The Gambia

In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic. During the roughly 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UK and other European powers may have exported as many as 3 million people from The Gambia. <br><br>The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed the short-lived confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1994, Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup overthrowing the president and banning political activity. He subsequently won every presidential election until 2016, when he lost to Adama BARROW, who headed an opposition coalition during free and fair elections. BARROW won reelection in 2021. The Gambia is the only member of the Economic Community of West African States that does not have presidential term limits. Since the 2016 election, The Gambia and the US have enjoyed improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported democracy-strengthening activities, capacity building, economic development, and security sector education and training programs.

Land

10,120 sq km

Total

11,300 sq km

Water

1,180 sq km

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

80 km

Africa

Highest point

unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

34 m

13 28 N, 16 34 W

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland

50 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Senegal 749 km

number of neighbors

1

Total

749 km

Agricultural land

62.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)

arable land

43.48%

Forest

22% (2023 est.)

Other

15.4% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.69%

No

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin

Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/bbGBCxxtfD2A9Z4m6

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192774

Africa

Contiguous zone

18 nm

Continental shelf

extent not specified

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

droughts

fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon

settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Western Africa

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

UTC+00:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

38.2% (male 486,472/female 477,309)

15-64 years

58.1% (male 723,360/female 743,127)

65 years and over

3.7% (2024 est.) (male 40,658/female 52,401)

Beer

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

2.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

26.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

0.2% (2020)

Women married by age 15

5.6% (2020)

Women married by age 18

23.1% (2020)

11.6% (2020 est.)

63% (2020 est.)

5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

196 per 1,000

adult male

246 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

6.3 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

15.8 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

72.1 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

65.7 (2024 est.)

improved total

48.18%

Improved: rural

rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 85.6% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 90.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 14.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 9.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.2% national budget (2025 est.)

3 % of GDP

Mandinka/Jahanka 33.3%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo 18.2%, Wolof 12.9%, Jola/Karoninka 11%, Serahuleh 7.2%, Serer 3.5%, other 4%, non-Gambian 9.9% (2019-20 est.)

1.67 (2025 est.)

3 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

7.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.65%

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

32.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

39.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

24 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

languages

English

number of languages

1

Female

70.1 years

Male

66.7 years

Total population

68.4 years (2024 est.)

Female

40.5% (2021 est.)

Male

65.3% (2021 est.)

Total population

51.6% (2021 est.)

481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)

note

<strong>note:</strong> includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing

354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

20.6 years

Male

19.8 years

Total

20.5 years (2025 est.)

20.7 years (2019/20 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Gambian

Noun

Gambian(s)

-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

10.3% (2016)

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

1,272,837

Male

1,250,490

Total

2,523,327 (2024 est.)

2.09% (2025 est.)

Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1% (2019-20 est.)

improved total

28.09%

Improved: rural

rural: 32% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 59.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 68% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 40.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

0.5% (2025 est.)

Male

17% (2025 est.)

Total

8.6% (2025 est.)

3.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

measles

83%

5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast

Etymology

the name derives from a misunderstanding between Portuguese colonists and inhabitants in the 15th century; when asked what the area was called, the inhabitants thought they were being asked what they were doing and replied, "<em>bangjulo," or</em> "rope making"

Geographic coordinates

13 27 N, 16 34 W

Name

Banjul

Time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

yes

Citizenship by descent only

yes

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/gm.svg

Amendment process

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast

History

previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997

Note

<strong>note:</strong> in 2024, The Gambian government announced its commitment to adopting a new constitution 

alternative spellings

GM, Republic of the Gambia

Conventional long form

Republic of The Gambia

Conventional short form

The Gambia

Etymology

named for the Gambia River that flows through the country; Portuguese explorers in the 15th century derived the name for the river from its local name, Ba-Dimma, meaning "the river"

FIFA code

GAM

local long form (eng)

Republic of the Gambia

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025)

Email address and website

<br>ConsularBanjul@state.gov<br><br>https://gm.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul

FAX

[220] 439-2475

Mailing address

2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2070

Telephone

[220] 439-2856

Chancery

5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Chief of mission

Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)

Email address and website

<br>info@gambiaembassydc.us<br><br>https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

Telephone

[1] (202) 785-1399

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)

Election results

<em><br>2021: </em>Adama BARROW reelected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (NPP) 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 12.3%, other 6.8%<br><br><em>2016: </em>Adama BARROW elected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); vice president appointed by the president

Expected date of next election

2026

Head of government

Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)

Most recent election date

4 December 2021

<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue for the Gambia River, and green for forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

The flag of Gambia is composed of three equal horizontal bands of red, blue with white top and bottom edges, and green.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/gm.svg

presidential republic

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices)

Judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 75

Subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts

mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

April 2027

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly

Most recent election date

4/9/2022

Number of seats

58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed)

Parties elected and seats per party

National People's Party (NPP) (18); United Democratic Party (UDP) (15); National Reconciliation Party (NRP) (4); Independents (12); Other (4)

Percentage of women in chamber

8.6%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

red, blue, green, white

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia

Total World Heritage Sites

2 (both cultural)

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

lion

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC <br>Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC <br>Gambia Moral Congress or GMC <br>National People's Party or NPP <br>People's Progressive Party or PPP <br>United Democratic Party or UDP 

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$221.137 million (2018 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$308.887 million (2018 est.)

code

GMD

name

dalasi (GMD) [D]

$-99,793,232

Current account balance 2022

-$90.251 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$120.064 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$74.374 million (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$1.64 billion

Debt - external 2023

$902.421 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

low-income West African economy; agriculture-dominant; high poverty rate; heightened inflation; dependent on foreign assistance and remittances; structural reforms conditioned by IMF Extended Credit Facility program

Currency

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

50.062 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

51.502 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

51.484 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

54.923 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

61.096 (2023 est.)

$210.4 million

Exports 2022

$267.377 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$717.774 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$838.409 million (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$232.36 million

Exports of goods and services

6.6% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

8.5% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

83.2% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-37.2% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

39% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

24.1% (2024 est.)

Industry

14.7% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

53.9% (2024 est.)

$2.508 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$871

35.9 (2015)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

38.8 (2020 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$2.37 billion

$880

30 % of GDP

Highest 10%

30.5% (2020 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.6% (2020 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$803.76 million

Imports 2022

$829.516 million (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$1.353 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$1.549 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

2.4% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

11.56%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11.5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

17% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

11.6% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

783,100 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

807,275 persons

agriculture

27.55%

industry

18.8%

services

53.64%

53.4% (2020 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

$9.59 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$7.549 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$7.911 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$8.365 billion (2024 est.)

5.55%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

5.7% (2024 est.)

$3,476

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$2,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$3,000 (2024 est.)

$529.05 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

22.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

21.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

21.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

$577.03 million

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$652.671 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$568.244 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$577.028 million (2023 est.)

6.52%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6.5% (2024 est.)

Female

10.9% (2024 est.)

Male

10.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

10.9% (2024 est.)

Consumption

410.824 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

162,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

104.176 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

31.2%

Electrification - total population

65.4% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

82.8%

Fossil fuels

99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0%

nuclear

0%

renewable

1.6%

Solar

0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

47.7%

per 100 inhabitants

0 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Total

6,000 (2022 est.)

1 state-run TV-channel; one privately owned TV station; 1 online TV station; 3 state-owned and 31 privately owned radio stations; 8 community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available; cable and satellite TV subscription services in some parts of the country (2019)

.gm

Percent of population

46% (2023 est.)

+220

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

60,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100

107 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

101 (2021 est.)

Total subscriptions

2.68 million (2021 est.)

1 (2025)

C5

Right

By type

general cargo 5, other 10

Total

15 (2023)

Key ports

Banjul

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

1

Small

0

Total ports

1 (2024)

Very small

1

WAG

the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) are responsible for external defense and aiding civil authorities in internal emergencies and natural disaster relief; they participate in multinational peacekeeping missions, as well as domestic support activities such as agricultural development, construction, education, and health services; the Gambian security forces have a history of involvement in domestic politics, including multiple coup attempts and mutinies, with the latest being an attempted coup in 2022<br><br>since January 2017, several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have provided security forces for Gambia's stability, plus assistance and training for the GAF and other Gambian security forces through the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG); as of 2025, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal were providing military and gendarmerie personnel for ECOMIG (2025)

Gambian Armed Forces (GAF; aka Armed Forces of the Gambia): the Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambia Navy, Gambia Air Force, Republican National Guard (RNG)<br><br>Ministry of Interior: Gambia Police Force (GPF) (2025)

active duty personnel

4,000

note

<strong>note: </strong>the RNG is responsible for VIP protection, riot control, and presidential security, while the GPF maintains internal security

percent of total labor force

0.58 %

estimated 3,000-4,000 active Gambian Armed Forces (2025)

the military of Gambia has a limited inventory of mostly older, obsolescent, or donated equipment originating from several suppliers, including Taiwan, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$14,433,678

Military Expenditures 2020

0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

2.50 %

percent of GDP

0.57 % of GDP

18-28 years of age for men and women depending on enlisted, officer, or specialized positions (2025)

IDPs

7,462 (2024 est.)

Refugees

4,411 (2024 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

3 % of total land area

2 % of total

8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

3 % of internal resources

Agricultural

39.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

41.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

193,400 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13% (2022 est.)