2024 Edition

Background

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. 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.     

Area

land

10,120 sq km

total

11,300 sq km

water

1,180 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Climate

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

Coastline

80 km

Elevation

highest point

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

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

34 m

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Senegal 749 km

total

749 km

Land use

agricultural land

56.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 41% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.)

forest

43.9% (2018 est.)

other

0% (2018 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Major aquifers

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

18 nm

continental shelf

extent not specified

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

droughts

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

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

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

27.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

0.2% (2020 est.)

women married by age 15

5.6%

women married by age 18

23.1%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.6% (2019/20)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

18.9% (2019/20)

Current health expenditure

2.6% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

60.9% (2023 est.)

Death rate

5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

The Gambia’s youthful age structure – approximately 55% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2021 – is likely to persist because the country’s total fertility rate remains strong at nearly 4 children per woman. The overall literacy rate is around 50%, and is significantly lower for women than for men. At least 70% of the populace are farmers who are reliant on rain-fed agriculture and cannot afford improved seeds and fertilizers. Crop failures caused by droughts between 2011 and 2013 increased poverty, food shortages, and malnutrition. The Gambia is a source country for migrants and a transit and destination country for migrants and refugees. Since the 1980s, economic deterioration, drought, and high unemployment, especially among youths, have driven both domestic migration (largely urban) and migration abroad (legal and illegal). Emigrants are largely skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, and provide a significant amount of remittances. The top receiving countries for Gambian emigrants are Spain, the US, Nigeria, Senegal, and the UK. While the Gambia and Spain do not share historic, cultural, or trade ties, rural Gambians have migrated to Spain in large numbers because of its proximity and the availability of jobs in its underground economy (this flow slowed following the onset of Spain’s late 2007 economic crisis). The Gambia’s role as a host country to refugees is a result of wars in several of its neighboring West African countries. Since 2006, refugees from the Casamance conflict in Senegal have replaced their pattern of flight and return with permanent settlement in The Gambia, often moving in with relatives along the Senegal-Gambia border. The strain of providing for about 7,400 Casamance refugees increased poverty among Gambian villagers. The number of refugees decreased to around 3,500 by 2022.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.5

potential support ratio

22.2 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

85

youth dependency ratio

80.5

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 85.7% of population

improved: total

total: 89.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 91.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 14.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 10.5% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 8.2% of population

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.74 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

32.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

39.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.1 years

male

66.7 years

total population

68.4 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

51.2% (2021)

male

65.2%

total population

58.1%

Major urban areas - population

481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)

note

note: includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing

Maternal mortality ratio

458 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

20.6 years

male

19.8 years

total

20.2 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.7 years (2019/20 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

adjective

Gambian

noun

Gambian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10.3% (2016)

Physician density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

1,272,837 (2024 est.)

male

1,250,490

total

2,523,327

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

2.16% (2024 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 33.6% of population

improved: total

total: 60% of population

improved: urban

urban: 75.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 66.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 40% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 24.2% of population

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

0.8% (2020 est.)

male

21.4% (2020 est.)

total

11.1% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

Banjul is located on Saint Mary's Island at the mouth of the Gambia River; the Mandinka used to gather fibrous plants on the island for the manufacture of ropes; "bang julo" is Mandinka for "rope fiber"; mispronunciation over time caused the term became the word Banjul

geographic coordinates

13 27 N, 16 34 W

name

Banjul

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

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; amended 2001, 2004, 2018

history

previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; note - in early 2018, the "Constitutional Review Commission," was established to draft  and assist in instituting a new constitution; a second draft completed in March 2020 was rejected by the National Assembly in September; the president announced in January 2022 government plans to draft a new constitution 

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of The Gambia

conventional short form

The Gambia

etymology

named for the Gambia River that flows through the heart of the country

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Sharon L. CROMER (since 18 March 2022)

email address and website

ConsularBanjul@state.govhttps://gm.usembassy.gov/

embassy

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

FAX

[220] 439-2475

mailing address

2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC  20521-2070

telephone

[220] 439-2856

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)

email address and website

info@gambiaembassydc.ushttps://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1399

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)

election results

2021: 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%2016: Adama BARROW elected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 December 2021 (next to be held in 2026); vice president appointed by the president

head of government

Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)  

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly (58 seats; 53 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NPP 33.9%, UDP 28.3%, independent 22.6%, NRP 7.5%, PDOIS 3.7%, APRL 3.7%; seats by party - NPP 18, UDP 15, independent 12, NRP 4, APRL 2, PDOIS 2; composition - men 53, women 5, percentage women 8.6%

elections

last held on 9 April 2022 (next to be held in 2027)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE

name

"For The Gambia, Our Homeland"

note

note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia

total World Heritage Sites

2 (both cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white

Political parties

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

groundnuts, milk, rice, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$221.137 million (2018 est.)

note

note: 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.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

-$86.553 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$86.877 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$90.251 million (2022 est.)

note

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

Debt - external

Debt - external 2022

$696.707 million (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

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.)

Exports

Exports 2020

$175.682 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$142.652 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$267.377 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

coconuts/Brazil nuts/cashews, wood, shellfish, scrap iron, fish oil (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

India 31%, China 23%, Italy 7%, Chile 7%, Portugal 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

5.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

8.8% (2023 est.)

household consumption

81.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-35.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

39.3% (2023 est.)

note

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

24.6% (2023 est.)

industry

15.2% (2023 est.)

note

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

services

51.5% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.34 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

38.8 (2020 est.)

note

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.6% (2020 est.)

lowest 10%

2.6% (2020 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2020

$690.979 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$726.23 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$829.516 million (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

cotton fabric, rice, raw sugar, poultry, palm oil (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 31%, Senegal 12%, India 8%, Brazil 8%, US 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

7.37% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11.51% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

16.97% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

969,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

53.4% (2020 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Public debt 2017

88% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$7.156 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$7.508 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$7.905 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.26% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.92% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$2,700 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,800 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$2,900 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

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

Remittances 2021

27.16% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

23.07% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

26.82% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: 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.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

6.21% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.08% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.48% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

10.4% (2023 est.)

male

10.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

10.6% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

524,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

524,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

405.405 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

140,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

104.176 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

31.2%

electrification - total population

65.4% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

82.8%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

99.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

2.651 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.2 (2020 est.)

total

5,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV-channel; one privately-owned TV-station; 1 Online TV-station; three state-owned radio station and 31 privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country  (2019)

Internet country code

.gm

Internet users

percent of population

33% (2021 est.)

total

858,000 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line subscriptions are 2 per 100 and  mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 110 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

Gambia’s telecom market has five mobile networks providing effective competition; mobile subscriptions are well above the African average, itself a testament to the poor condition of the fixed-line infrastructure and the lack of availability of fixed services in many rural areas of the country; there are only four licensed ISPs, which are small networks serving local areas, and so competition is minimal; their limited services are complemented by the fixed-wireless offerings of three of the MNOs; the government has embarked on a National Broadband Network program aimed at closing the digital divide affecting many parts of the country; despite efforts to improve internet connectivity, the country ranks among the lowest globally in terms of digital readiness. (2022)

international

country code - 220; landing point for the ACE submarine cable to West Africa and Europe; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

60,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

101 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

2.678 million (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C5

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 5, other 10

total

15 (2023)

National air transport system

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

53,735 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Ports

key ports

Banjul

ports with oil terminals

1

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

Roadways

paved

518 km

total

2,977 km

unpaved

2,459 km (2011)

Waterways

390 km (2010) (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km)

Military - note

the Gambian security forces have a history of involvement in domestic politics, including multiple coups attempts and mutinies, with the latest being an attempted coup in 2022; since 2017, Gambia’s security sector has been undergoing reforms as part of a national reconstruction effort to recover from the 22 years of Yahya JAMMEH’s autocratic rule under which the security forces were under-resourced in terms of finances and equipment and were largely directed towards regime protection and suppressing dissent; international partners, including member states of the EU, particularly France and Germany, as well as Turkey and the US have provided assistance for military and police reforms; several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have also provided security forces for stability, plus assistance and training through the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG); as of 2024, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal were providing military and gendarmerie personnel for ECOMIGthe GAF is a small and lightly armed force responsible for external defense, including maritime security, and aiding civil authorities in emergencies and natural disaster relief; it also engages in domestic support activities such as engineering, education, health, and agriculture development; the GAF participates in peacekeeping missions, and since its first deployments in the 1990s, has been involved in more than 10 UN peacekeeping missions the GAF traces its origins to the Gambia Regiment of the British Army; established in 1901, the Gambia Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF, later Royal West African Frontier Force or RWAFF) and served in both World Wars, including the British 1944-45 military campaign in Burma; the Gambia Regiment was disbanded in 1958 and replaced by the Field Force, a police paramilitary unit; the Field Force was responsible for The Gambia’s security until the establishment of the GAF in 1985; in addition, a defense agreement signed in 1965 between The Gambia and Senegal provided mutual assistance in the face of an external threat; from 1981-1989, The Gambia and Senegal formed a Confederal Army that was made up of troops from both countries (2024)

Military and security forces

Gambian Armed Forces (GAF; aka Armed Forces of the Gambia): the Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambia Navy, Gambia Air Force, Republican National Guard (RNG)Ministry of Interior: Gambia Police Force (GPF) (2024)

note

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 3,000 military personnel (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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 (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

0.8% of GDP (2019 est.)

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 service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-22 for officers); no conscription; service obligation six months  (2024)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

5,600 (2022)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.53 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

1.96 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

39.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Land use

agricultural land

56.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 41% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.)

forest

43.9% (2018 est.)

other

0% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

2.47% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

193,441 tons (2002 est.)