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Gambia vs Guinea-Bissau
Side-by-side comparison of Gambia and Guinea-Bissau from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Guinea-Bissau
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 52 years
In short
Gambia scores 26.1 in the NationsTree Index (173rd in the world) and Guinea-Bissau scores 17.0 (192nd), a gap of 9.2 points. Their trees are 1.7 m and 1.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Gambia has 25% more people than Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau is 3.2 times larger than Gambia by land area. The economy of Gambia is 41% larger than that of Guinea-Bissau (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Gambia 2.8 million and Guinea-Bissau 2.2 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,706 in Gambia and $3,293 in Guinea-Bissau (2025, international dollars). People in Gambia live on average 1.8 years longer (66.1 vs 64.3 years).
Of 31 indicators reported by both countries, Gambia ranks higher in the world on 20 and Guinea-Bissau on 11. Gambia is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, trade and science & innovation. Guinea-Bissau is clearly stronger in environment & energy, economy and military.
As a nation, Gambia is the older of the two (statehood since 1965, 61 years), compared with Guinea-Bissau (since 1974). Over the last five years Gambia improved faster (direction score 54 vs 11 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
Gambia
11.6%
162nd of 180
Guinea-Bissaubetter
0.9%
32nd of 180
UnemploymentEconomy
Gambia
6.5%
118th of 187
Guinea-Bissaubetter
2.7%
27th of 187
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Gambia
1,138
123rd of 183
Guinea-Bissaubetter
7,599
55th of 183
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Gambiabetter
37.7
133rd of 207
Guinea-Bissau
19.8
193rd of 207
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Gambiabetter
52.1
125th of 207
Guinea-Bissau
37.7
185th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Gambia overtook Guinea-Bissau in the NationsTree Index and GDP per person (PPP) in 2018 and has stayed ahead since.
Gambia has been ahead of Guinea-Bissau in GDP (PPP), life expectancy and 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
GambiaGuinea-Bissau 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 | Gambia | Guinea-Bissau |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 11,295162nd/216 · 2024 | 36,125135th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 10,120162nd/216 · 2024 | 28,120139th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.8 m141st/217 · 2025 | 2.2 m147th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.23%37th/217 · 2025 | 2.16%41st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 272.746th/216 · 2024 | 78.3127th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 65.0%107th/217 · 2025 | 46.7%157th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 39.7%27th/217 · 2025 | 38.3%31st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.2%188th/217 · 2025 | 3.2%187th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.59 bn183rd/210 · 2025 | $2.53 bn185th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $10.46 bn161st/199 · 2025 | $7.41 bn165th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $8.94 bn161st/199 · 2025 | $6.33 bn165th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $919199th/210 · 2025 | $1,124193rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,706179th/199 · 2025 | $3,293183rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $930188th/201 · 2025 | $1,090185th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.9%35th/210 · 2025 | 5.8%37th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 11.6%162nd/180 · 2024 | 0.9%32nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.5%118th/187 · 2025 | 2.7%27th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 73.7%140th/189 · 2025 | 75.1%142nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.7%145th/192 · 2025 | -6.7%172nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 23.8%23rd/197 · 2025 | 40.6%3rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 15.8%157th/200 · 2025 | 15.7%158th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 1.5%180th/192 · 2024 | 8.6%115th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 53.1%131st/200 · 2025 | 39.1%187th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $330.2 m171st/182 · 2025 | $350.5 m170th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.28 bn165th/182 · 2025 | $682.9 m171st/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 12.7%169th/183 · 2025 | 13.9%165th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 49.4%82nd/183 · 2025 | 27.0%146th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 62.2%125th/183 · 2025 | 40.9%160th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%165th/170 · 2024 | 0.0%2015 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 1.0%166th/171 · 2024 | 0.0%2015 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 90.7%7th/171 · 2024 | 68.5%2018 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.3%51st/171 · 2024 | 0.6%2005 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.3%111th/168 · 2024 | 5.8%2015 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -4.1%132nd/191 · 2025 | -6.2%155th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 10.6%16th/196 · 2025 | 1.3%128th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 2.9%87th/209 · 2021 | 10.4%44th/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 | 0.00%68th/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%25th/209 · 2021 | 10.43%5th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 58.1%3rd/206 · 2024 | 16.1%69th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,138123rd/183 · 2022 | 7,59955th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 246,000147th/194 · 2020 | 52,400178th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $53.0 m153rd/175 · 2020 | $18.9 m166th/175 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 30.2%24th/168 · 2020 | 6.5%77th/168 · 2019 |
| Outbound trips departures | 307,0002006 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 66.1187th/217 · 2024 | 64.3193rd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 42.4160th/196 · 2024 | 67.3182nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.09164th/174 · 2023 | 0.25138th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.1111th/145 · 2023 | 1.02009 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 80%145th/193 · 2024 | 68%173rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 36.9%123rd/153 · 2023 | 21.4%140th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 107.0%35th/173 · 2021 | 34.4%2006 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 3.0%2015 | 22.0%45th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.6%187th/217 · 2025 | 5.5%190th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.9%180th/193 · 2023 | 8.8%49th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 51.6%91st/98 · 2021 | 63.9%85th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 13.5%133rd/150 · 2024 | 2.6%2006 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.524170th/193 · 2023 | 0.514174th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 38.82020 | 33.444th/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 22.0%2020 | 39.9%99th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 69.0%179th/215 · 2024 | 43.7%202nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 48.2%110th/150 · 2024 | 24.0%135th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 28.1%112th/144 · 2024 | 22.6%124th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 49.5%148th/186 · 2024 | 29.8%169th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12672nd/210 · 2024 | 14733rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.5179th/208 · 2024 | 0.4181st/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 109,542136th/161 · 2019 | 20,4001998 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.1823rd/203 · 2024 | 0.1619th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 47.7%52nd/212 · 2022 | 87.4%8th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 38.3176th/200 · 2023 | 32.3160th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 21.3%130th/214 · 2024 | 74.8%11th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 752007 | 652007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 43.5140th/205 · 2025 | 22.2193rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 37.7133rd/207 · 2025 | 19.8193rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 52.1125th/207 · 2025 | 37.7185th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 66.2114th/207 · 2025 | 56.3156th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 44.4147th/205 · 2025 | 34.3185th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 53.9115th/205 · 2025 | 38.0155th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 1.12017 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $14.7 m153rd/156 · 2025 | $22.4 m151st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.6%139th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%123rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.2%140th/154 · 2025 | 4.7%89th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 4,000148th/170 · 2020 | 4,000148th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.58%104th/168 · 2020 | 0.53%110th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2025 | 5.0 m1993 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.07%2018 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 80145th/197 · 2023 | 14181st/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Gambia or Guinea-Bissau?
Gambia has the larger population: 2.8 m (2025) compared with 2.2 m for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Gambia or Guinea-Bissau?
Guinea-Bissau is larger: 36,125 km² (2024) compared with 11,295 km² for Gambia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Gambia or Guinea-Bissau?
Gambia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $10.46 bn intl. (2025) compared with $7.41 bn intl. for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Gambia or Guinea-Bissau?
Gambia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,706 intl. (2025) compared with $3,293 intl. for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Gambia or Guinea-Bissau?
Gambia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 66.1 years (2024) compared with 64.3 years for Guinea-Bissau (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Gambia or Guinea-Bissau?
Guinea-Bissau spends more on the military: $22.4 m (2025) compared with $14.7 m for Gambia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Gambia or Guinea-Bissau?
Gambia: 26.1 points (173rd in the world); Guinea-Bissau: 17.0 points (192nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Burundi
Central African Republic
Eswatini
Lesotho
Liberia
Cabo Verde
Comoros
SeychellesSources
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). Gambia vs Guinea-Bissau — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/gambia-vs-guinea-bissau. Data as of 26 October 2026.