Gambia, The

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 6,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

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.)

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.)

Agricultural products

rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Current account balance

-$74.374 million (2024 est.) -$120.064 million (2023 est.) -$90.251 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$902.421 million (2023 est.) 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

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 61.096 (2023 est.) 54.923 (2022 est.) 51.484 (2021 est.) 51.502 (2020 est.) 50.062 (2019 est.)

Exports

$838.409 million (2024 est.) $717.774 million (2023 est.) $267.377 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.508 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 83.2% (2024 est.) government consumption: 8.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 39% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 6.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -37.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 24.1% (2024 est.) industry: 14.7% (2024 est.) services: 53.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

38.8 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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

Imports

$1.549 billion (2024 est.) $1.353 billion (2023 est.) $829.516 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2024 est.) 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)

11.6% (2024 est.) 17% (2023 est.) 11.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

783,100 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

53.4% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.365 billion (2024 est.) $7.911 billion (2023 est.) $7.549 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

5.7% (2024 est.) 4.8% (2023 est.) 5.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$3,000 (2024 est.) $2,900 (2023 est.) $2,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

21.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 21.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 22.8% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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

Unemployment rate

6.5% (2024 est.) 6.5% (2023 est.) 6.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 65.4% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 82.8% electrification - rural areas: 31.2%

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.)

Energy consumption per capita

2.731 million Btu/person (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.)

Climate

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

Environmental issues

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

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

Land use

agricultural land: 62.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.) forest: 22% (2023 est.) other: 15.4% (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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.)

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.)

Area

total : 11,300 sq km land: 10,120 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

total: 749 km border countries (1): Senegal 749 km

Land use

agricultural land: 62.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.) forest: 22% (2023 est.) other: 15.4% (2023 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 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: extent not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 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

Administrative divisions

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

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"

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

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

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"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025) 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: ConsularBanjul@state.gov https://gm.usembassy.gov/

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

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

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

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

National anthem(s)

title: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland" lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE history: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion

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

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 - 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 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 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 (2025)

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 service age and obligation

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

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

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.)

Birth rate

26.49 births/1,000 population (2025 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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.6% (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

63% (2020 est.)

Death rate

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

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.)

Drinking water source

urban: 90.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 85.6% of population (2022 est.) urban: 9.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 14.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

2.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 14.2% national budget (2025 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

1.67 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

3.2% of GDP (2021) 7.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

total: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.4 years (2024 est.) male: 66.7 years female: 70.1 years

Literacy

total population: 51.6% (2021 est.) male: 65.3% (2021 est.) female: 40.5% (2021 est.)

Major urban areas - population

481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023) note: includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

total: 20.5 years (2025 est.) male: 19.8 years female: 20.6 years

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

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10.3% (2016)

Physician density

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

total: 2,523,327 (2024 est.) male: 1,250,490 female: 1,272,837

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

2.09% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 74.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 32% of population (2022 est.) total: 59.4% of population (2022 est.) urban: 25.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 68% of population (2022 est.) total: 40.6% of population (2022 est.)

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.)

Tobacco use

total: 8.6% (2025 est.) male: 17% (2025 est.) female: 0.5% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 4,411 (2024 est.) IDPs: 7,462 (2024 est.)

Airports

1 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C5

Merchant marine

total: 15 (2023) by type: general cargo 5, other 10

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Banjul