- Only about two in 10 Gambians (19%) describe the country’s economic condition as “fairly good” or “very good,” a 39-point drop since 2018 (58%) (Figure 1). o More than three-fourths (77%) give a negative evaluation of the economic condition of the country.
- Almost six in 10 Gambians (57%) describe their personal living conditions as “fairly bad” or “very bad” (Figure 2). o Reports of poor living conditions are especially common among citizens experiencing high lived poverty (72%), those with no formal schooling (65%), and rural residents (67%).
- Three-fourths (75%) of citizens say they or someone in their household went without a cash income at least once during the previous year, and the same proportion say they lacked medical care. Many also report shortages of cooking fuel (60%), water (57%), and food (44%).
- Half (50%) of Gambians applaud the government’s efforts to maintain roads and bridges. Fewer than half say the government is doing “fairly well” or “very well” on providing a reliable supply of electricity (42%), addressing educational needs (37%), providing water and sanitation services (35%), and preventing or resolving violent conflict (30%).
- Only small minorities approve of the government’s performance on economic indicators, including keeping prices stable (3%), reducing inequality (6%), creating jobs (9%), improving living standards of the poor (11%), and managing the economy (15%).
A majority of Gambians hold a negative view of the country’s economic situation and their personal living conditions, the latest Afrobarometer findings show.
Access to basic necessities remains a significant concern. Many Gambians report that they or someone in their household went without a cash income or medical care at least once during the past year, alongside shortages of cooking fuel, water, and food.
While about half of Gambians commend the government’s performance on maintaining roads and bridges, fewer than half rate the government positively on providing reliable electricity, addressing educational needs, delivering water and sanitation services, and preventing and resolving violent conflict. Very few give the government passing marks on economic performance indicators.
Health care tops the list of citizens’ priorities for government action, followed by the rising cost of living and concerns about crime and security.