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West Africa

Gambia

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal.

Muslim population96.4%of the population

Population2.4 millionpeople (current)

CapitalBanjulUTC 0

Currency61.10 = $1Dalasis (GMD) (2023)

Country basics

The Gambia is a West African republic on a narrow strip of river land enclosed by Senegal.

The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, with Banjul as its capital and English as its official language. The dalasi is the currency, and groundnuts, fishing, remittances and tourism supply most of its foreign earnings.

Official name

Republic of the Gambia

Region

Africa · Western Africa

Government

Unitary presidential republic

Time zonesCheck the offset for your own city

UTC+00:00

Driving side

Right

Phone code

+220

Currency

Gambian dalasi (GMD, D)

Member of

Commonwealth; UN; African Union

Website

https://www.statehouse.gm

Faith and language

Religions

Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1%

Languages

English

People and cities

Population

2.4 million (current)

Median ageHalf the population is younger than this

20.5 years (2025)

Living in cities

64.5% (2023)

Largest cities

Banjul (capital) 481,000

Money and cost of living

Exchange rateYearly average; check today’s rate before you budget

61.10 dalasis (GMD) per US dollar (2023)

Income per personGDP per person, adjusted for local prices (2021 dollars)

$3,000 (2024)

InflationHow much prices rose over the year

11.6% (2024)

Unemployment

6.5% (2024)

Health and daily life

Life expectancy

68.4 years (2024)

Doctors

0.09 per 1,000 people (2023)

Hospital beds

1.2 per 1,000 people (2021)

Safe drinking water

85.6% of people (2022)

Electricity

65.4% of people (2022)

Internet users

46% of people (2023)

Literacy

51.6% of adults (2021)

Land and climate

Climate

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

SizeSlightly less than twice the size of Delaware

10,689 sq km

Natural hazards

Droughts

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)