Form of Government: Republic
Area: 11 285 sq km
Population: 2 416 664 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 214.15 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 14° - 13° N; long. 17° - 14° W
Capital: Banjul (capital) 31 054 inhab. (2013); Banjul 747 565 inhab. (2013), urban agglomeration
Currency: dalasi (100 bututs)
Human development index: 0.496 (rank: 172)
President and head of government: Adama Barrow (National People’s Party), elected 1 December 2016, in office since 19 January 2017
National Assembly: seats based on the elections of 6 April 2017: UDP (United Democratic Party), 31; APRC (Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction), 5; independents, 1; others, 16
Internet: www.gbosdata.org (The Gambia Bureau of Statistics)
Member of AU, Commonwealth, ECOWAS, OIC, UN, WTO
Gambia, The

International license plate code WAG
International dialling code 00220
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (recommended; it is also required if traveling from a country with risk of transmission); malaria prophylaxis (recommended)
Electricity (Voltage) 230
Driving side rigth
Internet code .gm
GMT 0
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Banjul 26.7
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Banjul 24.5/27.5
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Banjul 8/8
Annual average precipitation (mm) Banjul 1046
Days of rainfall (annual average) Banjul 66
Geography.
It is bordered by Senegal to the north, east and south, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west. Following the length of the River Gambia, the land is mostly lowlands made up of flood plains. The climate is tropical.
Government
Formerly a British colony and from 18 February 1965 an independent monarchy within the British Commonwealth, it became a republic in 1970. From 1982 to 1989 it was unified with Senegal in the Senegambia Confederation. In 1994 a military coup d’état brought Y. Jammeh to power, who led the country at the helm of the APRC even after the revival of democracy in 1996; his rejection of the outcome of the 2016 elections, won by the opposition, sparked protests that forced him into exile in 2017.
According to the Constitution of 1997, the President of the Republic is elected by direct suffrage for 5 years; the National Assembly is made up of 53 members elected for 5 years (with 5 additional members appointed by the President).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Army | 100 | % | 2017 |
Military expenditure | 0.824 | % of GDP | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Homicides | 9.1 | per 100 000 pop. | 2015 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Brikama | 81 007 | inhab. | 2013 |
Bundunka Kunda | 55 360 | inhab. | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Banjul | 747 565 | inhab. | 2013 |
Kanifing | 377 134 | inhab. | 2013 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 38.073 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 7.722 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Mandingo | 34.4 | % | 2013 |
Fula | 24.1 | % | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Muslim | 96$ | % | 2013 |
Christian | 3.8 | % | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
English (official) |
Wolof |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 35.7 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 29.1 | % | 2020 |
Economy
The agricultural system is based on the mono-crop of peanuts. Subsistence crops include millet, rice, maize, sorghum and cassava. Forestry resources are important. Industry is limited to the processing of agricultural products. Of great importance are the earnings sent home by emigrants, international aid and re-exportation, helped by low customs duties. The banking sector is relevant, as is tourism with visitors mainly from Europe.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 106 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 92.07 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 774 759 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 44.1 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 9.6 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 59.5 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 22 006 | M LCU | 2019 |
Revenues | 19 694 | M LCU | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 27.1 | % | 2019 |
industry | 15.7 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 20.146 | % | 2019 |
industry | 17.499 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 7.304 | BN LCU | 2018 |
International reserves | 191.8 | M US$ | 2018 |
Agriculture
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 43.972 | % | 2018 |
forests | 25.113 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cereals, total | 104.852 | 1000 t | 2019 |
maize | 17$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 13.174 | 1000 t | 2019 |
roots and tubers, total | 13.174 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 110 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sesame seed | 1.4 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruits | 35.063 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 0.436 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 10.626 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
almonds | 0.196 | 1000 t | 2013 |
cashew nuts | 2.732 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mangoes | 1.587 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
maize | 35$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
millet | 100 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 3.014 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 115 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sesame seed | 3.697 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruit | 3.51 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 1.251 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
almonds | 0.119 | 1000 ha | 2013 |
cashew nuts | 1.596 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mangoes | 0.268 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 891 878 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 466.485 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 466.485 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 14.5 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 45.677 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 348.191 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 75.213 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 75.213 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 1 476 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
eggs | 1.038 | 1000 t | 2019 |
hides and skins | 0.608 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 2 450.33 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 2 619.1 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ilmenite | 69 940 | 1000 t | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clay | 6.7 | 1000 t | 2007 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sand and gravel - t | 1 200 | 1000 t | 2013 |
silicates | 1 121 | 1000 t | 2010 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 310 | M kWh | 2018 |
non-renewable electricity generation | 99.01 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 102 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- other renew. | 3$ | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 313.1 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 105 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 3$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
groundnut oil | 12.126 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 1 800 | 1000 t | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufacturing production | 72.44 | M US$ | 2019 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
food products | 44.067 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
agricultural raw materials | 35.489 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 10.4 | M US$ | 2018 |
Number of arrivals | 619 000 | units | 2019 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 8.7 | years | 2010 |
Graduates | 3 701 | units | 2012 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 350 323 | units | 2018 |
Students, secondary level | 163 065 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 1.05 | per 1000 pop. | 2015 |
Physicians | 0.1 | per 1000 pop. | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 1.9 | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 0.6 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.071 | % of GDP | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 1.4 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 59.921 | % | 2019 |