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Eswatini vs Gambia
Side-by-side comparison of Eswatini and Gambia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Eswatini
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 58 years
In short
Gambia scores 26.1 in the NationsTree Index (173rd in the world) and Eswatini scores 22.3 (182nd), a gap of 3.8 points. Their trees are 2.0 m and 1.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Gambia has 2.2 times the population of Eswatini. Eswatini has 54% more land area than Gambia. The economy of Eswatini is 51% larger than that of Gambia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Eswatini 1.3 million and Gambia 2.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $12,529 in Eswatini and $3,706 in Gambia (2025, international dollars). People in Gambia live on average 1.8 years longer (66.1 vs 64.3 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Eswatini ranks higher in the world on 16 and Gambia on 14. Eswatini is clearly stronger in main industries, military and society & health. Gambia is clearly stronger in tourism, institutions & safety and land & people.
As a nation, Gambia is the older of the two (statehood since 1965, 61 years), compared with Eswatini (since 1968). Over the last five years Gambia improved faster (direction score 54 vs 2 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Eswatini and Gambia.
Eswatinibetter
90.8%
50th of 98
Gambia
51.6%
91st of 98
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Eswatinibetter
16.7
98th of 200
Gambia
38.3
176th of 200
UnemploymentEconomy
Eswatini
34.2%
187th of 187
Gambiabetter
6.5%
118th of 187
General government gross debtEconomy
Eswatinibetter
44.8%
74th of 189
Gambia
73.7%
140th of 189
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
Eswatini
31.0
179th of 205
Gambiabetter
53.9
115th of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Gambia overtook Eswatini in the NationsTree Index in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Gambia overtook Eswatini in life expectancy in 1996 and has stayed ahead since.
Eswatini has been ahead of Gambia in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Gambia has been ahead of Eswatini in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
EswatiniGambia All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Eswatini | Gambia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 17,364155th/216 · 2024 | 11,295162nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 17,200155th/216 · 2024 | 10,120162nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.3 m158th/217 · 2025 | 2.8 m141st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.07%97th/217 · 2025 | 2.23%37th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 72.3135th/216 · 2024 | 272.746th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 26.7%201st/217 · 2025 | 65.0%107th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 33.0%59th/217 · 2025 | 39.7%27th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.3%161st/217 · 2025 | 3.2%188th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $5.16 bn168th/210 · 2025 | $2.59 bn183rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $15.74 bn155th/199 · 2025 | $10.46 bn161st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $13.45 bn155th/199 · 2025 | $8.94 bn161st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,108148th/210 · 2025 | $919199th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,529132nd/199 · 2025 | $3,706179th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $3,730144th/201 · 2025 | $930188th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 4.2%76th/210 · 2025 | 5.9%35th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.6%2019 | 11.6%162nd/180 · 2024 |
| Unemployment % | 34.2%187th/187 · 2025 | 6.5%118th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 35.7%12th/55 · 2021 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 44.8%74th/189 · 2025 | 73.7%140th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.8%178th/192 · 2025 | -4.7%145th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 6.4%97th/197 · 2025 | 23.8%23rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 33.6%40th/200 · 2025 | 15.8%157th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 28.1%6th/192 · 2025 | 1.5%180th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 52.4%132nd/200 · 2025 | 53.1%131st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $2.61 bn147th/182 · 2024 | $330.2 m171st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $2.61 bn154th/182 · 2024 | $1.28 bn165th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 53.8%49th/183 · 2024 | 12.7%169th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 53.7%68th/183 · 2024 | 49.4%82nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 107.5%51st/183 · 2024 | 62.2%125th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 3.6%84th/170 · 2023 | 0.0%165th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 59.8%54th/171 · 2023 | 1.0%166th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 29.7%49th/171 · 2023 | 90.7%7th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.6%147th/171 · 2023 | 7.3%51st/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.3%157th/168 · 2023 | 3.3%111th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 2.4%54th/191 · 2025 | -4.1%132nd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%143rd/196 · 2025 | 10.6%16th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.0%86th/209 · 2021 | 2.9%87th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.14%27th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.86%24th/209 · 2021 | 2.86%25th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 10.3%102nd/206 · 2024 | 58.1%3rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,166102nd/183 · 2022 | 1,138123rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 345,300138th/194 · 2020 | 246,000147th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $7.3 m169th/175 · 2020 | $53.0 m153rd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.4%161st/168 · 2020 | 30.2%24th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 488,00079th/107 · 2020 | 307,0002006 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 64.3192nd/217 · 2024 | 66.1187th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 45.1162nd/196 · 2024 | 42.4160th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.56119th/174 · 2023 | 0.09164th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.02013 | 1.1111th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 84%136th/193 · 2024 | 80%145th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 49.1%116th/153 · 2022 | 36.9%123rd/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 82.0%2016 | 107.0%35th/173 · 2021 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 81.2%2016 | 3.0%2015 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.9%161st/217 · 2025 | 5.6%187th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 7.5%75th/193 · 2023 | 2.9%180th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 90.8%50th/98 · 2022 | 51.6%91st/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 6.4%2013 | 13.5%133rd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.695126th/193 · 2023 | 0.524170th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 54.62016 | 38.82020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 44.5%2016 | 22.0%2020 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 89.3%162nd/215 · 2024 | 69.0%179th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 38.2%121st/150 · 2024 | 48.2%110th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 60.8%73rd/144 · 2024 | 28.1%112th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 63.4%135th/186 · 2024 | 49.5%148th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14042nd/210 · 2024 | 12672nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 2.5155th/208 · 2024 | 0.5179th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | — | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 3002011 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 34,663148th/161 · 2023 | 109,542136th/161 · 2019 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.8860th/203 · 2024 | 0.1823rd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 64.7%32nd/212 · 2022 | 47.7%52nd/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 16.798th/200 · 2023 | 38.3176th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 25.3%118th/214 · 2024 | 21.3%130th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 97791st/149 · 2024 | 752007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 35.2169th/205 · 2025 | 43.5140th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 31.9158th/207 · 2025 | 37.7133rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 45.8150th/207 · 2025 | 52.1125th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 55.6160th/207 · 2025 | 66.2114th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 43.9151st/205 · 2025 | 44.4147th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 31.0179th/205 · 2025 | 53.9115th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 12.5122nd/145 · 2021 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $93.4 m140th/156 · 2025 | $14.7 m153rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.6%84th/156 · 2025 | 0.6%139th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.2%77th/154 · 2025 | 2.2%140th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 3,0001999 | 4,000148th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.98%1999 | 0.58%104th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m2020 | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.28%2015 | 0.07%2018 |
| Scientific articles articles | 31167th/197 · 2023 | 80145th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Eswatini or Gambia?
Gambia has the larger population: 2.8 m (2025) compared with 1.3 m for Eswatini (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Eswatini or Gambia?
Eswatini is larger: 17,364 km² (2024) compared with 11,295 km² for Gambia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Eswatini or Gambia?
Eswatini has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $15.74 bn intl. (2025) compared with $10.46 bn intl. for Gambia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Eswatini or Gambia?
Eswatini has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $12,529 intl. (2025) compared with $3,706 intl. for Gambia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Eswatini or Gambia?
Gambia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 66.1 years (2024) compared with 64.3 years for Eswatini (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Eswatini or Gambia?
Eswatini spends more on the military: $93.4 m (2025) compared with $14.7 m for Gambia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Eswatini or Gambia?
Gambia: 26.1 points (173rd in the world); Eswatini: 22.3 points (182nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Burundi
Equatorial Guinea
Liberia
Central African Republic
Guinea-Bissau
LesothoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Eswatini vs Gambia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/eswatini-vs-gambia. Data as of 26 October 2026.