CapitalBanjul
Population2,523,327
Area11,300 km²
GDP per capita$3,000
LanguagesEnglish , Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, and various other indigenous languages
Currencydalasis
Life Expectancy68.4 yr
Governmentpresidential republic
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
land
10,120 sq km
water
1,180 sq km
total
11,300 sq km
Climate
tropical; characterized by a hot, rainy period from June to November, followed by a cooler, dry period from November to May
Terrain
the floodplain of the Gambia River, bordered by some low hills
Land use
other
15.4% (2023 est.)
forest
22% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location
located in Western Africa, adjacent to the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Coastline
80 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
an unnamed elevation of 63 m, situated 3 km southeast of Sabi
mean elevation
34 m
Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
749 km
border countries
Senegal 749 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
18 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
extent not specified
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
droughts
Geography - note
almost entirely surrounded by Senegal; the smallest nation on the African mainland
Natural resources
resources include fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (in the forms of rutile and ilmenite), tin, and zircon
Area - comparative
approximately less than twice the area of Delaware
Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Population distribution
communities are dispersed along the Gambia River; the most significant populations, including Banjul, the capital, and Serekunda, the largest city, are located at the river's mouth along the Atlantic coastline, as depicted in this population distribution map
Major rivers (by length in km)
Gambia river mouth (jointly with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km
note: [s] denotes river source following the country name; [m] denotes river mouth following the country name
People & Society
Literacy
male
65.3% (2021 est.)
female
40.5% (2021 est.)
total population
51.6% (2021 est.)
Languages
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, and various other indigenous languages
Religions
Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1% (2019-20 estimate)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.78 male(s)/female
Birth rate
26.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
19.8 years
total
20.5 years (2025 est.)
female
20.6 years
Population
male
1,250,490
total
2,523,327 (2024 est.)
female
1,272,837
Nationality
noun
Gambian(s)
adjective
Gambian
Tobacco use
male
17% (2025 est.)
total
8.6% (2025 est.)
female
0.5% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
64.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
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 estimate)
Child marriage
men married by age 18
0.2% (2020)
women married by age 15
5.6% (2020)
women married by age 18
23.1% (2020)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
72.1 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
65.7 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
15.8 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
6.3 (2024 est.)
Physician density
0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
7.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
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
Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
total
35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
32.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
2.09% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.67 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
populations are dispersed along the Gambia River; the most significant populations, such as the capital Banjul and the largest city Serekunda, are located at the river's mouth along the Atlantic coastline, as illustrated in this population distribution map
Life expectancy at birth
male
66.7 years
female
70.1 years
total population
68.4 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
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.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
2.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
10.3% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.7 years (2019/20 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.6% (2020 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical; warm, wet season (June through November); cooler, dry period (November to May)
Land use
other
15.4% (2023 est.)
forest
22% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization
urban population
64.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
193,400 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation resulting from slash-and-burn farming; desertification; contamination of water; diseases transmitted through water
Total water withdrawal
municipal
41.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
39.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental 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
Government
Flag
description: three equal horizontal stripes in red (top), blue bordered in white, and green
meaning: red symbolizes the sun and savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green signifies forests and agriculture; the white bands reflect unity and peace
Capital
name
Banjul
etymology
the name originates from a miscommunication between Portuguese colonizers and local inhabitants in the 15th century; when inquired about the region's name, the locals mistakenly believed they were being asked what they were doing and responded with "bangjulo," or "rope making"
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
13 27 N, 16 34 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous constitutions include the 1965 (Independence Act) and 1970; the most recent was adopted on 8 April 1996, confirmed by referendum on 8 August 1996, and took effect on 16 January 1997
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; to pass, it requires a minimum three-fourths majority vote from Assembly members across multiple readings and the president's endorsement; amendments involving national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public finance necessitate a referendum; for a successful referendum, at least 50% of eligible voters must participate, with a minimum of 75% of votes cast in favor
Country name
etymology
named after the Gambia River which traverses the nation; Portuguese explorers in the 15th century derived the river's name from its local term, Ba-Dimma, meaning "the river"
conventional long form
Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form
The Gambia
Independence
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
Legal system
a hybrid legal framework incorporating English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of The Gambia (comprises the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions conducted with 5 justices)
subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Islamic courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts
judge selection and term of office
justices are appointed by the president following consultations with the Judicial Service Commission, which consists of 6 senior judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices serve for life or until reaching mandatory retirement at age 75
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
chief of state
President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)
election results
2021: Adama BARROW reelected as president; vote percentages - Adama BARROW (NPP) 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 12.3%, others 6.8%
2016: Adama BARROW elected president; vote percentages - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1%
head of government
Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)
most recent election date
4 December 2021
election/appointment process
the president is directly elected through a simple-majority popular vote for a term of 5 years (no term limits); the vice president is appointed by the president
expected date of next election
2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
National color(s)
red, blue, green, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia
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
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
National Assembly
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
4/9/2022
expected date of next election
April 2027
percentage of women in chamber
8.6%
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)
National anthem(s)
title
"For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
history
adopted in 1965; the anthem is based on the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"
lyrics/music
Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
National symbol(s)
lion
Administrative divisions
5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 785-1430
chancery
5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone
[1] (202) 785-1399
chief of mission
Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[220] 439-2475
embassy
Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul
telephone
[220] 439-2856
mailing address
2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC 20521-2070
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://gm.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$308.887 million (2018 est.)
expenditures
$221.137 million (2018 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$267.377 million (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$717.774 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$838.409 million (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$829.516 million (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$1.353 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$1.549 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, assembly of agricultural machinery, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Labor force
783,100 (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
22.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
21.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
21.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
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.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$902.421 million (2023 est.)
Economic overview
economy in West Africa characterized by low income; agriculture-based; high levels of poverty; rising inflation; reliance on foreign aid and remittances; structural reforms linked to the IMF Extended Credit Facility program
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
6.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
6.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
6.5% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023)
Imports - partners
Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
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.)
Real GDP growth rate
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.)
Agricultural products
rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023)
Exports - commodities
packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023)
Current account balance
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.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.508 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
83.2% (2024 est.)
government consumption
8.5% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
39% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
6.6% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-37.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
53.4% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
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.)
Industrial production growth rate
2.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
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.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
10.9% (2024 est.)
total
10.9% (2024 est.)
female
10.9% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
14.7% (2024 est.)
services
53.9% (2024 est.)
agriculture
24.1% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.6% (2020 est.)
highest 10%
30.5% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
38.8 (2020 est.)
Energy
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
410.824 million kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
162,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
104.176 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
31.2%
electrification - urban areas
82.8%
electrification - total population
65.4% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
46% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
One television channel operated by the state; a single privately owned television station; one online television channel; three radio stations owned by the state alongside thirty-one privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; broadcasts from various international media outlets are accessible; cable and satellite television subscription services are offered in certain regions of the nation (2019)
Internet country code
.gm
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
60,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
2.68 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
101 (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
6,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
0
medium
0
key ports
Banjul
very small
1
total ports
1 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
1
Airports
1 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
15 (2023)
by type
general cargo 5, other 10
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
C5
Military & Security
Military - note
The Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) are tasked with external defense and assisting civil authorities during internal crises and natural disaster relief efforts. They engage in multinational peacekeeping operations, as well as domestic initiatives such as agricultural development, construction, education, and health services. The Gambian security forces have a notable history of involvement in domestic political affairs, which includes several coup attempts and mutinies, the most recent being an attempted coup in 2022.
Since January 2017, various members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have contributed security forces to ensure stability in The Gambia, alongside providing assistance and training to the GAF and other Gambian security forces via the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG). As of 2025, military and gendarmerie personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal were supporting ECOMIG.
Military expenditures
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.)
Military and security forces
Gambian Armed Forces (GAF; also known as Armed Forces of the Gambia): includes the Gambian National Army (GNA), the Gambia Navy, the Gambia Air Force, and the Republican National Guard (RNG).
Ministry of Interior: Gambia Police Force (GPF) (2025)
Military service age and obligation
The age requirement for enlistment varies from 18 to 28 years for both men and women, depending on whether the position is enlisted, officer, or specialized (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military of The Gambia possesses a limited stockpile of primarily older, outdated, or donated equipment, sourced from various suppliers, including Taiwan, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
It is estimated that there are between 3,000 and 4,000 active members of the Gambian Armed Forces (2025).
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
7,462 (2024 est.)
refugees
4,411 (2024 est.)
