The Gambia

Table of Contents

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief and drainage
- Soils and climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance and trade
- Services
- Transportation
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Precolonial history
- European colonization
- British protectorate
- Independence, confederation of Senegambia, and economic troubles
- 1994 coup, 1996 presidential election, and new constitution
- Jammeh’s rule: rising discontent, attempted coups, and human rights complaints
- 2016 presidential election, Jammeh’s standoff, and ECOWAS intervention
- Barrow’s first term: Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission; Constitutional Review Commission; and change in term length
- 2021 presidential election, Barrow’s inauguration, and TRRC final report

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images

port of Banjul, Gambia

Physical features of The Gambia

The Gambia: Ethnic composition

For Students

The Gambia summary

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The Gambia: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Gambian ex-soldier convicted at US trial of torturing suspected backers of a failed 2006 coup • Apr. 15, 2025, 9:01 PM ET (AP)

Gambian torture victims testify in US against a member of former dictator's military • Apr. 10, 2025, 7:18 PM ET (AP)

Ex-member of former Gambia dictator's military unit is on trial in the US for torture • Apr. 8, 2025, 3:40 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Republic of the Gambia
Head Of State And Government	President: Adama Barrow
Capital	Banjul
Population	(2024 est.) 2,461,000
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with one legislative house (National Assembly [53¹])
Official Language	English
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Republic of The Gambia
Total Area (Sq Km)	10,689
Total Area (Sq Mi)	4,127
Monetary Unit	dalasi (D)
Population Rank	(2025) 145
Population Projection 2030	3,029,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2024) 596.3
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2024) 230.2
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 65.1% • Rural: (2024) 34.9%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2022) 65.8 years • Female: (2022) 69.4 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2022) 65% • Female: (2022) 52%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 2,334
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 870
¹Includes 5 appointed seats.

Photos

port of Banjul, Gambia

Physical features of The Gambia

rice harvesting

National anthem of The Gambia

See All Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Africa western Africa member states of the Commonwealth Commonwealth Banjul Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Senegambia Economic Community of West African States Bansang United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara

president of The Gambia

Sir Kenneth Blackburne

British colonial administrator

A map of the continent of Africa, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities. It also shows parts of Europe and Asia and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.

Africa

continent

western Africa

western Africa

region, Africa

Banjul, Gambia

Banjul

national capital, The Gambia

Bansang

The Gambia

Women carrying gourds in Brikama, The Gambia

Brikama

The Gambia

Georgetown

The Gambia

Kuntaur

The Gambia

Basse Santa Su

The Gambia

Yundum

The Gambia

MacCarthy Island

island, The Gambia

British Empire

British Empire

historical state, United Kingdom

Sudan

Sudan

region, Africa

Gambia River

Gambia River

river, West Africa

British West Africa

British West Africa

historical states, Africa

Barra Kunda Falls

waterfalls, The Gambia-Senegal

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