Gambia

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Joining Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. Since its first free and fair presidential election in 2016, The Gambia and the US have enjoyed improved relations.

Geography

Area
total : 11,300 sq km
land: 10,120 sq km
water: 1,180 sq km

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

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

People and Society

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

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

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

Population growth rate
2.16% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Banjul

Executive branch
chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)
head of government: Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Robert ANDERSON (since 22 August 2025)

Economy

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$8.365 billion (2024 est.)
$7.911 billion (2023 est.)
$7.549 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$3,000 (2024 est.)
$2,900 (2023 est.)
$2,900 (2022 est.)

Exports
$838.409 million (2024 est.)
$717.774 million (2023 est.)
$267.377 million (2022 est.)

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

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

Imports
$1.549 billion (2024 est.)
$1.353 billion (2023 est.)
$829.516 million (2022 est.)

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

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

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.524, ranking it 170th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 118th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 4.485. (more information)