Gambia
in Western Africa
Africa

National active POI Bordering countries
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Dalasi - GMD
Spoken languages:
English, Wolof, Fulah
Local electricity:
230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: G)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
GM
Internet top level domain:
.gm
Country phone prefix:
+220
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Gambia in Western Africa

Safety Score: 2,8 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to Gambia.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Gambia. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03

Explore Gambia

Gambia with its capital Banjul is located in Africa (Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal). It covers some 11,301 square kilometers (slightly less than twice the size of Delaware) with a population of 2,051,360. English, Wolof and Fulah are the languages spoken by people in Gambia (consider regional differences). As an interesting fact, Senegal is the only bordering country.

Gambia is a country in West Africa and is the smallest country on the continent of Africa. It has a short North Atlantic Ocean coastline in the west and is surrounded by Senegal so that it is almost an enclave. The country occupies the navigable length of the Gambia River valley and surrounding hills. Gambia is becoming a popular vacation destination for Northern Europeans. Therefore, many charter and holiday operators offer reasonable airfare and accommodation if desired.

Popular Destinations in Gambia

 

Mansa Konko
 

Georgetown
 

Brikama
 

Basse Santa Su
 

Banjul
 

Bakau

Administrative regions of Gambia

About the country

The topography is flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills. The average density of population is about 182 per km². The climate in Gambia can be described as tropicalhot, rainy season (June to November), cooler, dry season (November to May). Potential natural disasters are droughts.

To reach someone Gambia dial +220 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".gm". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: G). The sign for the locally used currency Dalasi is GMD.

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace.

Flag of Gambia

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential election in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH was elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011. After 22 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, President JAMMEH was defeated in free and fair elections in December 2016. Due to The Gambia’s poor human rights record under JAMMEH, international development partners had distanced themselves, and substantially reduced aid to the country. These channels may re-open under the administration of President

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 166) 11,300sq km
Land (World Rank: 166) 10,120sq km
Water (World Rank: 107) 1,180sq km
Forest (World Rank: 115) 14.60%
Comparative slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Coastline
80
Landborder
749
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 228) 53m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 54) 56.10%
Arable (World Rank: 14) 41.00%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 148) 0.50%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 115) 14.60%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 149) 50sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues
  • - deforestation
  • - desertification
  • - water-borne diseases prevalent
Agreement party
  • - Biodiversity
  • - Climate Change
  • - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
  • - Desertification
  • - Endangered Species
  • - Hazardous Wastes
  • - Law of the Sea
  • - Ozone Layer Protection
  • - Ship Pollution
  • - Wetlands
  • - Whaling
Hazzards droughts
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
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

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 146) 2,051,360
Deathrate (World Rank: 131) 0.70%
Birthrate (World Rank: 40) 2.94%
Growthrate (World Rank: 42) 2.05%
Migration rate (World Rank: 123) -0.19%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 42) 3.52%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 182) 20.70
Female (World Rank: 183) 21.30
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 134) 385,646
0 14 female (World Rank: 133) 382,328
15 24 male (World Rank: 141) 207,611
15 24 female (World Rank: 139) 212,366
25 54 male (World Rank: 151) 345,788
25 54 female (World Rank: 149) 359,976
55 64 male (World Rank: 156) 41,295
55 64 female (World Rank: 154) 44,865
65 x male (World Rank: 156) 33,153
65 x female (World Rank: 156) 38,335
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 17) 6.02%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 177) 65years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 176) 68years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 178) 63years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 160) 0.11
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 142) 1.10
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 153) 58.90%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 138) 10.30%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 134) 90.20%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 180) 240,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 185) 223,200,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 7) 100.00%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 181) 3,600bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 123) 42bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 173) 3,552bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 139) 16m³
Carbon footprint
500000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 143) 3% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 75) 1% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 73) 7% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 208) -20% of GDP
National symbol
lion
National colours
white
Adjective
Gambian
Noun
Gambian(s)
Background
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential election in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH was elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011. After 22 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, President JAMMEH was defeated in free and fair elections in December 2016. Due to The Gambia’s poor human rights record under JAMMEH, international development partners had distanced themselves, and substantially reduced aid to the country. These channels may re-open under the administration of President
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 182) 3,418,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 128) 2.20%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 211) 1,700USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 47) 21.00%
Source industry (World Rank: 186) 13.80%
Source service (World Rank: 89) 65.20%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 149) 777,100
In poverty (World Rank: 22) 48.40%
Products
Industries
  • - agricultural machinery assembly
  • - beverages
  • - clothing
  • - fish
  • - hides
  • - metalworking
  • - peanuts
  • - tourism
  • - woodworking
Agriculture
  • - cassava
  • - cattle
  • - corn
  • - goats
  • - manioc
  • - millet
  • - palm kernels
  • - peanuts
  • - rice
  • - sesame
  • - sheep
  • - sorghum
  • - tapioca
Exports
  • - cotton lint
  • - fish
  • - palm kernels
  • - peanut products
Imports
  • - foodstuffs
  • - fuel
  • - machinery
  • - manufactures
  • - transport equipment

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 160) 37,969
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 173) 2.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 37) 141.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 152) 371,785
Population (World Rank: 189) 18.50%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 225) 1.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 159) 3,740
Paved length (World Rank: 153) 711
Unpaved length (World Rank: 114) 3,029
Water
Total length (World Rank: 90) 390
Popular places in this country

This is a list of famous places in this country in alphabetical order.