UK and The Gambia compared
| Population | 55 million | 1.2 million |
| Area sq km | 244,103 | 11,295 |
| Area sq miles | 94,249 | 4,361 |
| Average life expectancy | 78 years | 46 years |
| Average daytime temperature | 10°C | 26°C |
| Rainfall (inches) | 24 | 47 |
| GDP Total ($bn) | 1,404 | 2.1 |
| GNP per capita ($) | 22,640 | 340 |
| Literacy rate (male) | 99% | 38% |
| Literacy rate (female) | 99% | 24% |
| Rate of population growth (1975 - 2000) | 0.2% | 3.5% |
| Rate of population growth (12000 - 2015) | 0.1% | 2.1% |
| Fertility rate (per woman) | 1.7 | 5.2 |
| Population under 15 | 19% | 40% |
| Population using adequate sanitation | 100% | 37% |
| Access to improved water | 100% | 62% |
| Doctors per 100,000 people | 164 | 4 |
| Education enrolment | 100% | 45% |
| Religions | Mainly Christian | 90% Muslim |
| Railways | 11,000 miles | None |
| Currency | £ Sterling | Ds Dalasi |
| $ equivalent | £1 = $1.6 | 1ds = $0.4 |
| Public expenditure on education as % of GNP | 5.3 | 4.9 |