The Gambia

Presidential RepublicPop2.8MGDP (PPP)$8.4BCI45Beta CP0.0→Beta

Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →

The Gambia

⌘K

Overview

Background: 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.

Geography

Area

Land: 10,120 sq km
Water: 1,180 sq km
Total: 11,300 sq km

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Land Use

Other: 15.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 62.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Coastline: 80 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi
Mean elevation: 34 m

Irrigated land: 50 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Map references: Africa

Land Boundaries

Total: 749 km
Border countries: Senegal 749 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 18 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: extent not specified
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: droughts
Geography note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland
Natural resources: fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Area comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Population distribution: 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
Major rivers (BY length in km): 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

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 65.3% (2021 est.)
Female: 40.5% (2021 est.)
Total population: 51.6% (2021 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.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 26.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 19.8 years
Total: 20.5 years (2025 est.)
Female: 20.6 years

Population

Male: 1,250,490
Total: 2,523,327 (2024 est.)
Female: 1,272,837

Nationality

Noun: Gambian(s)
Adjective: Gambian

Tobacco Use

Male: 17% (2025 est.)
Total: 8.6% (2025 est.)
Female: 0.5% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

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)

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.)

Child Marriage

Men married BY age 18: 0.2% (2020)
Women married BY age 15: 5.6% (2020)
Women married BY age 18: 23.1% (2020)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 72.1 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 65.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 15.8 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.3 (2024 est.)

Physician density: 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 85.6% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 90.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 14.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 9.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 2.09% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.67 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: 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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 66.7 years
Female: 70.1 years
Total population: 68.4 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 32% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 59.4% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 68% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 40.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 2.67 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.)

Major urban areas population: 481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 10.3% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.7 years (2019/20 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 63% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.6% (2020 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

meaning: red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue for the Gambia River, and green for forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

Capital

Name: Banjul
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"
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: yes
Citizenship BY descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

Note: note: in 2024, The Gambian government announced its commitment to adopting a new constitution
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

Country Name

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"
Conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
Conventional short form: The Gambia

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK)
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices)
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts
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

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)
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%
Head of government: Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)
Most recent election date: 4 December 2021
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); vice president appointed by the president
Expected date of next election: 2026

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
National color(s): red, blue, green, white

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia

Political parties: 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

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislature name: National Assembly
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 4/9/2022
Expected date of next election: April 2027
Percentage of women in chamber: 8.6%
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)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
History: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"
Lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE

National symbol(s): lion
Administrative divisions: 5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 785-1430
Chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399
Chief of mission: Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)
Email address and website: info@gambiaembassydc.us

https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [220] 439-2475
Embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul
Telephone: [220] 439-2856
Mailing address: 2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC  20521-2070
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025)
Email address and website: ConsularBanjul@state.gov

https://gm.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

THE GAMBIA · LEGISLATURE

National Assembly

58 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction

Parties

All political parties8 parties · 58 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

AB
Adama Barrow
- Head of StateSince 2017
- Head of GovernmentSince 2017

Economy

Budget

Note: 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
Revenues: $308.887 million (2018 est.)
Expenditures: $221.137 million (2018 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $210.4M

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $267.377 million (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $717.774 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $838.409 million (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $803.8M

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $829.516 million (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $1.353 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $1.549 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Labor force: 783,100 (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 22.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 21.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 21.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2019: 50.062 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 51.502 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 51.484 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 54.923 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 61.096 (2023 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $902.421 million (2023 est.)

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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 6.5%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 6.5% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023)
Imports partners: Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $3,476

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 5.6%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.7% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023)
Exports commodities: packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)
Imports commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$99.8M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: -$90.251 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$120.064 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$74.374 million (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $2.508 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 83.2% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 39% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 6.6% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -37.2% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 53.4% (2020 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 11.6%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 17% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 11.6% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $8.365 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $7.549 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $7.911 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $8.365 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 10.9% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 10.9% (2024 est.)
Female: 10.9% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $652.671 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $568.244 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $577.028 million (2023 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 14.7% (2024 est.)
Services: 53.9% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 24.1% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 2.6% (2020 est.)
Highest 10%: 30.5% (2020 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2020: 38.8 (2020 est.)

Energy

Petroleum

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

Electricity

Consumption: 410.824 million kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 162,000 kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 104.176 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification rural areas: 31.2%
Electrification urban areas: 82.8%
Electrification total population: 65.4% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 46% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: 1 state-run TV-channel; one privately owned TV station; 1 online TV station; 3 state-owned and 31 privately owned radio stations; 8 community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available; cable and satellite TV subscription services in some parts of the country (2019)
Internet country code: .gm

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 60,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 2.68 million (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2021 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 6,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 0
Medium: 0
Key ports: Banjul
Very small: 1
Total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 1

Airports: 1 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 15 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 5, other 10

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C5

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 15.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 62.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 193,400 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13% (2022 est.)

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

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 41.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 39.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

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

Particulate matter emissions: 34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

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

Military & Security

Military note: the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) are responsible for external defense and aiding civil authorities in internal emergencies and natural disaster relief; they participate in multinational peacekeeping missions, as well as domestic support activities such as agricultural development, construction, education, and health services; the Gambian security forces have a history of involvement in domestic politics, including multiple coup attempts and mutinies, with the latest being an attempted coup in 2022

since January 2017, several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have provided security forces for Gambia's stability, plus assistance and training for the GAF and other Gambian security forces through the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG); as of 2025, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal were providing military and gendarmerie personnel for ECOMIG (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.6%

Military expenditures 2020: 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: 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)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for men and women depending on enlisted, officer, or specialized positions (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: 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 (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 3,000-4,000 active Gambian Armed Forces (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 7,462 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 4,411 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index45.0 / 100as of 2024-Q498 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.51as of 2024-Q460 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (50/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — The Gambia — vintage 2026-Q1: The Gambia factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/the-gambia

Download as JSON

Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

The Gambia

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

National Assembly

Current

Adama Barrow

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Debt External

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Military Expenditures

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Cite this page