Country Summary: The Gambia (Republic of The Gambia)

Country Name: The Gambia (Republic of The Gambia)

Capital: Banjul

Government Type: presidential republic

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 December 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. 

Continent: Africa

Population: 2,468,569 (2023 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.)

Economic Overview: small West African economy; COVID-19 reversed robust growth trends; good fiscal management; substantial foreign direct investment and remittances; G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative participant; widespread poverty; increasing Chinese relations

Currency: Gambian Dalasi (GMD)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $568.244 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $5.719 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 4.33% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $2,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $267.377 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 198

Export Commodities: cashews, lumber, refined petroleum, shellfish, scrap iron, fish, sesame seeds (2021)

Export Partners: China 38%, India 22%, Mali 7%, Chile 5% (2017)

Imports: 

• $829.516 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 193

Import Commodities: clothing and apparel, refined petroleum, rice, raw sugar, palm oil (2019)

Import Partners: China 33%, India 10%, Senegal 5%, Brazil 5% (2019)

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

Agricultural Products: groundnuts, milk, oil palm fruit, millet, sorghum, rice, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruit

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

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 5.59% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 53

Labor Force: 937,000 (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 4.27% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: droughts

Geography:

• Total: 11,300 sq km

• Land: 10,120 sq km

• Water: 1,180 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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