Contents

Country Overview

The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a narrow country in Western Africa extending inland along the Gambia River from the Atlantic coast. Banjul is the capital, while the larger western urban corridor includes Kanifing and Brikama. The country is surrounded on its landward sides by Senegal. It became independent from the United Kingdom on February 18, 1965, established a republic in 1970 and is governed by the 1997 Constitution, as amended. Agriculture, commerce, tourism and overseas remittances are central to its contemporary economy. [9] [7] [11] [1]

Reference status: Contemporary edition • Verified: November 5, 2026 • Numerical indicators carry their own observation dates.

CapitalBanjulCoastal national capital [9]
Population2.822 millionWorld Bank, 2025 estimate [1]
Total area11,295 km²UNData geographic reference [4]
Nominal GDPUS$2.59 billionWorld Bank, 2025 [1]
GDP per capitaUS$9192025, current US dollars [1]
CurrencyDalasi (GMD)100 bututs per dalasi [27]

Population series: The provisional 2024 census enumerated 2,422,712 people, whereas the World Bank estimates 2,822,093 people for 2025. The dates, coverage and methodologies differ; neither should be silently substituted for the other. [2] [1]

Identity and State Formation

Official name
Republic of The Gambia. [9]
Common name
The Gambia; Gambia (many international datasets and country lists). [9] [4]
Demonym
Gambian. [9]
Capital
Banjul, on St. Mary’s Island at the mouth of the Gambia River. [9]
Largest continuous urban area
Greater Banjul, including Kanifing and adjacent communities; the municipality of Banjul itself is much smaller than the metropolitan settlement. [4] [20]
Continent / UN M49 subregion
Africa / Western Africa; UN country numeric code 270. [28] [4]
Precolonial historical setting
Settlements and political communities developed within the wider Senegambian region before British colonization, with long-standing trade, Islamic, and Atlantic connections. [11]
Colonial administration
The river corridor became a British colonial possession and protectorate, with periods of overlapping regional European imperial interests. [11]
Internal self-government
1963, before complete independence from the United Kingdom. [11] [27]
Independence
February 18, 1965, from the United Kingdom, initially as a Commonwealth realm. [11]
Republic established
April 24, 1970, following a referendum; Dawda Jawara became the first president. [11]
Current constitutional order
1997 Constitution, introduced following a 1996 referendum, as amended; later replacement drafts have not displaced it. [12] [14] [15]
Draft constitutional reform
The proposed 2024 Constitution Bill was rejected by the National Assembly at second reading on July 7, 2025. [15]
Senegambia Confederation
Confederation with Senegal existed from 1982 to 1989 while the two states retained their separate identities. [11]
Military takeover
July 1994 coup removed President Dawda Jawara; Yahya Jammeh governed until the 2016 election and January 2017 transition. [26] [7]
Political transfer of power
Adama Barrow won the December 2016 election and took office in January 2017 after the disputed transition. [7] [26]
National day
Independence Day, February 18. [11]
ISO 3166-1 codes
GM (alpha-2); GMB (alpha-3); 270 (numeric). [28]
Internet country-code top-level domain
.gm.

Historical context: The Gambia’s modern constitutional history has multiple distinct benchmarks: British colonial control, independence in 1965, republican status in 1970, the 1994 coup, the 1997 constitution and the 2017 transfer of power. Its present constitutional framework was not replaced by the unsuccessful 2024 draft bill. [11] [12] [15] [7]

Geography and Population

Geographic setting
Narrow West African state following both banks of the Gambia River inland from the Atlantic coast. [7]
Total surface area
11,295 km², including inland water, under the UNData country measure. [4]
Land area
Approximately 10,120 km² in the UNCTAD geographic measure; area definitions can differ among statistical sources. [5]
Approximate surface area in square miles
4,361 sq. mi., using the UNData total surface-area measure. [4]
International land borders
Senegal is the sole land-bordering sovereign state. [7]
Maritime frontage
Atlantic Ocean coast along the western end of the country. [7]
Principal river
Gambia River, a navigable estuary and major inland corridor. [7]
Coastal geography
Low-lying beaches, estuaries, mangroves and riverine wetlands. [7]
Terrain
Predominantly low plains and gently rolling uplands along the river basin. [7]
Climate
Tropical with a marked seasonal division between rains and a drier period. [7]
National census (2013)
1,857,181 enumerated residents (Gambia Bureau of Statistics). [3]
National census (2024)
2,422,712 residents, provisional enumeration from the first digital population and housing census, May–June 2024. [2]
International population estimate (2025)
2,822,093 people (World Bank midyear estimate); different method and reference period from the 2024 census. [1]
Annual population growth
Approximately 2.2% (World Bank, 2025 estimate). [1]
Approximate density
About 279 people per km² of land, calculated from 2025 World Bank population and 10,120 km² land area; not an official census density. [1] [5]
Major administrative regions
West Coast, North Bank, Lower River, Central River and Upper River; Banjul and Kanifing have distinct urban administrative arrangements. [20]
Statistical local-government areas
Eight: Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama, Mansakonko, Kerewan, Kuntaur, Janjanbureh and Basse. [20]
Population concentrations
The western urban corridor around Kanifing, Brikama and Greater Banjul is particularly densely settled. [2]
Coastal and riverine ecology
Mangroves, wetlands, estuarine fish habitats, cultivated lowlands and savanna landscapes. [7]
Natural-environment concerns
Coastal erosion, changing rainfall, river flooding, habitat loss and pressures on water and marine resources. [7]
Landlocked status
Not landlocked; its western boundary opens to the Atlantic. [7]

Area and census conventions: Total area includes inland waters; land area excludes them. The May–June 2024 census is a provisional enumeration while the World Bank 2025 figure is a model-based estimate. Some of the eight statistical local-government areas are not coterminous with the five regional administrations. [4] [5] [2] [20] [1]

Economy and International Trade

Economic system
Small, open, lower-income mixed economy dependent on domestic trade, agriculture, remittances and tourism. [7] [8]
Nominal GDP
Approximately US$2.59 billion (World Bank, 2025, current dollars). [1]
Nominal GDP per capita
Approximately US$919 (World Bank, 2025, current dollars), not average wages or household income. [1]
Real GDP growth
5.9% (World Bank, 2025 annual growth). [1] [8]
Currency
Gambian dalasi (GMD), symbol D; 1 dalasi = 100 bututs. [4] [27]
National monetary authority
Central Bank of The Gambia. [27]
Dalasi introduced
1971, replacing the pre-decimal Gambian pound system. [27]
Principal economic activities
Wholesale and retail commerce, agriculture, construction, transport, public services, financial activities and tourism. [7] [8]
Main agricultural production
Groundnuts, rice, millet, maize, vegetables and horticultural crops; agriculture is sensitive to rainfall. [7] [8]
Fisheries
Artisanal and industrial fishing and seafood processing operate in coastal and riverine waters. [7] [6]
Visitor economy
Tourism generates foreign exchange through accommodation, hospitality, transport and cultural and coastal experiences. [8] [5]
Remittances from abroad
Personal remittances received were about 23.8% of GDP in the World Bank 2025 series, a major source of external household income. [1]
Employment pressure
Employment quality, youth labor opportunities and women’s economic participation are prominent development challenges. [8]
Merchandise exports (UNCTAD)
Approximately US$264 million in 2024 (UNCTAD estimate). [5]
Merchandise imports (UNCTAD)
Approximately US$1.505 billion in 2024 (UNCTAD estimate). [5]
Merchandise trade balance (UNCTAD)
Approximately US$1.241 billion deficit in 2024 (UNCTAD estimate). [5]
Merchandise exports (WTO/UN Comtrade)
US$49.6 million in 2024 under the separately reported UN Comtrade coverage; not equal to the UNCTAD estimated total. [6]
Merchandise imports (WTO/UN Comtrade)
US$988.5 million in 2024 under WTO/UN Comtrade data; distinct from UNCTAD estimates. [6]
Principal WTO-reported goods export destinations
China, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal led in the WTO/UN Comtrade 2024 breakdown; shares refer only to that coverage. [6]
Exported services
About US$475 million (UNCTAD, 2024) with tourism-related receipts especially significant. [5]
Imported services
About US$161 million (UNCTAD, 2024). [5]
Trade and re-export role
Distribution, transit and re-export activity affect the composition of merchandise trade; published aggregate totals differ substantially by statistical system. [5] [6]
Transport gateways
Port of Banjul and cross-border road connections underpin external goods movement. [7]
Key economic vulnerabilities
External financing conditions, fuel and food import costs, coastal climate risks and employment constraints. [8] [7]
Trade figures caution
2024 UNCTAD estimates (US$264m exports) and 2024 WTO/UN Comtrade entries (US$49.6m exports) must not be described as directly equivalent measurements. [5] [6]

Principal Export Categories

Representative merchandise export products from WTO/UN Comtrade 2024 records. Shares are percentages of the WTO-reported US$49.6 million total, not shares of UNCTAD's separately estimated total.
CategoryExamples and 2024 reporting context
Petroleum productsMedium petroleum oils and related preparations were about 23.1% of WTO-reported goods exports; lighter petroleum products contributed further shipments.
GroundnutsGroundnuts in shell were about 21.8% and groundnut seed about 9.3% of WTO-reported exports.
Refined sugarCane or beet sugar accounted for a substantial share of recorded merchandise exports, including a 13.9% primary customs line.
Cashew nutsIn-shell cashews and other agricultural commodities are shipped abroad, but product shares vary annually.
Fish and fish productsCoastal fishery products form a smaller visible component in the particular 2024 WTO breakdown.
Other merchandise and re-exportsSmaller goods include mineral sands, vehicles and other traded products, including activity linked to distribution and re-exports.
Services (separately measured)Tourism, travel and commercial services generate significant export receipts but are not included in merchandise-product shares.

Product detail: WTO / UN Comtrade (2024) [6]. Merchandise and service totals: UNCTAD estimates (2024) [5]. Different methods and coverage prevent direct comparison of their export totals.

Trade-source warning: UNCTAD’s estimated 2024 exports of US$264 million differ markedly from WTO/UN Comtrade’s 2024 US$49.6 million. The page identifies both by publisher instead of using one value as proof that the other is wrong; further statistical reconciliation would require detailed coverage and revision notes. Services are a separate category. [5] [6]

People and Society

Official language
English, used in central government, national administration and formal education. [10]
Widely spoken Gambian languages
Mandinka, Wolof, Pulaar/Fula, Jola, Serahule/Soninke and several other local languages. [10]
Language practice
Multilingual communication is common; home language, ethnic identification and official-language competence are not interchangeable statistics. [10]
Major ethnolinguistic communities
Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Jola and Serahule, alongside other Gambian and immigrant communities. [10]
Religious affiliation: Islam
Approximately 96.4% of the population in the U.S. State Department’s 2023 country estimate, principally Sunni Muslim; not a 2026 census count. [19]
Religious affiliation: Christianity
Approximately 3.5% of the population in the 2023 U.S. State Department estimate; Catholic and Protestant traditions are represented. [19]
Other religious traditions
Smaller Baha’i, Hindu, Ahmadiyya and other communities; Indigenous beliefs may coexist with organized religious affiliations. [19]
Freedom of religion
The Constitution protects religious practice and disallows establishment of an official state religion. [19] [14]
Religious estimate caveat
Percentages are approximate external demographic estimates, not results of the 2024 preliminary population census. [19] [2]
Demographic age structure
A youthful population, with about 39.7% aged 0–14 in the UN population projection used for the 2025 UNData profile. [4]
Population sex ratio
About 99.2 males per 100 females in the 2025 UNData projection. [4]
Life expectancy
About 66 years at birth (World Bank, 2024). [1]
Population and housing census
2024 preliminary digital census collected household, settlement, fertility, migration and other demographic characteristics. [2]
Urban-rural distinction
Urbanization is concentrated in the western corridor, while significant populations in other regions depend on rural and market-town economies. [2] [7]
Schooling
English-language formal schooling coexists with religious, community and technical learning traditions. [10] [8]
Education and labor market
Recent education gains have not eliminated disparities in workforce participation and employment outcomes. [8]
Public health
Healthcare services face geographic and resource constraints, with maternal and child health and infectious disease control among persistent priorities. [4] [7]
Gambian music
The kora, balafon, traditional percussion, singing and praise traditions are significant to Gambian musical cultures. [10]
Cultural and oral heritage
Griots/jalis maintain musical and oral-history traditions within multiple communities. [10]
Festivals and celebrations
Ramadan and Eid celebrations, Christian holidays and diverse community events shape public cultural life. [10] [19]
UNESCO-recognized heritage
Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites, and the transboundary Stone Circles of Senegambia. [25]

Religious and demographic conventions: The religion percentages shown are 2023 secondary estimates; they are not a census of all residents in 2026. The 2024 preliminary population count and later population estimates are also distinct. [19] [2] [1]

Government and Institutions

Form of government
Unitary presidential republic under the 1997 Constitution, as amended. [14] [12]
Head of state
President Adama Barrow; assumed office in January 2017. [17] [7]
Head of government
President Adama Barrow; the president heads the executive government. [17]
Vice president
Muhammed B. S. Jallow, listed by the Office of the President; spellings of the given name vary in official materials. [18]
Current constitutional foundation
1997 Constitution remains in force; the proposed 2024 replacement bill was defeated in 2025. [14] [15]
Current constitutional reform status
A replacement draft did not obtain the required legislative threshold in July 2025; institutional reforms remain under public discussion. [15] [7]
Executive branch
President, vice president, cabinet ministries, administrative departments and statutory agencies. [17] [18]
Legislature
Unicameral National Assembly with 58 statutory members. [12] [13]
Directly elected legislators
53 members elected from single-member constituencies. [12] [13]
Nominated legislators
Five members appointed by the president. [12] [13]
Legislative term
Five years. [12]
Current legislative cycle
Sixth Legislature inaugurated after the April 9, 2022 parliamentary election. [12] [13]
Speaker of the National Assembly
Fabakary Tombong Jatta (elected during the 2022 Sixth Legislature). [12]
Last completed presidential election
December 2021, when President Barrow was reelected for a further five-year term. [7] [13]
Next scheduled presidential election
December 5, 2026, according to the Independent Electoral Commission; future event as of this profile cutoff. [16]
Next scheduled National Assembly election
April 10, 2027, according to the IEC published calendar. [16]
Electoral authority
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). [16]
National judiciary
Supreme Court and other courts operating under the constitutional and statutory legal system. [14]
Regional and local administration
Five named administrative regions with separate Banjul and Kanifing urban authorities; GBoS uses eight LGAs for census reporting. [20]
Five principal regions
West Coast, Lower River, North Bank, Central River, Upper River. [20]
Eight statistical LGAs
Banjul, Kanifing, Brikama, Mansakonko, Kerewan, Kuntaur, Janjanbureh and Basse. [20]
National political transition (1994)
Military takeover overthrew President Dawda Jawara and began the Yahya Jammeh period. [26] [11]
National political transition (2016–2017)
Electoral defeat of Jammeh and his eventual departure enabled Barrow to take office in January 2017. [7] [26]
Truth and reconciliation record
The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission investigated abuses committed from July 1994 through January 2017. [26]
Truth commission final report
Delivered November 25, 2021, containing 265 recommendations; later implementation and legal proceedings are separate developments. [26]
2026 electoral status
Campaign and nomination arrangements underway before the scheduled December 5, 2026 poll; the result must not be presumed. [16] [7]

Constitution and elections: The proposed constitutional replacement failed in 2025, leaving the 1997 Constitution operative. The December 5, 2026 presidential election is a scheduled future event relative to the November 5, 2026 editorial cutoff; no result is implied. The official National Assembly and IPU figures are 53 elected plus five nominated members, not an older 48-plus-five description. [15] [16] [12] [13]

International Profile

United Nations
Member since September 21, 1965. [21] [4]
African Union
Member of the African Union and continental African cooperation frameworks. [7]
ECOWAS
Member of the Economic Community of West African States. [22]
Commonwealth of Nations
Joined in 1965; withdrew in 2013 and rejoined in February 2018. [24]
World Trade Organization
Member since October 23, 1996; earlier GATT contracting party since February 22, 1965. [23]
World Bank Group
Country development programs and financing supporting economic development and public services. [8] [7]
International Monetary Fund
Member of the IMF and participant in macroeconomic surveillance and financing arrangements. [7]
Regional strategic relationship
Senegal surrounds The Gambia on the landward sides, shaping transport, commerce, migration and shared river-basin ties. [7]
Senegambia historical link
The short-lived 1982–1989 Senegambia Confederation illustrates an earlier regional integration initiative. [11]
World Heritage properties
Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites (2003); Stone Circles of Senegambia (2006), shared transnationally with Senegal. [25]
Global trade connections
2024 WTO-reported goods destinations prominently included China, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal; product and partner figures depend on dataset. [6]
Time zone
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), UTC+00:00; no routine seasonal daylight-saving adjustment. [9]
International dialing code
+220.
Internet country-code domain
.gm.
UN geographic location
Africa → Western Africa (UN M49). [28]
Regional development concerns
Cross-border commerce, coastal resilience, migration, tourism and energy access are significant cooperation priorities. [7] [8]

Sources and Verification

Editorial cutoff: November 5, 2026. Indicators and institutional facts are dated at their underlying source period. Annual 2025 World Bank indicators, preliminary 2024 census enumeration, 2024 trade data and 2023 religion estimates do not represent a single synchronized statistical year. The December 2026 election has not occurred as of this cutoff.

  1. World Bank, The Gambia Country Data — 2025 population 2,822,093; nominal GDP approximately US$2.59 billion; GDP per capita US$919.1; real GDP growth 5.9%; population growth 2.2%; and selected 2024–2025 indicators.
  2. Gambia Bureau of Statistics, 2024 Population and Housing Census Preliminary Report — Digital census conducted May–June 2024; provisional enumerated population 2,422,712; method and regional demographic information. The result is not a World Bank population estimate.
  3. Gambia Bureau of Statistics, Total Population Series — 2013 census count 1,857,181 and historical pre-2024 population series.
  4. United Nations Statistics Division, UNData Gambia Country Profile — Western Africa classification, surface area 11,295 km², UN admission September 21, 1965, currency, 2025 population reference and selected development indicators. Some economic table years differ from their display column.
  5. UN Trade and Development, Gambia General Profile — UNCTAD 2024 merchandise-trade estimates: exports US$264 million, imports US$1.505 billion and deficit US$1.241 billion; services exports US$475 million and imports US$161 million; land area approximately 10,120 km².
  6. World Trade Organization, The Gambia Tariff and Trade Profile — UN Comtrade 2024 reported merchandise exports US$49.6 million and imports US$988.5 million; export-product and destination breakdown. These are different from UNCTAD 2024 estimates.
  7. World Bank, The Gambia Country Overview — Contemporary geography, agriculture, construction, tourism, remittances, the post-2017 political transition and the scheduled December 2026 election. Dynamic page; verify cutoff when updating.
  8. World Bank, The Gambia Economic Update, June 9, 2026 — World Bank assessment of 2025 5.9% growth, tourism recovery, jobs, fiscal resilience and development challenges.
  9. Government of The Gambia, Country Overview — Official name, capital, currency and basic country identification; some displayed population totals are older estimates.
  10. Government of The Gambia, People and Culture — English official language; principal ethno-linguistic groups and cultural traditions. Ethnic-share summaries on this page are historical and should not be used as a new 2026 census.
  11. Independent Electoral Commission, History — Independence February 18, 1965, republic April 24, 1970, early electoral and constitutional history.
  12. National Assembly of The Gambia, Parliamentary History — 1997 Constitution, unicameral National Assembly of 58 members, 53 directly elected and five presidential appointees, parliamentary terms and 2022 legislature.
  13. Inter-Parliamentary Union, The Gambia Parliament Profile — Official comparative legislature data: statutory size of 58, 53 elected and five appointed members.
  14. The Gambia Ministry of Justice, Constitution and Constitutional Review Documents — Publication of the 1997 Constitution and subsequent drafts, along with the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission record; the draft is not the Constitution in force.
  15. International IDEA, The Gambia Democracy Tracker, July 2025 — July 7, 2025 rejection of 2024 draft Constitution Bill at second reading; 1997 Constitution remains operative.
  16. Independent Electoral Commission, Electoral Calendar 2026–2027 — Presidential election scheduled for December 5, 2026; National Assembly election scheduled for April 10, 2027; local government elections in May and June 2027.
  17. Office of the President, The Gambia: The Presidency — President Adama Barrow as head of state and executive leader, official State House profile.
  18. Office of the President, The Gambia: Vice President — Vice President Muhammed B. S. Jallow; transliteration of first given name varies on other official pages.
  19. U.S. Department of State, 2023 International Religious Freedom Report: The Gambia — 2023 approximate religious composition: 96.4% Muslim and 3.5% Christian, with small other religious communities. Estimates, not a 2026 census.
  20. Gambia Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Concepts: Administrative Regions — Five principal administrative regions alongside separate Banjul and Kanifing urban administrations; eight statistical local government areas.
  21. United Nations, Member States — Gambia admitted to United Nations September 21, 1965.
  22. Economic Community of West African States, Basic Information — The Gambia listed as a member of ECOWAS; regional economic integration mandate.
  23. World Trade Organization, The Gambia Membership — Member of WTO since October 23, 1996; earlier GATT contracting party since February 22, 1965.
  24. Commonwealth Secretariat, The Gambia Country Profile — Joined after independence in 1965; withdrew 2013 and rejoined in February 2018.
  25. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, The Gambia — Two inscribed World Heritage properties: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites (2003), and transboundary Stone Circles of Senegambia (2006).
  26. Gambian Ministry of Justice, Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission — TRRC investigated 1994–2017 human-rights abuses and submitted its final report November 25, 2021, containing 265 recommendations.
  27. Central Bank of The Gambia, Evolution of Currency — Dalasi introduced 1971 with decimal currency: 100 bututs per dalasi.
  28. UN Statistics Division, M49 Country and Area Codes — UN Western Africa geographic grouping and ISO-style country code references.

Methods: Nominal GDP measures current-price national output; GDP per capita divides GDP by population and is not household income. Trade figures from different systems are stated with their publisher and coverage. Census counts are not projections. Cultural and religious distributions may overlap and carry sampling or estimation uncertainty. [1] [2] [5] [6] [19]