Gambia vs Lesotho
Gambia and Lesotho compared on 142 measures that both have. Each pair of values is for the same period, the latest one with data for both countries, so the year can differ from one row to the next.
Where Gambia and Lesotho differ most
- Clean cooking access, 2024: Gambia 3.0%, Lesotho 58.0% (19.3 times as high)
- Forest area, 2024: Gambia 21.3%, Lesotho 1.1% (18.8 times as high)
- Tertiary education enrolment (gross), 2012: Gambia 1.2%, Lesotho 10.9% (9.2 times as high)
- Manufacturing share of GDP, 2024: Gambia 1.5%, Lesotho 12.1% (8.3 times as high)
- Alcohol consumption, 2024: Gambia 0.37 litres, Lesotho 2.90 litres (7.8 times as high)
Measures where one value is the largest multiple of the other, among measures with positive values. Totals such as population, index values and growth rates are left out, because their size says little about the difference.
Population and ageing
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population estimates and projections people |
2,697,846 people | 2,311,472 people | +16.7% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Median age estimates and projections years |
18.2 years | 21.4 years | −15.2% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Fertility rate estimates and projections live births per woman |
4.01 births per woman | 2.69 births per woman | +48.7% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Population growth estimates and projections % per year |
2.30% | 1.12% | +1.18 percentage points | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Population people |
2,822,093 people | 2,363,325 people | +19.4% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population growth annual % change |
2.23% | 1.10% | +1.12 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population aged 65 and over % of total population |
3.2% | 3.9% | −0.7 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population aged 0 to 14 % of total population |
39.7% | 34.1% | +5.6 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Fertility rate births per woman |
3.91 births per woman | 2.66 births per woman | +46.7% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Crude birth rate births per 1,000 people |
29.9 per 1,000 people | 23.8 per 1,000 people | +6.1 per 1,000 people | 2024 | World Bank |
| Crude death rate deaths per 1,000 people |
6.2 per 1,000 people | 10.5 per 1,000 people | −4.2 per 1,000 people | 2024 | World Bank |
| Urban population share % of total population |
65.0% | 44.7% | +20.3 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Adolescent birth rate births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 |
56.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | 69.6 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | −13.4 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | 2024 | World Bank |
| Age dependency ratio dependants per 100 people aged 15 to 64 |
75.2 per 100 working-age people | 61.2 per 100 working-age people | +13.9 per 100 working-age people | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population density people per square kilometre of land |
272.7 people per km² | 77.0 people per km² | +254.2% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Urban population growth annual % change |
3.29% | 3.35% | −0.06 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Migration and citizenship
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration estimates and projections per 1,000 people |
-1.1 per 1,000 people | -2.2 per 1,000 people | +1.1 per 1,000 people | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Net migration people |
-2,984 people | -5,192 people | +42.5% | 2025 | World Bank |
| International migrant stock % of population |
8.6% | 0.6% | +8.0 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Personal remittances received % of GDP |
23.8% | 20.8% | +3.0 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Employment and occupations
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILO estimate of the unemployment rate % of the labour force aged 15 and over |
6.5% | 16.3% | −9.8 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| ILO estimate of youth unemployment % of the labour force aged 15 to 24 |
10.9% | 24.7% | −13.8 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Labour force participation % of working-age population aged 15 and over |
47.5% | 57.1% | −9.7 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Women's labour force participation % of women aged 15 and over |
45.5% | 48.1% | −2.6 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Employment-to-population ratio % of population aged 15 and over |
44.4% | 47.8% | −3.4 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Employment in agriculture % of total employment |
27.6% | 30.9% | −3.3 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Employment in industry % of total employment |
18.8% | 33.0% | −14.2 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Employment in services % of total employment |
53.6% | 36.1% | +17.6 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Economy and productivity
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP in US dollars current US dollars |
US$2.6 billion | US$2.6 billion | +0.8% | 2025 | World Bank |
| GDP per capita in US dollars current US dollars per person |
US$919 per person | US$1,089 per person | −15.6% | 2025 | World Bank |
| GDP per capita, PPP constant 2021 international dollars per person |
Int$3,167 per person | Int$2,721 per person | +16.4% | 2025 | World Bank |
| GNI per capita, Atlas method current US dollars per person |
US$930 per person | US$1,280 per person | −27.3% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Real GDP growth annual % change |
5.9% | 2.0% | +3.9 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Services share of GDP % of GDP |
53.1% | 55.6% | −2.5 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Investment share of GDP % of GDP |
40.4% | 31.2% | +9.2 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Savings share of GDP % of GDP |
25.7% | 13.6% | +12.1 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Household consumption per person constant 2015 US dollars per person |
US$594 per person | US$840 per person | −29.4% | 2025 | World Bank |
Prices and purchasing power
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer price inflation annual % change |
11.6% | 6.1% | +5.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Consumer price index index, 2010 = 100 |
285.9 (2010 = 100) | 212.0 (2010 = 100) | +73.9 points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Inflation measured by the GDP deflator annual % change |
7.9% | 3.0% | +4.9 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Exchange rate to the US dollar local currency units per US dollar, annual average |
71.289 per US$ | 17.889 per US$ | +298.5% | 2025 | World Bank |
Housing and households
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slum population % of urban population |
37.1% | 25.6% | +11.5 percentage points | 2022 | World Bank |
Education and skills
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate % of youth aged 15 to 24 |
39.8% | 38.1% | +1.7 percentage points | 2025 | ILOSTAT |
| Primary completion (UIS) % of children 3 to 5 years above the final primary grade age |
65.5% | 79.9% | −14.4 percentage points | 2018 | UNESCO UIS |
| Lower secondary completion % of young people 3 to 5 years above the final grade age |
45.8% | 44.3% | +1.5 percentage points | 2018 | UNESCO UIS |
| Upper secondary completion % of young people 3 to 5 years above the final grade age |
26.4% | 31.9% | −5.5 percentage points | 2018 | UNESCO UIS |
| Out-of-school children % of children of primary school age |
18.8% | 32.2% | −13.3 percentage points | 2024 | UNESCO UIS |
| Out-of-school adolescents % of adolescents of lower secondary school age |
14.0% | 32.3% | −18.3 percentage points | 2024 | UNESCO UIS |
| Out-of-school youth % of youth of upper secondary school age |
42.6% | 58.4% | −15.8 percentage points | 2024 | UNESCO UIS |
| Primary net enrolment % of children of primary school age |
81.2% | 67.8% | +13.3 percentage points | 2024 | UNESCO UIS |
| Youth literacy % of people aged 15 to 24 |
71.1% | 95.2% | −24.1 percentage points | 2018 | UNESCO UIS |
| Qualified primary teachers % of primary teachers |
89.7% | 99.5% | −9.8 percentage points | 2023 | UNESCO UIS |
| Education share of public spending % of total government expenditure |
15.1% | 10.4% | +4.7 percentage points | 2024 | UNESCO UIS |
| Education spending % of GDP |
2.8% | 7.3% | −4.5 percentage points | 2023 | World Bank |
| Primary school enrolment (gross) % of the official primary school-age population |
98.6% | 80.2% | +18.4 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Tertiary education enrolment (gross) % of the population in the five years after secondary school age |
1.2% | 10.9% | −9.7 percentage points | 2012 | World Bank |
| Adult literacy rate % of people aged 15 and above |
53.2% | 86.2% | −33.1 percentage points | 2018 | World Bank |
| Primary school completion rate % of the relevant age group |
80.2% | 67.0% | +13.2 percentage points | 2023 | World Bank |
| Secondary school enrolment (gross) % of the official secondary school-age population |
45.5% | 54.2% | −8.7 percentage points | 2010 | World Bank |
Health and healthcare
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy estimates and projections years |
65.9 years | 57.4 years | +14.8% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Life expectancy at 65, estimates and projections years |
14.1 years | 12.9 years | +9.9% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Healthy life expectancy years |
57.6 years | 47.9 years | +20.3% | 2023 | WHO |
| UHC service coverage index from 0 to 100 |
53 | 55 | −2 points | 2023 | WHO |
| Alcohol consumption litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15+ |
0.37 litres | 2.90 litres | −87.2% | 2024 | WHO |
| Adult obesity % of adults aged 18+ |
12.4% | 22.2% | −9.8 percentage points | 2024 | WHO |
| Hypertension % of adults aged 30 to 79 |
37.6% | 40.1% | −2.5 percentage points | 2019 | WHO |
| Suicide rate deaths per 100,000 people |
13.6 per 100,000 people | 35.0 per 100,000 people | −21.4 per 100,000 people | 2023 | WHO |
| Premature NCD mortality % probability |
19.9% | 36.8% | −16.9 percentage points | 2023 | WHO |
| Physical inactivity % of adults aged 18+ |
18.8% | 7.0% | +11.8 percentage points | 2022 | WHO |
| DTP3 immunisation % of one-year-olds |
82% | 88% | −6.0 percentage points | 2025 | WHO |
| Anaemia in women % of women aged 15 to 49 |
46.1% | 34.2% | +11.9 percentage points | 2023 | WHO |
| Poisoning deaths deaths per 100,000 people |
0.8 per 100,000 people | 3.4 per 100,000 people | −2.6 per 100,000 people | 2023 | WHO |
| Nurses and midwives per 10,000 people |
6.2 per 10,000 people | 31.4 per 10,000 people | −25.2 per 10,000 people | 2018 | WHO |
| Dentists per 10,000 people |
0.05 per 10,000 people | 0.17 per 10,000 people | −0.12 per 10,000 people | 2019 | WHO |
| Life expectancy at birth years |
66.1 years | 57.8 years | +14.3% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Life expectancy at birth, women years |
67.8 years | 60.4 years | +12.1% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Life expectancy at birth, men years |
64.4 years | 55.0 years | +16.9% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Health spending share of GDP % of GDP |
2.9% | 12.6% | −9.7 percentage points | 2023 | World Bank |
| Under-five mortality rate deaths per 1,000 live births |
42.4 per 1,000 live births | 60.0 per 1,000 live births | −17.6 per 1,000 live births | 2024 | World Bank |
| Infant mortality rate deaths per 1,000 live births |
32.7 per 1,000 live births | 56.3 per 1,000 live births | −23.6 per 1,000 live births | 2024 | World Bank |
| Maternal mortality ratio maternal deaths per 100,000 live births |
354 per 100,000 live births | 478 per 100,000 live births | −124 per 100,000 live births | 2023 | World Bank |
| Physicians physicians per 1,000 people |
0.10 per 1,000 people | 0.24 per 1,000 people | −0.13 per 1,000 people | 2022 | World Bank |
| Hospital beds beds per 1,000 people |
1.2 per 1,000 people | 1.1 per 1,000 people | +0.1 per 1,000 people | 1960 | World Bank |
| Measles immunisation % of children aged 12 to 23 months |
83% | 90% | −7.0 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Tobacco use % of adults aged 15 and over |
11.1% | 28.0% | −16.9 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Out-of-pocket health spending % of current health expenditure |
33.8% | 13.2% | +20.6 percentage points | 2023 | World Bank |
| Health spending per person current US dollars per person |
US$26 per person | US$123 per person | −79.0% | 2023 | World Bank |
| Diabetes prevalence % of population aged 20 to 79 |
5.5% | 6.2% | −0.7 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Neonatal mortality rate deaths per 1,000 live births |
23.0 per 1,000 live births | 28.5 per 1,000 live births | −5.5 per 1,000 live births | 2024 | World Bank |
| Child stunting % of children under 5 |
19.0% | 34.6% | −15.6 percentage points | 2018 | World Bank |
| Tuberculosis incidence new cases per 100,000 people |
138 per 100,000 people | 548 per 100,000 people | −410 per 100,000 people | 2024 | World Bank |
| HIV incidence new infections per 1,000 uninfected people aged 15 to 49 |
0.65 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 | 3.10 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 | −2.45 per 1,000 people aged 15 to 49 | 2024 | World Bank |
Internet and digital society
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet users % of population |
49.5% | 51.8% | −2.3 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Mobile subscriptions subscriptions per 100 people |
126 per 100 people | 70 per 100 people | +56 per 100 people | 2024 | World Bank |
| Fixed broadband subscriptions subscriptions per 100 people |
0.5 per 100 people | 0.4 per 100 people | +0.1 per 100 people | 2024 | World Bank |
Business and industry
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry share of GDP % of GDP |
15.8% | 25.2% | −9.3 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| New businesses registered new limited liability companies |
3,703 companies | 1,981 companies | +86.9% | 2020 | World Bank |
| Manufacturing share of GDP % of GDP |
1.5% | 12.1% | −10.6 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
Trade and investment
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports share of GDP % of GDP |
12.7% | 49.5% | −36.8 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Imports share of GDP % of GDP |
49.4% | 104.5% | −55.0 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Trade as a share of GDP % of GDP |
62.2% | 154.0% | −91.8 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Foreign direct investment inflows % of GDP |
10.6% | 1.3% | +9.3 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Current account balance % of GDP |
-2.9% | 0.1% | −3.0 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| High-technology exports % of manufactured exports |
3.3% | 0.1% | +3.3 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
Transport and mobility
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road traffic deaths deaths per 100,000 people |
29.6 per 100,000 people | 31.9 per 100,000 people | −2.3 per 100,000 people | 2019 | World Bank |
Energy and electricity
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access to electricity % of population |
69.0% | 60.6% | +8.4 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Clean cooking access % of population |
3.0% | 58.0% | −55.0 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Renewable energy share % of total final energy consumption |
47.7% | 34.9% | +12.8 percentage points | 2022 | World Bank |
| Fossil electricity share % of total electricity production |
98.4% | 0.2% | +98.2 percentage points | 2021 | World Bank |
Climate and emissions
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature change °C difference from the 1951 to 1980 average |
1.36 °Ce (Estimated value) | 0.78 °Ce (Estimated value) | +0.58 °C | 2025 | FAOSTAT |
| Agrifood emissions per person tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person |
1.04 t CO2e per persone (Estimated value) | 0.90 t CO2e per persone (Estimated value) | +15.7% | 2024 | FAOSTAT |
| Total greenhouse gas emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
1.9 Mt CO2e | 3.1 Mt CO2e | −39.1% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Greenhouse gas emissions per person tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person |
0.7 t CO2e per person | 1.3 t CO2e per person | −48.5% | 2024 | World Bank |
| CO2 emissions per person tonnes of CO2 per person |
0.18 t CO2 per person | 0.43 t CO2 per person | −58.3% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Methane emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
1.2 Mt CO2e | 1.6 Mt CO2e | −28.0% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Nitrous oxide emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
0.22 Mt CO2e | 0.46 Mt CO2e | −52.7% | 2024 | World Bank |
Air quality and ecosystems
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 air pollution micrograms per cubic metre |
39.6 µg/m³ | 17.5 µg/m³ | +126.8% | 2023 | WHO |
| Forest area % of land area |
21.3% | 1.1% | +20.2 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Protected areas % of total territorial area |
2.9% | 23.4% | −20.5 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| PM2.5 air pollution exposure micrograms per cubic metre |
38.3 µg/m³ | 26.4 µg/m³ | +44.7% | 2023 | World Bank |
| Terrestrial protected areas % of land area |
7.7% | 23.4% | −15.7 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Water, sanitation and waste
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic drinking water access % of population |
87.1% | 78.1% | +9.0 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population |
48.2% | 31.3% | +16.9 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Basic sanitation access % of population |
48.2% | 47.9% | +0.3 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Level of water stress % of available freshwater resources |
2.2% | 2.6% | −0.4 percentage points | 2022 | World Bank |
| Renewable internal freshwater per person cubic metres per person |
1,138 m³ per person | 2,288 m³ per person | −50.3% | 2022 | World Bank |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population |
28.1% | 43.8% | −15.7 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
Agriculture, food and fisheries
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of a healthy diet international dollars (PPP) per person per day |
Int$4.49 per person per daye (Estimated value) | Int$5.47 per person per daye (Estimated value) | −17.9% | 2025 | FAOSTAT |
| Healthy diet unaffordable % of the population |
43.7%e (Estimated value) | 77.4%e (Estimated value) | −33.7 percentage points | 2025 | FAOSTAT |
| Pesticide use kg of active ingredients per hectare of cropland |
0.98 kg/hae (Estimated value) | 3.44 kg/hae (Estimated value) | −71.5% | 2024 | FAOSTAT |
| Nitrogen fertiliser use kg of nitrogen (N) per hectare of cropland |
2.3 kg/hae (Estimated value) | 3.6 kg/hae (Estimated value) | −35.2% | 2024 | FAOSTAT |
| Agriculture share of GDP % of GDP |
23.8% | 6.5% | +17.4 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Cereal yield kilograms per hectare |
1,005 kg per hectare | 604 kg per hectare | +66.5% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Agricultural land % of land area |
76.1% | 92.9% | −16.8 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Capture fisheries production metric tonnes |
55,075 tonnes | 74 tonnes | +74,325.7% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Food production index index, 2014 to 2016 = 100 |
87.3 (2014-16 = 100) | 96.1 (2014-16 = 100) | −9.2% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Fertiliser use kilograms per hectare of arable land |
5.6 kg per hectare | 6.1 kg per hectare | −8.4% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Land area square kilometres |
10,120 km² | 30,360 km² | −66.7% | 2024 | World Bank |
Science and innovation
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&D spending share of GDP % of GDP |
0.08% | 0.01% | +0.07 percentage points | 2011 | World Bank |
| Researchers per million people researchers per million people |
30 per million people | 6 per million people | +24 per million people | 2011 | World Bank |
| Scientific and technical journal articles articles, fractional count |
80 articles | 60 articles | +32.6% | 2023 | World Bank |
Culture, society and wellbeing
| Measure | Gambia | Lesotho | Gambia compared with Lesotho | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women in national parliament % of seats in the single or lower chamber |
8.6% | 25.0% | −16.4 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
The difference column shows Gambia compared with Lesotho: in percentage points for percentages, in the same unit for rates per population and index values, and in percent for other measures.
Open a measure to see both countries on a chart. All statistics for Gambia · All statistics for Lesotho · Other pairs