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.
TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 11,300 sq km
land: 10,120 sq km
water: 1,180 sq km
comparison ranking: total 165
Area – comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries
total: 749 km
border countries (1): Senegal 749 km
Coastline
80 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
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
Natural resources
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land use
agricultural land: 62.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 43.5% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.7% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 18.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 22.8% (2022 est.)
other: 14.5% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) – 1,094 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
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
Natural hazards
droughts
Geography – note
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland
People and Society
Population
total: 2,523,327 (2024 est.)
male: 1,250,490
female: 1,272,837
comparison rankings: total 144; female 144; male 144
Nationality
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
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.)
Languages
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Religions
Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1% (2019-20 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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 72.1 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 65.7 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 6.3 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 15.8 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 20.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.6 years
comparison ranking: total 205
Population growth rate
2.16% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 34
Birth rate
27.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 36
Death rate
5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 177
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 80
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
Urbanization
urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)
note: includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing
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
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
20.7 years (2019/20 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
458 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 17
Infant mortality rate
total: 35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 35
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 66.7 years
female: 70.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 189
Total fertility rate
3.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 33
Gross reproduction rate
1.74 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
18.9% (2019/20)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 91.8% of population
rural: 85.7% of population
total: 89.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8.2% of population
rural: 14.3% of population
total: 10.5% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
3.2% of GDP (2021)
7.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 75.8% of population
rural: 33.6% of population
total: 60% of population
unimproved:
urban: 24.2% of population
rural: 66.4% of population
total: 40% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
10.3% (2016)
comparison ranking: 138
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 2.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 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.)
comparison ranking: total 121
Tobacco use
total: 8.6% (2025 est.)
male: 17% (2025 est.)
female: 0.5% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 137
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.6% (2020)
comparison ranking: 45
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
60.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 5.6% (2020)
women married by age 18: 23.1% (2020)
men married by age 18: 0.2% (2020)
Education expenditure
2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
17.5% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 168
Literacy
total population: 51.6% (2021 est.)
male: 65.3% (2021 est.)
female: 40.5% (2021 est.)
Environment
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
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Land use
agricultural land: 62.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 43.5% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.7% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 18.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 22.8% (2022 est.)
other: 14.5% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 39.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.53 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 1.96 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 193,441 tons (2002 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) – 1,094 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
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”
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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, “bangjulo,” or “rope making”
Administrative divisions
5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast
Legal system
mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
Constitution
history: previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997
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
note: in 2024, The Gambian government announced its commitment to adopting a new constitution
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)
head of government: Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
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
most recent election date: 4 December 2021
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%
expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 4/9/2022
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%
expected date of next election: April 2027
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)
chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon L. CROMER (since 18 March 2022)
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul
mailing address: 2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC 20521-2070
telephone: [220] 439-2856
FAX: [220] 439-2475
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
Independence
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; 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
National symbol(s)
lion
National color(s)
red, blue, green, white
National anthem
name: “For The Gambia, Our Homeland”
lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song “Foday Kaba Dumbuya”
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$7.911 billion (2023 est.)
$7.549 billion (2022 est.)
$7.156 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 170
Real GDP growth rate
4.8% (2023 est.)
5.49% (2022 est.)
5.26% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 59
Real GDP per capita
$2,900 (2023 est.)
$2,900 (2022 est.)
$2,800 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 198
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.396 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
17% (2023 est.)
11.5% (2022 est.)
7.4% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 196
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 23.2% (2023 est.)
industry: 16.7% (2023 est.)
services: 53.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 129; industry 163; agriculture 25
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 85.9% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 7.4% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 27.3% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 9.6% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -32.8% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate
10.15% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 19
Labor force
783,100 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 153
Unemployment rate
6.5% (2024 est.)
6.5% (2023 est.)
6.1% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 127
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 10.9% (2024 est.)
male: 10.9% (2024 est.)
female: 10.9% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 122
Population below poverty line
53.4% (2020 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
38.8 (2020 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 50
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.6% (2020 est.)
highest 10%: 30.5% (2020 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
21.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
22.76% of GDP (2022 est.)
27.16% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $308.887 million (2018 est.)
expenditures: $221.137 million (2018 est.)
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
Public debt
88% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 29
Taxes and other revenues
20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 83
Current account balance
-$204.132 million (2023 est.)
-$90.251 million (2022 est.)
-$86.877 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 108
Exports
$643.689 million (2023 est.)
$267.377 million (2022 est.)
$142.652 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 189
Exports – partners
Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$1.38 billion (2023 est.)
$829.516 million (2022 est.)
$726.23 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 188
Imports – partners
Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$577.028 million (2023 est.)
$568.244 million (2022 est.)
$652.671 million (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 165
Debt – external
$902.421 million (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 106
Exchange rates
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
61.096 (2023 est.)
54.923 (2022 est.)
51.484 (2021 est.)
51.502 (2020 est.)
50.062 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 65.4% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 82.8%
electrification – rural areas: 31.2%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 162,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 410.824 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 104.176 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 48; consumption 179; installed generating capacity 179
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 188
Energy consumption per capita
2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 180
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 60,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 150
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 2.68 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 144
Broadcast media
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)
Internet country code
.gm
Internet users
percent of population: 46% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 6,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 193
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
C5
Airports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 223
Merchant marine
total: 15 (2023)
by type: general cargo 5, other 10
comparison ranking: total 151
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Banjul
Military and Security
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) (2025)
note: the RNG is responsible for VIP protection, riot control, and presidential security, while the GPF maintains internal security
Military expenditures
0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 3,000-4,000 active Gambian Armed Forces (2025)
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 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)
Military – note
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
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)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 5,600 (2022)
