Gambia

Government
Name	Republic of The Gambia
Government type	Presidential republic
Capital	Banjul (34,589)
Currency	Dalasi (GMD)
Organization
Member State	Commonwealth of Nations
People
Population (2020)	2,416,664 (144th)
Density of population	176.1 P/km2 (74th)
Nationality	Gambian
Official languages
English
Ethnic groups (2013)
Mandinka / Jahanka	34%
Fulani / Tukulur / Lorobo	22.4%
Wolof	12.6%
Jola / Karoninka	10.7%
Serahuleh	6.6%
Serer	3.2%
Manjago	2.1%
Bambara	1%
Creole / Aku Marabout	0.7%
Other	0.9%
Non-Gambian	5.2%
No answer	0.6%
Religions (2013)
Muslim	95.7%
Christian	4.2%
None	0.1%
No response	0.1%
Life expectancy (2020)
Male	63.5 years
Female	68.3 years
Total population	65.8 years (190th)
Homicides
n.a.
Geography
Land area	10,120 km2
water area	1,180 km2
total area	11,300 km2 (166th)
Mean elevation	34 m
Lowest point
Atlantic Ocean	0 m
Highest point
Unnamed elevation	53 m
Land use (2011)
Agricultural land	56.1%
Arable land	41%
Permanent crops	0.5%
Permanent pasture	14.6%
Forest	43.9%
Other	0%
Urbanization
Urban population (2020)	62.6%
Rate of urbanization	4.07% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020)
Economy
Labor force (2007)	777,100 (150th)
Labor force by occupation (1996)
Agriculture	75%
Industry	19%
Services	6%
Unemployment rate	NA
GDP (PPP) (estimate 2017)
Total	$3.582 billion
Per capita	$1,686
GDP (nominal) (estimate 2017)
Total	$1.038 billion
Per capita	$488
GDP by sector (estimate 2017)
Agriculture	20.4%
Industry	14.2%
Services	65.4%
Exports (2017)	$72.9 million (201st)
Exports partners (2017)
Guinea-Bissau	51.9%
Vietnam	14.6%
Senegal	8.8%
Mali	7.2%
Imports (2017)	$376.9 million (201st)
Imports partners (2017)
Cote d’Ivoire	11.5%
Brazil	10.6%
Spain	10.2%
China	7.8%
Russia	6.4%
Netherlands	5.3%
India	5%

Gambia on the world map

Gambia top 10 largest cities

1. Serekunda (340,000)
2. Brikama (77,700)
3. Bakau (43,098)
4. Banjul (34,589)
5. Farafenni (29,867)
6. Lamin (24,797)
7. Sukuta (15,131)
8. Basse Santa Su (14,380)
9. Gunjur (14,088)
10. Soma (9,869)

Demography

Population pyramid

Age structure data

Estimate for 2020:

• 0-14 years: 35.96% (male 392,714/female 389,027)
• 15-24 years: 20.09% (male 216,307/female 220,514)
• 25-54 years: 35.85% (male 382,138/female 397,324)
• 55-64 years: 4.4% (male 45,614/female 50,143)
• 65 years and over: 3.69% (male 36,773/female 43,445)

Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Population from 1950 to 2020

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Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.

Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018

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Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank

Economy

Agriculture:

rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (manioc, tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

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

Exports – commodities:

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Imports – commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Time zone and current time in Gambia

Go to our interactive map to get the current time in Gambia