Gambia (Republic of The Gambia)

Gambia Republic of The Gambia
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	153rd best
Capital	Banjul
Land Area	10 120km21
Location	Africa
Population	2.3m2
Life Expectancy	62.08yrs (2017)3
GNI	$2 172 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	GM, GMB, 2705
Internet Domain	.gm6
Currency	Dalasi (GMD)7
Telephone	+2208

1. Overview
2. Gambia National and Social Development
3. Gambia's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Gambia's Health
6. Gambia's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Gambia's Modernity and Learning
8. Gambia's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#senegal #UK

“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.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, contains a lot within its compact frame, attracting sun-seekers and birdwatchers and displaying a wealth of natural riches. This tiny sliver of land is wedged into surrounding Senegal, and is seen as a splinter in its side, or the tongue that makes it speak, depending on who you talk to. For many, The Gambia is a country with beaches that invite visitors to laze and linger on package tours. Its beaches and the adjacent resorts long ago became famous among sun-starved Europeans. But there´s more here than just sun and surf.

Small fishing villages, nature reserves and historic slaving stations are all within easy reach of the clamorous Atlantic resorts. Star-studded ecolodges and small wildlife parks dot the inland like a green belt around the coast, and among birdwatchers The Gambia is revered as one of Africa´s best and most accessible birding destinations - it lies on the main migratory path between Europe and Africa. On a leisurely river cruise, you´ll easily spot more than 100 species while your pirogue (traditional canoe) charts an unhurried course through mangrove-lined wetlands and lush gallery forests.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Gambia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
171	Djibouti	0.509
172	Sudan	0.508
173	Madagascar	0.501
174	Gambia	0.500
175	Ethiopia	0.498
176	Eritrea	0.492
177	Guinea-Bissau	0.483
178	Liberia	0.481
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
171	Ethiopia	$2 361
172	Rwanda	$2 210
173	Uganda	$2 181
174	Gambia	$2 172
175	Togo	$2 167
176	Mali	$2 133
177	Burkina Faso	$2 118
178	Guinea-Bissau	$1 908
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	27.0
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.8
	...
150	Nigeria	111.6
151	Benin	111.7
152	Zambia	111.8
153	Gambia	111.9
154	Micronesia	112.3
155	Somaliland	112.4
156	Togo	112.4
157	Malawi	112.7
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Gambia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

The Gambia's population is predicted to rise to 2.818 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.59. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
139	Lithuania	2.8m
140	Qatar	2.8m
141	Namibia	2.4m
142	Gambia	2.3m
143	Botswana	2.3m
144	Gabon	2.1m
145	Lesotho	2.1m
146	Macedonia	2.1m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
163	Uganda	62.7
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
193	Uganda	4.47
194	Afghanistan	4.52
195	Mozambique	4.56
196	Gambia	4.59
197	Tanzania	4.66
198	Burkina Faso	4.67
199	Benin	4.90
200	Burundi	4.98
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
3=	Burkina Faso	04.7
5	Sierra Leone	04.8
6=	Zambia	04.8
7	Eritrea	04.9
8=	Gambia	04.9
9	Angola	05.0
10=	Afghanistan	05.0
10=	Zimbabwe	05.0
12	Nigeria	05.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
57	Greece	10.9%
58	Malta	10.6%
59	Italy	10.0%
60	Gambia	9.8%
61	Dominica	9.2%
62	Serbia	9.1%
63	Ivory Coast	9.0%
64	Malaysia	8.5%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
126	Panama	4.0%
127	Norway	3.8%
128	Bahrain	3.7%
129	Gambia	3.7%
130	Chile	3.7%
131	Peru	3.7%
132	Czechia	3.6%
133	Mauritania	3.5%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gambia #gambia_human_rights #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
131	China	107.2
132	Mozambique	107.6
133	Indonesia	107.7
134	Gambia	108.1
135	Sierra Leone	108.4
136	Kuwait	108.4
	Africa Avg	110.04
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

The Gambia is generally poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world. The Gambia does better than average when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₁₉ (one of the highest in Africa), supporting press freedom₂₀ and in freethought₂₁. But unfortunately The Gambia gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average for eliminating modern slavery₂₂ (still low for Africa), its average Freedom in the World rating (still good for Africa), its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₄ and in LGBT equality₂₅. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in opposing gender inequality₂₆. Human rights in Gambia have greatly improved from 2017, since President Yahya Jammeh has been replaced with Adama Barrow and an era of authoritarian abuse is ending.₂₇. Widespread reforms in multiple sectors have been instigated to support human rights, strengthen the judiciary and ensure media freedom₂₇. There is still a lot of work to do.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Gambia

5. Gambia's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #gambia #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Tunisia	69.2
2	Mauritius	69.2
3	Seychelles	84.8
	...
17	Mauritania	140.8
18	Comoros	141.5
19	Namibia	141.7
20	Gambia	141.9
21	Gabon	142.7
22	Senegal	144.7
23	Sudan	144.7
24	Swaziland	145.2
25	Burundi	145.3
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
172	Mauritania	140.8
173	Comoros	141.5
174	Namibia	141.7
175	Gambia	141.9
176	Gabon	142.7
177	Senegal	144.7
178	Sudan	144.7
179	Swaziland	145.2
	World Avg	96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria₂₉.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans₂₉, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₂₉.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

The Gambia has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. The Gambia does better than average in its smoking rate₃₀, its immunizations take-up₃₁ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₂. The Gambia doesn't do so well in other areas. The Gambia does worse than average in terms of its adolescent birth rate₃₃ (still low for Africa) and in its average life expectancy₁₁. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to its fertility rate₁₄. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Gambia in 1990 was 51.3yrs, lower than the global average of 64.6. It improved by +12.4yrs in the 30 years from then, much better than the global average of +7.9yrs. The Gambia's peak fertility rate was 6.43 in 1976.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
163	Uganda	62.7
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better32
Pos.		2016 Per Capita32
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
62	Mauritius	3.6
63	Malawi	3.7
64=	El Salvador	3.8
64=	Gambia	3.8
64=	Israel	3.8
64=	UAE	3.8
68	N. Korea	3.9
69	Honduras	4.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
193	Uganda	4.47
194	Afghanistan	4.52
195	Mozambique	4.56
196	Gambia	4.59
197	Tanzania	4.66
198	Burkina Faso	4.67
199	Benin	4.90
200	Burundi	4.98
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better30
Pos.		201430
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
33	Bhutan	155
34	Chad	156
35	Zambia	165
36	Gambia	166
37	Paraguay	166
38	Nigeria	173
39	Guinea-Bissau	175
40	Central African Rep.	178
	Africa Avg	340
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Overweight Adults Lower is better34
Pos.		2016 %34
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
48=	Liberia	30.9
49	Ivory Coast	31.6
50	Singapore	31.8
51	Gambia	31.9
52	Ghana	32.0
53=	China	32.3
53=	Mauritius	32.3
55	N. Korea	32.4
	Africa Avg	33.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better33
Pos.		2022 Per 100033
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
135	Marshall Islands	57.5
136	Colombia	57.6
137	Solomon Islands	59.4
138	Gambia	60.7
139	S. Africa	60.9
140	Iraq	61.2
141	Ecuador	62.1
142	Kenya	62.6
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better31
Pos.		2015 Avg %31
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
60	Turkey	95.5
61	Malta	95.5
62	Botswana	95.4
63	Gambia	95.4
64	Cyprus	95.3
65	Switzerland	95.3
66	Israel	95.2
67=	Grenada	95.2
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Gambia was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19); in the 2000s it saw serious improvements, but it was still amongst only 37 countries that still fell into the same grouping.

6. Gambia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #gambia #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)35
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank35
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
14	Ethiopia	61.7
15	Cameroon	62.6
16	Burkina Faso	63.1
17	Gambia	63.3
18	Senegal	63.4
19	Lesotho	66.1
20	Guinea	67.1
21	Ivory Coast	70.8
22	Togo	71.1
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)35
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank35
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
38	Jordan	63.1
39	Ireland	63.1
40	Burkina Faso	63.1
41	Gambia	63.3
42	Senegal	63.4
43	Hong Kong	64.6
44	Cyprus	64.8
45	Dominican Rep.	65.0
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

The Gambia is 41st in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 5 data sets. The Gambia does better than average in terms of energy to GDP efficiency₃₆, reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₇ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. But, there's bad news too. The Gambia does worse than average in its environmental performance₃₈. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of its forested percent change 2000-2020₃₉.

Environmental Performance Higher is better38
Pos.		201838
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
153	Laos	42.9
154	Burkina Faso	42.8
155	Sierra Leone	42.5
156	Gambia	42.4
157	Congo, (Brazzaville)	42.4
158	Bosnia & Herzegovina	41.8
159	Togo	41.8
160	Liberia	41.6
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better36
Pos.		2022 Avg36
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
19	Switzerland	0.55
20	Nepal	0.55
21	Burkina Faso	0.55
22	Gambia	0.55
23	Philippines	0.57
24	Cameroon	0.57
25	Ivory Coast	0.57
26	Kenya	0.58
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
48	Niger	67%
49	Pakistan	67%
50	Liechtenstein	66%
51	Gambia	66%
52	Hungary	66%
53	Azerbaijan	66%
54	New Zealand	66%
55	Spain	66%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Meat Consumption Lower is better37
Pos.		2021 kg37
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
25	Djibouti	14.8
26	Benin	15.6
27	Guinea	16.7
28	Gambia	16.7
29	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	17.2
30	Nepal	17.3
31	Solomon Islands	17.4
32	Syria	17.8
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Gambia's Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #corruption #economics #education #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #life_expectancy #modernity #peace #politics #poverty #research #science #social_development #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)40
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank40
1	S. Africa	56.9
2	Tunisia	70.8
3=	Mauritius	79.6
	...
42	Mauritania	147.0
43	Djibouti	148.0
44	Burundi	148.5
45=	Gambia	155.6
46	Equatorial Guinea	156.7
47	Central African Rep.	160.3
48	Chad	162.1
49	Niger	164.1
50	Guinea	164.6
	Africa Avg	120.19
q=53.

Modernity & Learning (2020)40
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank40
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
178	Burundi	148.5
179	Solomon Islands	154.5
180=	Haiti	155.6
180=	Gambia	155.6
182	Equatorial Guinea	156.7
183	Papua New Guinea	158.4
184	Central African Rep.	160.3
185	Chad	162.1
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₁. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₁. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₂.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₃

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₁, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₁.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2944
2	Israel	4.1144
3	Japan	3.5844
	...
101	Albania	0.1545
102	Namibia	0.1446
103=	Georgia	0.1347
103=	Gambia	0.1348
105	Tajikistan	0.1249
106=	Burundi	0.1248
107	Madagascar	0.1148
108=	Philippines	0.1150
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better51
Pos.		201851
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
130	Guatemala	37.8%
131	Pakistan	37.2%
132	Cameroon	37.2%
133	Gambia	36.8%
134	Nepal	35.9%
135	Kenya	35.2%
136	Honduras	33.5%
137	Haiti	33.2%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better52
Pos.		2021 Years52
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
174	Haiti	9.7
175	Ethiopia	9.7
176	Sierra Leone	9.6
177	Gambia	9.4
178	Tuvalu	9.4
179	Mauritania	9.4
180	Tanzania	9.2
181	Syria	9.2
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

IQ Higher is better53
Pos.		200653
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
127=	Guinea	67
127=	Liberia	67
127=	Haiti	67
130	Gambia	66
131=	Zimbabwe	66
131=	Senegal	66
133	Sierra Leone	64
134=	Mozambique	64
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better54
Pos.		201654
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
160	Nepal	17%
161=	Mauritania	17%
161=	S. Sudan	17%
163	Gambia	17%
164	Laos	16%
165	Namibia	16%
166	Turkmenistan	15%
167	Bangladesh	13%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

8. Gambia's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #corruption #culture #economics #equality #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #peace #politics #poverty #social_development

Compared to Africa (2020)55
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank55
1	Mauritius	48.3
2	Sao Tome & Principe	67.7
3	Tunisia	74.9
	...
32	Swaziland	103.2
33=	Guinea	103.4
34	Djibouti	103.6
35	Gambia	104.9
36	Niger	106.1
37	Cameroon	109.9
38	Mozambique	110.1
39	Zimbabwe	110.9
40	Mali	115.6
	Africa Avg	101.84
q=53.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)55
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank55
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
148=	Iran	103.4
148=	Guinea	103.4
150	Djibouti	103.6
151	Gambia	104.9
152	Tonga	105.3
153	Lebanon	105.4
154	Myanmar (Burma)	105.7
155	Niger	106.1
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture:

On the Corruption Index, Gambia scored on average 29 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 5 points.

Corruption Higher is better56
Pos.		2022 Points56
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
107	Ecuador	36.0
108=	Kazakhstan	36.0
108=	Thailand	36.0
110	Gambia	34.0
111=	Sierra Leone	34.0
111=	Malawi	34.0
111=	Indonesia	34.0
111=	Bosnia & Herzegovina	34.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better57
Pos.		2024 Score57
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
114	Mauritania	4.5
115	Kenya	4.5
116	Uganda	4.5
117	Gambia	4.4
118	India	4.4
119	Chad	4.4
120	Burkina Faso	4.4
121	Benin	4.4
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Gambia only had World Happiness Index data in the 2010s from 2018, so it's average for the 2010s may be skewed.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better58
Pos.		2023 Score58
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
56	Namibia	1.86
57	Moldova	1.87
58	Chile	1.87
59	Gambia	1.89
60	Greece	1.89
61	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.89
62	Jordan	1.90
63	Zambia	1.90
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better59
Pos.		201959
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
155	Uganda	27.20
156	Sudan	27.40
157	Afghanistan	28.30
158=	Gambia	28.50
158=	Burundi	28.50
160	Comoros	28.90
161=	Liberia	29.80
161=	Mozambique	29.80
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better60
Pos.		2023 %60
1	Slovakia	24.1%61
2	Slovenia	24.3%61
3	Belarus	24.4%62
	...
109=	Samoa	38.7%63
109=	Kenya	38.7%61
111	El Salvador	38.8%64
112=	Gambia	38.8%62
112=	Laos	38.8%65
114	Bulgaria	39.0%61
115	Tuvalu	39.1%66
116	Suriname	39.2%64
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Gambia - only for 4 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better67
Pos.		2018 Severity67
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
80	Tanzania	.273
81	Sudan	.279
82	Angola	.282
83	Gambia	.286
84	Senegal	.288
85	Nigeria	.291
86	Sierra Leone	.297
87	Liberia	.320
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)68
Pos.		Higher is better %68
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
110=	Guinea	0
110=	Ghana	0
110=	Jordan	0
110=	Gambia	0
110=	Kenya	0
110=	Ethiopia	0
110=	Afghanistan	0
110=	Egypt	0
110=	Liberia	0
110=	Libya	0
110=	Ivory Coast	0
110=	Pakistan	0
110=	Niger	0
110=	Saudi Arabia	0
110=	Rwanda	0
110=	Cameroon	0
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₆₉:

Christian	4.5%
Muslim	95.1%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%₇₀.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₇₁, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for The Gambia states:

“Article 25 of the Constitution protects the rights of citizens to follow any religion or belief that they choose. The government has not established a state religion, although the constitution establishes Qadi (Muslim judge trained in the Islamic legal tradition) courts in such places as the chief justice determines. Their jurisdiction applies only to marriage, divorce, and inheritance questions for Muslims where they apply traditional Islamic law. The Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) is an independent body that advises the government on religious issues. Although the government does not have representation on the council, it provided the council with substantial funding₇₂. The minister of religious affairs maintains a formal relationship with the council. Government meetings and events typically commenced with two prayers, one Islamic and one Christian.

The government funds religious instruction in schools. Public and private schools throughout the country provide Biblical and Qur'anic studies with government support.”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₇₃

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?