Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
6,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.gm
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
49.49% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
60,000 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
101 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
2.68 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$221.137 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$308.887 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$97.1 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$84.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$53.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$76.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$95.2 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$135.0 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$37.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$86.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$86.9 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$90.251 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$120.064 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$74.374 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$1.180 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$902.421 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
67.6612 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
35.9576 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
41.7330 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
42.5062 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
43.3725 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
46.6089 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
48.1518 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
50.0625 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
51.5017 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
51.4844 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
54.9235 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
61.0963 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
67.6612 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$237.7 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$268.5 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$214.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$189.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$278.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$372.4 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$365.7 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$174.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$133.3 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$267.377 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$717.774 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$838.409 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
6.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
8.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
83.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-37.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
39% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
24.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
14.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
53.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,476 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.508 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$9.593 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
35.9 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
38.8 (2020 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
30.5% (2020 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.6% (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$406.6 million (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$399.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$376.5 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$560.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$710.4 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$649.9 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$684.8 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$714.6 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$829.516 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$1.353 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$1.549 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
2.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
6.81% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
7.23% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
8.03% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
6.52% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
7.12% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
5.93% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
7.37% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
11.51% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
16.97% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
11.56% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
783,100 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
53.40% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$4.186 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$4.428 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$4.596 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$4.776 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$5.950 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$6.367 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$7.156 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$7.549 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$7.911 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$8.365 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.06% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.94% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.82% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
7.23% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
6.22% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
0.59% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.26% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.49% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.92% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.55% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$1,934 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$1,990 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$2,013 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$2,039 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$2,422 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$2,531 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$2,778 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$3,067 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$3,289 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$109.8 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$137.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$154.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$416.4 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$547.1 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
22.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
21.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
21.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$111.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$87.6 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$170.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$191.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$257.0 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$387.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$652.671 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$568.244 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$577.028 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$628.8 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.48% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.84% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
6.21% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
6.07% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
6.48% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
6.48% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
10.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
10.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
10.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
31.2%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
65.4% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
82.8%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
410.824 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
162,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
104.176 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
62.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
22% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
15.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
39.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
41.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
64.30% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
193,400 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Geography: Area: land
10,120 sq km
Geography: Area: water
1,180 sq km
Geography: Coastline
80 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
34 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Geography: Geography - note
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland
Geography: Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Senegal 749 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
749 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
62.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
22% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
15.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Geography: 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
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
18 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
extent not specified
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
droughts
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Government: Administrative divisions
5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast
Government: Capital: 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"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
13 27 N, 16 34 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997
Government: Country name: conventional short form
The Gambia
Government: Country name: 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: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ConsularBanjul@state.gov https://gm.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[220] 439-2475
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC 20521-2070
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[220] 439-2856
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@gambiaembassydc.us https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 785-1430
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 785-1399
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
4 December 2021
Government: Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green meaning: 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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
April 2027
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
4/9/2022
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch: 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
8.6%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
Government: National color(s)
red, blue, green, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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.
Military and Security: 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)
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)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 3,000-4,000 active Gambian Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: 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 (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.01% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.69% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.80% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.82% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.78% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.71% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.58% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.57% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-28 years of age for men and women depending on enlisted, officer, or specialized positions (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
38.2% (male 486,472/female 477,309)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
58.1% (male 723,360/female 743,127)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.7% (2024 est.) (male 40,658/female 52,401)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
2.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
26.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
0.2% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
5.6% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
23.1% (2020)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.6% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
2.89% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
15.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
72.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
65.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 85.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 90.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 14.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 9.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.2% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.81% (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.67 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
7.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.30% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
32.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
32.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
67.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
64.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
40.5% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
65.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
51.64% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
20.6 years
People and Society: Median age: male
19.8 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.7 years (2019/20 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Gambian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
10.3% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
2,759,988 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.28% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,272,837
People and Society: Population: male
1,250,490
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 32% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 59.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 68% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 40.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.78 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
17% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
8.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.91 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
64.30% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
7,462 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
4,411 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
C5
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 5, other 10
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
15 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Banjul
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.