Gambia, The

presidential republic

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

chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022) head of government: Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president 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 most recent election date: 4 December 2021 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% expected date of next election: 2026

legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/9/2022 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) percentage of women in chamber: 8.6% expected date of next election: April 2027

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

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

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

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

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) note: the RNG is responsible for VIP protection, riot control, and presidential security, while the GPF maintains internal security

18-28 years of age for men and women depending on enlisted, officer, or specialized positions (2025)

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)

$8.365 billion (2024 est.) $7.911 billion (2023 est.) $7.549 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$3,000 (2024 est.) $2,900 (2023 est.) $2,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

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

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

82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

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

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

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

revenues: $308.887 million (2018 est.) expenditures: $221.137 million (2018 est.) 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

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

rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 2,523,327 (2024 est.) male: 1,250,490 female: 1,272,837

2.09% (2025 est.)

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)

26.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 68.4 years (2024 est.) male: 66.7 years female: 70.1 years

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

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.)

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

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

total population: 51.6% (2021 est.) male: 65.3% (2021 est.) female: 40.5% (2021 est.)

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

refugees: 4,411 (2024 est.) IDPs: 7,462 (2024 est.)

1 (2025)

total: 15 (2023) by type: general cargo 5, other 10

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

percent of population: 46% (2023 est.)