/70°F (31.6°/21.0°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C)
Jun 90°/72°F (32.4°/22.4°C) 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C)
Jul 89°/74°F (31.8°/23.2°C) 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C)
Aug 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.4°C) 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C)
Sep 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C)
Oct 92°/75°F (33.5°/23.9°C) 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C)
Nov 93°/71°F (34.0°/21.6°C) 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C)
Dec 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.7°C) 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C)

Data: Department of Water Resources Department of Water Resources, Turkish State Meteorological Service Turkish State Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Gambia passport

Gambia passport holder visiting Turkey

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Gambia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Turkey.
Turkey passport

Turkey passport holder visiting Gambia

Visa Free
Turkey 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 Turkey?

With 22.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Turkey can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Gambia and Turkey.

Is Turkey safe for expats?

Turkey performs significantly better than Gambia across all safety metrics. About 61% of people in Turkey feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Turkey compared to Gambia?

Turkey generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Gambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Turkey, compared to 1.0 in Gambia. Turkey scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Gambia: 46).

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

The average high temperature in Ankara is 64°F, compared to 90°F in Banjul. Ankara receives around 15.0 in of rainfall per year, while Banjul gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Turkey?

The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In Gambia, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

GM TR
Population 2,413,403 83,047,706
Currency Gambian Dalasi (GMD) Turkish Lira (TRY)
Languages English Turkish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +220 +90
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112