The Human Truth Foundation

Gambia (Republic of The Gambia)

https://www.humantruth.info/gambia.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#gambia

Gambia
Republic of The Gambia
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index174th best
CapitalBanjul
Land Area 10 120km21
LocationAfrica
Population2.3m2
Life Expectancy62.08yrs (2017)3
GNI$2 172 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesGM, GMB, 2705
Internet Domain.gm6
CurrencyDalasi (GMD)7
Telephone+2208

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

Book CoverThe 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
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
171Djibouti0.509
172Sudan0.508
173Madagascar0.501
174Gambia0.500
175Ethiopia0.498
176Eritrea0.492
177Guinea-Bissau0.483
178Liberia0.481
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
171Ethiopia$2 361
172Rwanda$2 210
173Uganda$2 181
174Gambia$2 172
175Togo$2 167
176Mali$2 133
177Burkina Faso$2 118
178Guinea-Bissau$1 908
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
171Guinea118.8
172Liberia118.9
173Burundi120.8
174Gambia121.1
175Zimbabwe121.4
176Iraq121.9
177Niger122.3
178Congo, (Brazzaville)122.4
Africa Avg112.4
World Avg87.9
q=196.

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 #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

The Gambia's population is predicted to rise to 2.818 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.73. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., 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, 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.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
139Lithuania2.8m
140Qatar2.8m
141Namibia2.4m
142Gambia2.3m
143Botswana2.3m
144Gabon2.1m
145Lesotho2.1m
146Macedonia2.1m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
163Uganda62.7
164S. Africa62.3
165Djibouti62.3
166Gambia62.1
167Afghanistan62.0
168Burundi61.7
169Angola61.6
170Togo61.6
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
153Iraq4.57
154Kenya4.64
155Senegal4.65
156Gambia4.73
157Mozambique4.75
158Comoros4.78
159Sierra Leone4.78
160Guinea-Bissau4.92
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
3=Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
6=Zambia04.8
7Eritrea04.9
8=Gambia04.9
9Angola05.0
10=Afghanistan05.0
10=Zimbabwe05.0
12Nigeria05.1
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
57Greece10.9%
58Malta10.6%
59Italy10.0%
60Gambia9.8%
61Dominica9.2%
62Serbia9.1%
63Ivory Coast9.0%
64Malaysia8.5%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
126Panama4.0%
127Norway3.8%
128Bahrain3.7%
129Gambia3.7%
130Chile3.7%
131Peru3.7%
132Czechia3.6%
133Mauritania3.5%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

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

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
148Guinea116.5
149Ethiopia116.7
150Guinea-Bissau117.0
151Gambia117.2
152Liberia117.8
153Qatar119.2
Africa Avg108.2
World Avg87.9
q=199.
The Gambia is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. The Gambia does better than average in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports18 (amongst the highest in Africa) and in freethought19. But that's it. The Gambia has problems. It does worse than average for its nominal commitment to Human Rights20, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms21, speed of uptake of HR treaties22, supporting press freedom23 and in LGBT equality24. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for opposing gender inequality25. 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.26. Widespread reforms in multiple sectors have been instigated to support human rights, strengthen the judiciary and ensure media freedom26. There is still a lot of work to do.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Gambia's Health

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

Compared to Africa (2020)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Mauritius64.5
2Morocco73.1
3=Eritrea77.0
...
12Djibouti95.7
13Cape Verde97.3
14Seychelles97.3
15Gambia101.3
16=Egypt101.8
16=Ghana101.8
18Comoros102.1
19=Guinea104.5
19=Malawi104.5
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Health (2020)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
121=Azerbaijan100.0
122Colombia100.3
123Syria101.3
124Gambia101.3
125Honduras101.4
126Moldova101.5
127=Ghana101.8
127=Egypt101.8
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives28. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau28.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are 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, Asia and The Mediterranean28, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa28.

For more, see:

Health:

The Gambia has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. The Gambia does better than average when it comes to its smoking rate29, its immunizations take-up30 and in its alcohol consumption rate31. The Gambia doesn't do so well in other areas. The Gambia does worse than average in its fertility rate13 and in its average life expectancy11. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its adolescent birth rate25. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. 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.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
163Uganda62.7
164S. Africa62.3
165Djibouti62.3
166Gambia62.1
167Afghanistan62.0
168Burundi61.7
169Angola61.6
170Togo61.6
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
31
Pos.2016
Per Capita31
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
62Mauritius3.6
63Malawi3.7
64=El Salvador3.8
64=Gambia3.8
64=Israel3.8
64=UAE3.8
68N. Korea3.9
69Honduras4.0
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
153Iraq4.57
154Kenya4.64
155Senegal4.65
156Gambia4.73
157Mozambique4.75
158Comoros4.78
159Sierra Leone4.78
160Guinea-Bissau4.92
Africa Avg4.31
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
29
Pos.201429
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
33Bhutan 155
34Chad 156
35Zambia 165
36Gambia 166
37Paraguay 166
38Nigeria 173
39Guinea-Bissau 175
40Central African Rep. 178
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
32
Pos.2016
%32
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
48=Liberia30.9
49Ivory Coast31.6
50Singapore31.8
51Gambia31.9
52Ghana32.0
53=China32.3
53=Mauritius32.3
55N. Korea32.4
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
25
Pos.2015
Per 100025
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
169Zimbabwe109.7
170Nigeria110.6
171Uganda111.9
172Gambia113.0
173Madagascar116.2
174Congo, (Brazzaville)117.7
175Sierra Leone118.2
176Tanzania118.6
Africa Avg87.5
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
30
Pos.2015
Avg %30
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
60Turkey95.5
61Malta95.5
62Botswana95.4
63Gambia95.4
64Cyprus95.3
65Switzerland95.3
66Israel95.2
67=Grenada95.2
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Gambia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

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

Compared to Africa (2023)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Seychelles55.3
2Kenya57.4
3=Zambia57.6
...
15Ghana76.2
16Chad79.5
17=Mozambique81.0
18Gambia82.0
19=Cameroon82.0
20Djibouti82.3
21=Sudan83.5
21=Tanzania83.5
23Benin85.8
Africa Avg90.1
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
81=Mozambique81.0
81=Dominican Rep.81.0
83Belarus81.5
84=Gambia82.0
84=Cameroon82.0
86Belgium82.2
87Djibouti82.3
88Ireland82.4
World Avg85.7
q=188.
The Gambia is 84th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 4 data sets. The Gambia does better than average in annual meat consumption per person34 and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. The Gambia does worse than average in terms of its environmental performance35. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its forested percent change 2000-202036.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
36
Pos.Total36
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
227Uganda-28.0%
228St Pierre & Miquelon-29.1%
229Malawi-29.4%
230Paraguay-32.6%
231Chad-35.0%
232Gambia-35.2%
233Nicaragua-41.1%
234Ivory Coast-50.6%
Africa Avg-8.7%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.

From 2000 to 2010, Gambia destroyed 16% of its forest cover, the 3rd-worse proportional loss in the world in that decade, and then by 2020, destroyed another 19%, falling to just 243 thousand hectares.

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
35
Pos.201835
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
153Laos42.9
154Burkina Faso42.8
155Sierra Leone42.5
156Gambia42.4
157Congo, (Brazzaville)42.4
158Bosnia & Herzegovina41.8
159Togo41.8
160Liberia41.6
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
60Egypt1994 Aug 31
61UK1994 Sep 01
62Chad1994 Sep 05
63Gambia1994 Sep 08
64Micronesia1994 Sep 18
65Malaysia1994 Sep 22
66Benin1994 Sep 28
67France1994 Sep 29
Africa Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
34
Pos.2021
kg34
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
25Djibouti14.8
26Benin15.6
27Guinea16.7
28Gambia16.7
29Timor-Leste (E. Timor)17.2
30Nepal17.3
31Solomon Islands17.4
32Syria17.8
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Gambia's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #modernity #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1S. Africa52.8
2Egypt70.4
3Tunisia73.4
...
41Burundi139.0
42Madagascar142.5
43Benin143.3
44Gambia144.0
45Central African Rep.146.3
46Equatorial Guinea149.3
47Chad150.6
48Niger151.0
49Guinea157.5
Africa Avg120.7
q=53.
Modernity & Learning (2020)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
188Madagascar142.5
189Kiribati143.0
190Benin143.3
191Gambia144.0
192Cambodia144.6
193Central African Rep.146.3
194Tuvalu148.0
195Equatorial Guinea149.3
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2938
2Israel4.1138
3Japan3.5838
...
101Albania0.1539
102Namibia0.1440
103=Georgia0.1341
103=Gambia0.1342
105Tajikistan0.1243
106=Burundi0.1242
107Madagascar0.1142
108=Philippines0.1144
Africa Avg0.36
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
45
Pos.201845
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
130Guatemala37.8%
131Pakistan37.2%
132Cameroon37.2%
133Gambia36.8%
134Nepal35.9%
135Kenya35.2%
136Honduras33.5%
137Haiti33.2%
Africa Avg34.4%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
46
Pos.2021
Years46
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
174Haiti9.7
175Ethiopia9.7
176Sierra Leone9.6
177Gambia9.4
178Tuvalu9.4
179Mauritania9.4
180Tanzania9.2
181Syria9.2
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.
IQ
Higher is better47
Pos.200647
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
127=Guinea67
127=Liberia67
127=Haiti67
130Gambia66
131=Zimbabwe66
131=Senegal66
133Sierra Leone64
134=Mozambique64
Africa Avg70.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
48
Pos.201648
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
160Nepal17%
161=Mauritania17%
161=S. Sudan17%
163Gambia17%
164Laos16%
165Namibia16%
166Turkmenistan15%
167Bangladesh13%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.

8. National Culture

#corruption #politics

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 better
49
Pos.2022
Points49
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
107Ecuador36.0
108=Kazakhstan36.0
108=Thailand36.0
110Gambia34.0
111=Sierra Leone34.0
111=Malawi34.0
111=Indonesia34.0
111=Bosnia & Herzegovina34.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#human_development #peace #politics

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
50
Pos.2023
Score50
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
56Namibia1.86
57Moldova1.87
58Chile1.87
59Gambia1.89
60Greece1.89
61Bosnia & Herzegovina1.89
62Jordan1.90
63Zambia1.90
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better51
Pos.201951
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
155Uganda27.20
156Sudan27.40
157Afghanistan28.30
158=Gambia28.50
158=Burundi28.50
160Comoros28.90
161=Liberia29.80
161=Mozambique29.80
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
52
Pos.2017
%52
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
65Australia35.8
66=Mauritius35.8
67Romania35.9
68=Gambia35.9
69Greece36.0
70Spain36.2
71Laos36.4
72Thailand36.5
Africa Avg42.6
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
53
Pos.2018
Severity53
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
80Tanzania.273
81Sudan.279
82Angola.282
83Gambia.286
84Senegal.288
85Nigeria.291
86Sierra Leone.297
87Liberia.320
Africa Avg.264
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

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

Disbelief In God (2007)54
Pos.Higher is better
%54
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
110=Guinea0
110=Ghana0
110=Jordan0
110=Gambia0
110=Kenya0
110=Ethiopia0
110=Afghanistan0
110=Egypt0
110=Liberia0
110=Libya0
110=Ivory Coast0
110=Pakistan0
110=Niger0
110=Saudi Arabia0
110=Rwanda0
110=Cameroon0
World Avg9.9
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 below55:

Christian4.5%
Muslim95.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%56.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)57, 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 funding58. 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)59

Links: