Gambia, The Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Gambia, The's poverty rate was 22.00% in 2020, ranked 66th globally. This represents a 28.7% increase from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 1998–2020.
Overview
Gambia, The's poverty rate stood at 22.00% in 2020, a rise of +4.90pp from 2015. Gambia, The ranked 66th globally.
Gambia’s poverty rate fell dramatically from an all‑time peak of 78.00 % in 1998 to a trough of 17.10 % in 2015, before rising again to 22.00 % in 2020, placing it 66th globally. The steep decline over the first two decades reflects expanded social programmes, agricultural growth and increased remittances, while the modest rebound after 2015 coincides with slower economic expansion and external shocks such as the COVID‑19 pandemic. Compared with peer Kosovo, whose poverty rate stands at 16.80 %, Gambia remains higher, yet far below Kenya’s 44.40 % and Burundi’s 74.20 %, underscoring divergent development paths within the region. The 2020 figure suggests that the earlier gains are not yet consolidated; sustaining reductions will likely depend on diversifying the economy, improving fiscal capacity and strengthening safety‑net coverage to shield vulnerable households from future shocks.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 22.00% | +4.90pp | #66 |
| 2015 | 17.10% | −17.10pp | #74 |
| 2010 | 34.20% | −21.00pp | #79 |
| 2003 | 55.20% | −22.80pp | #61 |
| 1998 | 78.00% | – | #49 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Gambia, The matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Gambia, The's poverty rate was 22.00% in 2020. Ranked 66th globally. This represents a 28.7% increase from the previous year.
Gambia, The's poverty rate peaked at 78.00% in 1998.
The lowest poverty rate in Gambia, The was 17.10% in 2015.
Gambia, The ranks 66th globally in poverty rate as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Gambia, The in 2020 was 22.00%. This ranks 66th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_gambia-the_poverty-rate,
title = {Gambia, The Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/gambia-the/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}