The Gambia Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Banjul

Population

2,523,327 (2024 est.)

Area

11,300 sq km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

🧭 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 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references

Africa

Area — total

11,300 sq km

Area — land

10,120 sq km

Area — water

1,180 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries — total

749 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Senegal 749 km

Coastline

80 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

18 nm

Maritime claims — continental shelf

Extent not specified

Maritime claims — exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

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

Elevation — highest point

Unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi

Elevation — lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

34 m

Natural resources

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

Land use — agricultural land

62.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

22% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

15.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2012)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major aquifers

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin

Population distribution

Settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

Droughts

Geography - note

Almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

2,523,327 (2024 est.)

Population — male

1,250,490

Population — female

1,272,837

Nationality — noun

Gambian(s)

Nationality — adjective

Gambian

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.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

38.2% (male 486,472/female 477,309)

Age structure — 15-64 years

58.1% (male 723,360/female 743,127)

Age structure — 65 years and over

3.7% (2024 est.) (male 40,658/female 52,401)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

72.1 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

65.7 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

6.3 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

15.8 (2024 est.)

Median age — total

20.5 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

19.8 years

Median age — female

20.6 years

Population growth rate

2.09% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Population distribution

Settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization — urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.7 years (2019/20 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

39.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

32.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

68.4 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

66.7 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

70.1 years

Total fertility rate

3.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.67 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 90.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 85.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 9.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 14.4% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

7.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 32% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 59.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 68% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 40.6% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10.3% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

2.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

8.6% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

17% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

0.5% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.6% (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

63% (2020 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

5.6% (2020)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

23.1% (2020)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

0.2% (2020)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

51.6% (2021 est.)

Literacy — male

65.3% (2021 est.)

Literacy — female

40.5% (2021 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

62.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

22% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

15.4% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

64.5% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

193,400 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

41.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

39.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of The Gambia

Country name — conventional short form

The Gambia

Country name — etymology

Named for the Gambia River that flows through the country; Portuguese explorers in the 15th century derived the name for the river from its local name, Ba-Dimma, meaning "the river"

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Banjul

Capital — geographic coordinates

13 27 N, 16 34 W

Capital — time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — 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"

Administrative divisions

5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast

Legal system

Mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law

Constitution — history

Previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997

Constitution — 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

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

Yes

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

Yes

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)

Executive branch — head of government

Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Executive branch — 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

Executive branch — most recent election date

4 December 2021

Executive branch — 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%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

2026

Legislative branch — legislature name

National Assembly

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

4/9/2022

Legislative branch — 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)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

8.6%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

April 2027

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices)

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts

Political parties

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC Gambia Moral Congress or GMC National People's Party or NPP People's Progressive Party or PPP United Democratic Party or UDP

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 785-1399

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@gambiaembassydc.us https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC 20521-2070

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[220] 439-2856

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[220] 439-2475

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ConsularBanjul@state.gov https://gm.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Flag

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green meaning: red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue for the Gambia River, and green for forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

National symbol(s)

Lion

National color(s)

Red, blue, green, white

National anthem(s) — title

"For The Gambia, Our Homeland"

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

2 (both cultural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Low-income West African economy; agriculture-dominant; high poverty rate; heightened inflation; dependent on foreign assistance and remittances; structural reforms conditioned by IMF Extended Credit Facility program

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$8.365 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$7.911 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$7.549 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

5.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$3,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$2,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,900 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.508 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

11.6% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

17% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

24.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

14.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

53.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

83.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

8.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

39% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

6.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-37.2% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

783,100 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

6.5% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

6.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

10.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

10.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

10.9% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

53.4% (2020 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

38.8 (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

2.6% (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

30.5% (2020 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

21.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

21.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

22.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$308.887 million (2018 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$221.137 million (2018 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

-$74.374 million (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$120.064 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$90.251 million (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$838.409 million (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$717.774 million (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$267.377 million (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$1.549 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$1.353 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$829.516 million (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$577.028 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$568.244 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$652.671 million (2021 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$902.421 million (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

61.096 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

54.923 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

51.484 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

51.502 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2019

50.062 (2019 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

65.4% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

82.8%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

31.2%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

162,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

410.824 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

104.176 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

60,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

2.68 million (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

101 (2021 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV-channel; one privately owned TV station; 1 online TV station; 3 state-owned and 31 privately owned radio stations; 8 community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available; cable and satellite TV subscription services in some parts of the country (2019)

Internet country code

.gm

Internet users — percent of population

46% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

6,000 (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C5

Airports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine — total

15 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 5, other 10

Ports — total ports

1 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

0

Ports — very small

1

Ports — ports with oil terminals

1

Ports — key ports

Banjul

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

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)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimated 3,000-4,000 active Gambian Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The military of Gambia has a limited inventory of mostly older, obsolescent, or donated equipment originating from several suppliers, including Taiwan, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

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

Military - note

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)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

4,411 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

7,462 (2024 est.)