Gambia - GM - GMB - GAM - Africa

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:
ConsularBanjul@state.gov

https://gm.usembassy.gov/

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)

13 28 N, 16 34 W

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.)

droughts

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

18-25 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-22 for officers); no conscription; service obligation six months  (2024)

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. 

 

 

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

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

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2019 est.)

53.4% (2020 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

lowest 10%: 2.6% (2020 est.)

highest 10%: 30.5% (2020 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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

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"

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

80 km

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 

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.)

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

elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 December 2021 (next to be held in 2026); vice president appointed by the president

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%

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

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

total: 749 km

border countries (1): Senegal 749 km

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.)

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

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

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 58.1%

male: 65.2%

female: 51.2% (2021)

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 18 nm

continental shelf: extent not specified

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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 Day, 18 February (1965)

noun: Gambian(s)

adjective: Gambian

fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland

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

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 

18 years of age; universal

general assessment: Gambia’s telecom market has five mobile networks providing effective competition; mobile subscriptions are well above the African average, itself a testament to the poor condition of the fixed-line infrastructure and the lack of availability of fixed services in many rural areas of the country; there are only four licensed ISPs, which are small networks serving local areas, and so competition is minimal; their limited services are complemented by the fixed-wireless offerings of three of the MNOs; the government has embarked on a National Broadband Network program aimed at closing the digital divide affecting many parts of the country; despite efforts to improve internet connectivity, the country ranks among the lowest globally in terms of digital readiness. (2022)

domestic: fixed-line subscriptions are 2 per 100 and  mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 110 per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 220; landing point for the ACE submarine cable to West Africa and Europe; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

presidential republic

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"

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Africa

50 sq km (2012)

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

percent of population: 54% (2022 est.)

.gm

IDPs: 5,600 (2022)

$2.396 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

1 state-run TV-channel; one privately-owned TV-station; 1 Online TV-station; three state-owned radio station and 31 privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country 

(2019)

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.)

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"

481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)

note: includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white

20.7 years (2019/20 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

18.9% (2019/20)

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

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.)

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

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

electrification - total population: 65.4% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 82.8%

electrification - rural areas: 31.2%

C5

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.)

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.)

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

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

Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

highest point: unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 34 m

3.2% of GDP (2021)

estimated 3,000 military personnel (2023)

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)

the Gambian security forces have a history of involvement in domestic politics, including multiple coups attempts and mutinies, with the latest being an attempted coup in 2022; since 2017, Gambia’s security sector has been undergoing reforms as part of a national reconstruction effort to recover from the 22 years of Yahya JAMMEH’s autocratic rule under which the security forces were under-resourced in terms of finances and equipment and were largely directed towards regime protection and suppressing dissent; international partners, including member states of the EU, particularly France and Germany, as well as Turkey and the US have provided assistance for military and police reforms; several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have also provided security forces for stability, plus assistance and training through the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG); as of 2024, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal were providing military and gendarmerie personnel for ECOMIG

the GAF is a small and lightly armed force responsible for external defense, including maritime security, and aiding civil authorities in emergencies and natural disaster relief; it also engages in domestic support activities such as engineering, education, health, and agriculture development; the GAF participates in peacekeeping missions, and since its first deployments in the 1990s, has been involved in more than 10 UN peacekeeping missions 

the GAF traces its origins to the Gambia Regiment of the British Army; established in 1901, the Gambia Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF, later Royal West African Frontier Force or RWAFF) and served in both World Wars, including the British 1944-45 military campaign in Burma; the Gambia Regiment was disbanded in 1958 and replaced by the Field Force, a police paramilitary unit; the Field Force was responsible for The Gambia’s security until the establishment of the GAF in 1985; in addition, a defense agreement signed in 1965 between The Gambia and Senegal provided mutual assistance in the face of an external threat; from 1981-1989, The Gambia and Senegal formed a Confederal Army that was made up of troops from both countries (2024)

municipal: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 193,441 tons (2002 est.)

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.)

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin

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

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia

women married by age 15: 5.6%

women married by age 18: 23.1%

men married by age 18: 0.2% (2020 est.)

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.)

refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

1.74 (2024 est.)

60.9% (2023 est.)

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

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 0

very small: 1

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Banjul

973,000 (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total: 10.6% (2023 est.)

male: 10.9% (2023 est.)

female: 10.4% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 20.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 19.8 years

female: 20.6 years

$971.426 million (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

458 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

$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

88% of GDP (2017 est.)

3.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)

6.48% (2023 est.)
6.08% (2022 est.)
6.21% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 2,523,327 (2024 est.)

male: 1,250,490

female: 1,272,837

537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 11,300 sq km

land: 10,120 sq km

water: 1,180 sq km

20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$7.911 billion (2023 est.)
$7.549 billion (2022 est.)
$7.156 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

1 (2025)

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

total subscriptions: 2.68 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2021 est.)

38.8 (2020 est.)

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

16.97% (2023 est.)
11.51% (2022 est.)
7.37% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$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

$2,900 (2023 est.)
$2,900 (2022 est.)
$2,800 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 6,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

total: 11.1% (2020 est.)

male: 21.4% (2020 est.)

female: 0.8% (2020 est.)

10.3% (2016)

2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

27.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 162,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 410.824 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 104.176 million kWh (2023 est.)

total: 15 (2023)

by type: general cargo 5, other 10

11.6% (2019/20)

$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

$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

total subscriptions: 60,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

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.)

total population: 68.4 years (2024 est.)

male: 66.7 years

female: 70.1 years

4.8% (2023 est.)
5.49% (2022 est.)
5.26% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

10.15% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

2.47% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

2.16% (2024 est.)