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Gambia vs Liberia
Side-by-side comparison of Gambia and Liberia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Liberia
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 204 years
In short
Gambia scores 26.1 in the NationsTree Index (173rd in the world) and Liberia scores 24.0 (178th), a gap of 2.1 points. Their trees are 1.7 m and 1.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Liberia has 2.0 times the population of Gambia. Liberia is 9.9 times larger than Gambia by land area. Gambia and Liberia have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Gambia 2.8 million and Liberia 5.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,706 in Gambia and $1,981 in Liberia (2025, international dollars). People in Gambia live on average 3.7 years longer (66.1 vs 62.3 years).
Of 29 indicators reported by both countries, Gambia ranks higher in the world on 16 and Liberia on 13. Gambia is clearly stronger in science & innovation, infrastructure & digital and institutions & safety. Liberia is clearly stronger in environment & energy, main industries and economy.
As a nation, Liberia is the older of the two (statehood since 1822, 204 years), compared with Gambia (since 1965). Over the last five years Liberia improved faster (direction score 64 vs 54 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Gambia and Liberia.
Gambia
1,138
123rd of 183
Liberiabetter
37,221
15th of 183
UnemploymentEconomy
Gambia
6.5%
118th of 187
Liberiabetter
2.9%
36th of 187
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Gambia
38.3
176th of 200
Liberiabetter
17.9
102nd of 200
Government budget balanceEconomy
Gambia
-4.7%
145th of 192
Liberiabetter
-2.1%
79th of 192
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Gambia overtook Liberia in the NationsTree Index in 2017 and has stayed ahead since.
Liberia overtook Gambia in GDP (PPP) in 2011 and has stayed ahead since.
Gambia has been ahead of Liberia in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Liberia has been ahead of Gambia 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
GambiaLiberia 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 | Liberia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 11,295162nd/216 · 2024 | 111,370104th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 10,120162nd/216 · 2024 | 96,320107th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.8 m141st/217 · 2025 | 5.7 m116th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.23%37th/217 · 2025 | 2.09%44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 272.746th/216 · 2024 | 58.3147th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 65.0%107th/217 · 2025 | 56.1%138th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 39.7%27th/217 · 2025 | 39.1%28th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.2%188th/217 · 2025 | 3.3%183rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.59 bn183rd/210 · 2025 | $5.25 bn167th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $10.46 bn161st/199 · 2025 | $11.35 bn160th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $8.94 bn161st/199 · 2025 | $9.70 bn160th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $919199th/210 · 2025 | $915200th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,706179th/199 · 2025 | $1,981192nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $930188th/201 · 2025 | $830190th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.9%35th/210 · 2025 | 5.0%51st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 11.6%162nd/180 · 2024 | 8.3%153rd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.5%118th/187 · 2025 | 2.9%36th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 73.7%140th/189 · 2025 | 55.1%103rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.7%145th/192 · 2025 | -2.1%79th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 23.8%23rd/197 · 2025 | 32.7%10th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 15.8%157th/200 · 2025 | 24.5%91st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 1.5%180th/192 · 2024 | 2.3%2011 |
| Services % of GDP | 53.1%131st/200 · 2025 | 40.0%186th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $330.2 m171st/182 · 2025 | — |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.28 bn165th/182 · 2025 | — |
| Exports % of GDP | 12.7%169th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Imports % of GDP | 49.4%82nd/183 · 2025 | — |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 62.2%125th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%165th/170 · 2024 | 1.8%103rd/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 1.0%166th/171 · 2024 | 9.9%133rd/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 90.7%7th/171 · 2024 | 24.5%59th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 7.3%51st/171 · 2024 | 0.1%166th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 3.3%111th/168 · 2024 | 0.6%151st/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -4.1%132nd/191 · 2025 | -7.0%160th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 10.6%16th/196 · 2025 | 9.5%23rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 2.9%87th/209 · 2021 | 21.9%21st/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 | 5.44%20th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.86%25th/209 · 2021 | 16.48%2nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 58.1%3rd/206 · 2024 | 5.2%135th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,138123rd/183 · 2022 | 37,22115th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 246,000147th/194 · 2020 | — |
| Tourism receipts USD | $53.0 m153rd/175 · 2020 | $123.0 m2009 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 30.2%24th/168 · 2020 | 27.1%2009 |
| Outbound trips departures | 307,0002006 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 66.1187th/217 · 2024 | 62.3202nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 42.4160th/196 · 2024 | 86.4187th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.09164th/174 · 2023 | 0.18149th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.1111th/145 · 2023 | 1.698th/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 80%145th/193 · 2024 | 83%137th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 36.9%123rd/153 · 2023 | 35.6%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 107.0%35th/173 · 2021 | 37.7%2020 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 3.0%2015 | 14.3%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.6%187th/217 · 2025 | 5.8%182nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.9%180th/193 · 2023 | 13.0%6th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 51.6%91st/98 · 2021 | 59.4%2010 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 13.5%133rd/150 · 2024 | 10.8%2012 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.524170th/193 · 2023 | 0.510177th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 38.82020 | 35.32016 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 22.0%2020 | 33.6%2016 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 69.0%179th/215 · 2024 | 34.9%207th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 48.2%110th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 28.1%112th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 49.5%148th/186 · 2024 | 32.2%166th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12672nd/210 · 2024 | 32208th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.5179th/208 · 2024 | 0.3186th/208 · 2022 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 109,542136th/161 · 2019 | 32,0001992 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.1823rd/203 · 2024 | 0.1518th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 47.7%52nd/212 · 2022 | 92.8%3rd/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 38.3176th/200 · 2023 | 17.9102nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 21.3%130th/214 · 2024 | 66.1%21st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 752007 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 43.5140th/205 · 2025 | 28.4186th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 37.7133rd/207 · 2025 | 28.6166th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 52.1125th/207 · 2025 | 44.6155th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 66.2114th/207 · 2025 | 63.2125th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 44.4147th/205 · 2025 | 40.6169th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 53.9115th/205 · 2025 | 58.0101st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 3.12012 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $14.7 m153rd/156 · 2025 | $44.2 m144th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.6%139th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%126th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.2%140th/154 · 2025 | 3.9%111th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 4,000148th/170 · 2020 | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.58%104th/168 · 2020 | 0.09%163rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2025 | 0158th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.07%2018 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 2123rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 80145th/197 · 2023 | 32165th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Gambia or Liberia?
Liberia has the larger population: 5.7 m (2025) compared with 2.8 m for Gambia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Gambia or Liberia?
Liberia is larger: 111,370 km² (2024) compared with 11,295 km² for Gambia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Gambia or Liberia?
Liberia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $11.35 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, Gambia or Liberia?
Gambia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,706 intl. (2025) compared with $1,981 intl. for Liberia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Gambia or Liberia?
Gambia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 66.1 years (2024) compared with 62.3 years for Liberia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Gambia or Liberia?
Liberia spends more on the military: $44.2 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 Liberia?
Gambia: 26.1 points (173rd in the world); Liberia: 24.0 points (178th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Burundi
Central African Republic
Eswatini
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). Gambia vs Liberia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/gambia-vs-liberia. Data as of 26 October 2026.