View source for The Gambia

{{Short description|Country in West Africa}}
{{Hatnote group|
{{Redirect|Gambia|the river|Gambia River}}
{{Distinguish|Zambia}}
}}
{{pp-move}}
{{About|the modern state|its predecessor|The Gambia (1965–1970)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Republic of the Gambia
| common_name            = The Gambia
| image_flag             = Flag of The Gambia.svg
| flag_type              = [[Flag of the Gambia|Flag]]
| religion_year          = 2024
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of The Gambia.svg
| symbol_type            = [[Coat of arms of The Gambia|Coat of arms]]
| national_motto         = "Progress, Peace, and Prosperity"
| national_anthem        = "[[For The Gambia Our Homeland]]"<div style="padding-top:0.5em;" class="center">[[File:For The Gambia Our Homeland (instrumental).ogg]]</div>
| image_map              = Gambia (orthographic projection with inset).svg
| map_caption            = Location of the Gambia (dark green) in western Africa
| image_map2             = 
| capital                = [[Banjul]]
| largest_settlement_type = metropolitan area
| largest_settlement     = [[Serrekunda]]
| official_languages     = [[English language|English]]<!-- Until official sources state otherwise, this should not be changed. See the Talk page. -->
| languages_type         = [[National language]]s
| languages              = {{collapsible list|bullets=y|title={{nobold|List:}}
 |[[Mandinka language|Mandinka]]
 |[[Pulaar language|Pulaar]]
 |[[Wolof language|Wolof]]
 |[[Serer language|Serer]]
 |[[Jola languages|Jola]]
 |[[English language|English]]
 |[[Balanta languages|Balanta]]
 |[[Arabic]]
 |[[Jola-Fonyi language|Jola-Fonyi]]
 |[[Mandjak language|Mandjak]]
 |[[Mankanya language|Mankanya]]
 |[[Noon language|Noon]]
 |[[Dyula language|Dyula]]
 |[[Soninke language|Soninke]]
 |[[Fula language|Fula]]
 |[[Karon language|Karon]]
 |[[Kassonke language|Kassonke]]
 |[[Cangin languages|Cangin]]
 |[[Gambian Sign Language]]}}
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list
 |34.4% [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]]
 |25.0% [[Fula people|Fula]]
 |15.4% [[Wolof people|Wolof]]
 |9.5% [[Jola people|Jola]]
 |8.2% [[Soninke people|Soninke]]
 |2.9% [[Serer people|Serer]]
 |4.6% other<ref name=2019-2020Census>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gambia-the/#:~:text=People%20and%20Society-,Population,Demographic%20profile |title=2024 Gambia report by the CIA: Spatial Distribution |publisher=The CIA |last=National Population Commission Secretariat |date=2019–2020 |website=Gambia Bureau of Statistics |access-date=29 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103134831/https://www.gbos.gov.gm/uploads/census/2013/Spatial-distribution-report_%20Final.pdf |archive-date=3 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbosdata.org/data/40-population-and-household-characteristics/1653-population-total|website=The Gambia Bureau of Statistics|title = Population - Total - GBoS}}</ref>
}}
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2024 Population and Housing Census
| religion_ref           =<ref name=CIA>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gambia-the/ |title=The World Factbook: Gambia, The |website=CIA |access-date=7 December 2023 |archive-date=3 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403011250/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gambia-the/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| demonym                = Gambian
| government_type        = [[Presidential republic]]
| leader_title1          = [[President of the Gambia|President]]
| leader_name1           = [[Adama Barrow]]
| leader_title2          = [[Vice-President of the Gambia|Vice President]]
| leader_name2           = [[Muhammad B. S. Jallow]]
| leader_title3          = [[List of speakers of the National Assembly of the Gambia|Speaker of the National Assembly]]
| leader_name3           = [[Fabakary Tombong Jatta]]
| leader_title4          = [[Chief Justice of the Gambia|Chief Justice]]
| leader_name4           = [[Hassan Bubacar Jallow]]
| legislature            = [[National Assembly of the Gambia|National Assembly]]
| sovereignty_type       = [[Independence]]
| established_event1     = from the [[United Kingdom]]
| established_date1      = 18 February 1965
| established_event2     = dissolution of the [[Senegambia Confederation]]
| established_date2      = 30 September 1989
| area_km2               = 11,300<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gambia-the/#geography |title=Gambia, The |date=28 February 2023 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=25 February 2023 |archive-date=3 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403011250/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/gambia-the/#geography |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_rank              = 159th<!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi             = 4,007<!-- Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]] -->
| percent_water          = 11.5
| population_census = 2,422,712 (2024) <ref name="GBoS 2024">{{cite web |url=https://gambia.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/2024-09/Preliminary%20Report%20of%20the%202024%20Census%20in%20The%20Gambia_0.pdf |title=The Gambia 2024 Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Report |date=August 2024 |publisher=Gambian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2024
| population_estimate_rank = 144th
| population_density_km2 = 227
| population_density_sq_mi = 425.5<!-- Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]] -->
| population_density_rank = 74th
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $7.502 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.GM">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=648,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2020&ey=2028&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Gambia) |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023 }}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2023
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 166th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}} $2,837<ref name="IMFWEO.GM" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 175th
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $2.388 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.GM" />
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2023
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 185th
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $903<ref name="IMFWEO.GM" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 180th
| Gini                   = 35.9 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year              = 2015
| Gini_change            = decrease
| Gini_ref               =<ref name=Gini>{{cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?end=2015&locations=GM&start=2015&view=bar |title=GINI index (World Bank estimate) – Data |publisher=World Bank |access-date=21 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421232414/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?end=2015&locations=GM&start=2015&view=bar |archive-date=21 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI                    = 0.524<!--number only-->
| HDI_year               = 2023 <!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change             = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Human Development Report 2025 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506051232/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2025 |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]}}</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 170th
| currency               = [[Gambian dalasi]]
| currency_code          = GMD
| utc_offset             = ±00:00
| time_zone              = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| calling_code           = [[+220]]
| iso3166code            = GM
| cctld                  = [[.gm]]
| coordinates            = {{Coord|13|27|00|N|16|34|30|W|type:city|display=inline,title}}
| religion               = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
 |95.7% [[Islam in the Gambia|Islam]]
 |4.2% [[Christianity in the Gambia|Christianity]]
 |0.1% others
 }}
| today                  = 
| p1                     = 
| flag_p1                = Flag of The Gambia.svg
| p2                     = 
}}

'''The Gambia''', officially the '''Republic of the Gambia''',<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/about-us/member-states |title=Member States |publisher=United Nations |access-date=2022-12-20 |archive-date=2022-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629090000/https://www.un.org/en/about-us/member-states |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|[[Mandinka language|Mandinka]]: ''Kambiya'' {{lang|nqo|ߞߊߡߓߌߦߊ}}; {{langx|wo|Gámbi}}, {{langx|ff|Gammbi}}, {{langx|srr|Gambi}}; {{langx|ar|غامبيا/جامبيا}}}} is a country in [[West Africa]]. Geographically, the Gambia is the [[List of African countries by area|smallest country]] in continental Africa;{{refn|group=lower-alpha|[[Cape Verde]], [[Mauritius]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], and [[Seychelles]], the smallest country in Africa, are [[archipelagos]].}} it is surrounded by [[Senegal]] on all sides except for the western part, which is bordered by the [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref name=Hoare>Hoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A–Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publications. p. 11. {{ISBN|0-7534-5569-2}}.</ref>

Its territory is on both sides of the lower reaches of the [[Gambia River]], which flows through the center of the country and empties into the Atlantic. The national namesake river demarcates the elongated shape of the country, which has an area of {{convert|11300|km2|sqmi}} and a population of 2,422,712 people at the 1st of May 2024 Census<ref name=GBoS>The Gambia 2024 Population and Housing Census</ref> which is a 30.45% population increase from 2013. The capital city is the island [[Banjul]], formerly called Bathurst during the colonial era, which is the most extensive [[metropolitan area]] in the country.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Banjul |title=Banjul &#124; national capital, The Gambia |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803020622/https://www.britannica.com/place/Banjul |url-status=live }}</ref> The second- and third-largest cities are [[Serekunda]] and [[Brikama]]. Other significant cities are Kanifing and Farafenni in the north bank, Basse in Upper River Region, and Soma in lower river region.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=the standard |date=February 11, 2015 |title=Farafenni named among Africa's booming town}}</ref>

[[Arab Muslims|Arab Muslim]] merchants traded with indigenous West Africans in the Gambia, under an arrangement known as the trans Saharan trade, using a barter exchange system. Throughout the 9th and 10th centuries, Islam was introduced by the Arab traders to Western Sudan. In 1455, the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] were the first Europeans to enter the Gambia, although they never established significant trade there. The [[British Empire]] established a colony in 1765.<ref>Hughes, Arnold (2008) ''Historical Dictionary of the Gambia''. Scarecrow Press. p. xx. {{ISBN|0-8108-6260-3}}.</ref> In 1965, 200 years later, the Gambia gained independence under the leadership of [[Dawda Jawara]]. Jawara remained the president, winning several elections, until he was overthrown by [[Yahya Jammeh]] in a [[Nonviolent_revolution| bloodless coup]] on [[1994 Gambian coup d'état| July 22, 1994]].

[[Adama Barrow]] was elected as the Gambia's third president in December 2016; He defeated [[Yahya Jammeh]] with the help of a coalition of other opposition political parties.<ref name=Wiseman>{{cite book |last=Wiseman |first=John A. |year=2004 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jj4J-AXGDaQC&pg=PA456 |title=Africa South of the Sahara 2004 |edition=33rd |chapter=The Gambia: Recent History |publisher=Europa |page=456 |isbn=978-1-85743-183-4 }}</ref> Jammeh initially accepted the results, but then refused to leave office claiming he was cheated, triggering [[2016–2017 Gambian constitutional crisis|a constitutional crisis]]. The [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) [[ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia|conducted a military intervention]] and achieved Jammeh's removal two days after his term was initially scheduled to end.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/21/anxious-gambians-await-former-president-yahya-jammeh-departure |title=Yahya Jammeh leaves the Gambia after 22 years of rule |last=Maclean |first=Ruth |date=21 January 2017 |work=The Guardian |access-date=17 May 2017 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516194615/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/21/anxious-gambians-await-former-president-yahya-jammeh-departure |archive-date=16 May 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Agrees">{{Cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-yahya-jammeh-agrees-step-170120184330091.html |title=Gambia's Yayah Jammeh confirms he will step down |date=20 January 2017 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=21 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121003151/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-yahya-jammeh-agrees-step-170120184330091.html |archive-date=21 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>
{{cite news |last=Ramsay |first=Stuart |title=Former Gambia leader Yahya Jammeh flies into political exile |publisher=Sky News |date=22 January 2017 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/former-gambia-leader-yahya-jammeh-flies-out-of-country-10738348 |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812125748/https://news.sky.com/story/former-gambia-leader-yahya-jammeh-flies-out-of-country-10738348 |archive-date=12 August 2022 |url-status=live}}
</ref> In a swearing-in ceremony at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal, on January 19, 2017, Adama Barrow formally became president of the Gambia.  

The Gambia's economy is dominated by farming, fishing, and especially tourism. In 2022, 17.2% of the population lived in [[extreme poverty]], defined as living on less than US$2.15 (2017 [[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]) per day. {{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}The Gambia is a founding member of the ECOWAS. It rejoined the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] in 2018 after previously withdrawing in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gambia rejoins the Commonwealth |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/news/gambia-rejoins-commonwealth |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728053646/https://thecommonwealth.org/news/gambia-rejoins-commonwealth |archive-date=2024-07-28 |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref> [[English language|English]] is the country's sole official language; it became widely used during British rule.

== Etymology ==
The name "Gambia" is derived from the [[Mandinka language|Mandinka]] term ''Kambra''/''Kambaa'', meaning the [[Gambia River]]. (It may be derived from the sacred [[Serer people|Serer]] ''gamba'',<ref>Allen Meagher, Andrew Samuel, Baba Ceesay, National Council for the Arts and Culture (Gambia), ''Historic Sites of The Gambia: Ada Dinkiralu (Mandinka), Bereb-I-Chosan (Wolof), Tarica Tawal (Fula), Nannin (Jola), Soninke Ada (Serehuli), I-Mofan Chosan (Serer): an Official Guide to the Monuments and Sites of the Gambia'', National Council for the Arts and Culture, 1998, pp. 1, 24.</ref> a drum made from a [[calabash]] beaten when a Serer elder dies.)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mwakikagile |first1=Godfrey |author1-link=Godfrey Mwakikagile |title=The Gambia and Its People: Ethnic Identities and Cultural Integration in Africa |date=2010 |publisher=New Africa Press |isbn=978-9987-16-023-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZL7wIvRlXSwC&pg=PA141 |page=141 |language=en}}</ref> [[Portuguese explorers]], who reached the region in the 15th century, adopted a variation of this local name, which was later anglicized to ''Gambia'' during [[British colonial rule]].<ref name="MandinkaOrigin">{{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=Arnold |last2=Perfect |first2=David |title=A political history of The Gambia, 1816-1994 |date=2006 |publisher=University of Rochester Press |location=Rochester, NY |isbn=978-1-58046-682-0 |pages=12–14}}</ref>

Upon independence in 1965, the country used the name ''The Gambia''. Following the proclamation of a republic in 1970, the long-form name of the country became the ''Republic of the Gambia''.<ref name=cons1996>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilo.org/dyn/travail/docs/1952/GMB48490.pdf |title=Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia |date=1996 |access-date=29 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204142049/http://www.ilo.org/dyn/travail/docs/1952/GMB48490.pdf |archive-date=4 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Gambia is one of only two countries for which the [[definite article]] is commonly used in its English-language name and where the name is neither plural nor descriptive (e.g., "the [[Philippines]]" or "the [[United Kingdom]]"), the other being [[the Bahamas]].{{efn|[[El Salvador]], Spanish for "The Saviour", also uses the definite article in its name.}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Geoghegan |first=Tom |date=7 June 2012 |title=Ukraine or the Ukraine: Why do some country names have 'the'? |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18233844 |access-date=23 February 2023 |quote=[A]ccording to several authoritative sources, such as the CIA World Factbook, the ''Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World'' and the US Department of State, only two countries, the Bahamas and the Gambia, should officially be referred to with the article. |archive-date=30 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130150639/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18233844 |url-status=live }}</ref> The article is also officially used by the country's government and by international bodies. In 1964, shortly prior to the country's independence, Prime Minister [[Dawda Jawara]] wrote to the [[Permanent Committee on Geographical Names for British Official Use]] requesting that the name ''the Gambia'' retain the definite article, in part to reduce confusion with [[Zambia]] which had also recently become independent.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alfa Shaban |first1=Abdur Rahman |title=Why Africa's 'smiling coast' is officially referred to as 'The' Gambia |url=https://www.africanews.com/2017/01/19/why-africa-s-smiling-coast-is-referred-to-as-the-gambia// |access-date=28 November 2020 |work=Africa News |date=19 January 2017 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411013024/https://www.africanews.com/2017/01/19/why-africa-s-smiling-coast-is-referred-to-as-the-gambia/ }}</ref> Some scholars suggest it also emphasizes the nation's connection to the Gambia River, a defining geographical feature.<ref name="Geography">M'Bai, Sheriff Bojang. "The Role of the Gambia River in Shaping National Identity" ''Journal of African Studies'', vol. 45, no. 3, 2001, pp. 234–246.</ref>

The administration of [[Yahya Jammeh]] changed the long-form name to ''Islamic Republic of the Gambia'' in December 2015.<ref name=E1>{{cite web |url=http://www.europe1.fr/international/la-gambie-sautoproclamme-etat-islamique-2635109 |title=La Gambie s'autoproclame 'État islamique' |date=13 December 2015 |publisher=Europe 1 |language=fr |access-date=14 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214051037/http://www.europe1.fr/international/la-gambie-sautoproclamme-etat-islamique-2635109 |archive-date=14 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 29 January 2017 newly elected President [[Adama Barrow]] changed the name back to ''Republic of the Gambia''.<ref name="abr">{{Cite news |last=Adegun |first=Aanu |date=29 January 2017 |title=Adama Barrow removes 'Islamic' title from Gambia's name |url=https://www.naij.com/1085177-adama-barrow-removes-islamic-gambias-name.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129123855/https://www.naij.com/1085177-adama-barrow-removes-islamic-gambias-name.html |archive-date=29 January 2017 |access-date=31 January 2017 |newspaper=Naij }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-president-adama-barrow-pledges-reforms-170128194124520.html |title=The Gambia: President Adama Barrow pledges reforms |date=28 January 2017 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131012508/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/gambia-president-adama-barrow-pledges-reforms-170128194124520.html |archive-date=31 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of the Gambia}}

=== Muslim and Portuguese influence (9th–16th centuries) ===
[[Arab]] traders provided the first written accounts of The Gambia area in the ninth and tenth centuries. During the tenth century, Muslim merchants and scholars established communities in several West African commercial centres. Both groups established trans-Saharan trade routes. They carried out a large export trade of local people taken captive in raids and sold as [[slaves]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gambia, The (10/02) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/gambiathe/26367.htm |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> Gold and ivory were also exported, and the trade routes were used to import manufactured goods to these areas.

[[File:Wassu Stone Cirles shaunamullally 02.jpg|thumb|left|[[Senegambian stone circles]] (megaliths) run from Senegal through The Gambia. They are described by [[UNESCO]] as "the largest concentration of stone circles seen anywhere in the world".]]

By the 11th or 12th century, the rulers of kingdoms such as [[Takrur]] (a monarchy centred on the [[Senegal River]] just to the north), ancient Ghana and [[Gao]] had converted to Islam. They had appointed to their courts Muslims who were literate in the [[Arabic language]].<ref>Easton, P. (1999) [http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/581121468329358898/Education-and-Koranic-literacy-in-West-Africa "Education and Koranic Literacy in West Africa"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220150050/http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/581121468329358898/Education-and-Koranic-literacy-in-West-Africa |date=20 December 2016}}. ''IK Notes on Indigenous Knowledge and Practices'', no. 11, World Bank Group. pp. 1–4</ref> At the beginning of the 14th century, most of what is today called The Gambia was part of the [[Mali Empire]]. The Portuguese reached this area by sea in the mid-15th century and began to dominate overseas trade.

=== English and French administration (17th–19th centuries) ===
In 1588, the claimant to the [[Portuguese throne]], [[António, Prior of Crato]], sold exclusive trade rights on the [[Gambia River]] to English merchants. [[Letters patent]] from [[Queen Elizabeth I]] confirmed the grant. In 1618, King [[James I of England]] granted a charter to an English company for trade with The Gambia and the [[Gold Coast (British colony)|Gold Coast]] (now [[Ghana]]). Between 1651 and 1661, some parts of The Gambia – St. Andrew's Island in the Gambia River, including Fort Jakob, and St. Mary Island (modern day Banjul) and [[Fort Jillifree]] – came under the rule of the [[Duchy of Courland and Semigallia]], a vassal state of [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in what is now [[Latvia]], having been bought by Prince [[Jacob Kettler]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yevstratyev |first=O. |date=2018 |title=Chronological Dating of the Duchy of Courland's Colonial Policy |url=https://www.lvi.lu.lv/lv/LVIZ_2018_files/3_numurs/O_Yevstratyev_Chronological_LVIZ_2018_3.pdf |journal=Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Žurnāls |volume=3 |pages=34–72 |doi=10.22364/lviz.108.02 |access-date=22 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223074148/https://www.lvi.lu.lv/lv/LVIZ_2018_files/3_numurs/O_Yevstratyev_Chronological_LVIZ_2018_3.pdf |archive-date=23 February 2019 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> The colonies were formally ceded to England in 1664.

During the late 17th century and throughout the 18th century, the [[British Empire]] and the [[French colonial empire|French Empire]] struggled continually for political and commercial supremacy in the regions of the Senegal River and the Gambia River. The British Empire occupied The Gambia when an expedition led by [[Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel|Augustus Keppel]] landed there following the [[capture of Senegal]] in 1758. The 1783 [[Treaty of Versailles (1783)|Treaty of Versailles]] gave Great Britain possession of the Gambia River, but the French retained a tiny enclave at [[Albreda]] on the river's north bank. This was finally ceded to the United Kingdom in 1856.

==== Slavery ====
Slave ships intercepted by the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[West Africa Squadron]] in the Atlantic were also returned to The Gambia, with people who had been slaves released on [[MacCarthy Island]] far up The Gambia River where they were expected to establish new lives.<ref name="xyz">{{cite journal |doi=10.2307/3060072 |jstor=3060072 |title=Guests of the Crown: Convicts and Liberated Slaves on McCarthy Island, the Gambia |journal=The Geographical Journal |volume=160 |issue=2 |pages=136–142 |year=1994 |last=Webb |first=Patrick |bibcode=1994GeogJ.160..136W |author-link=Patrick Webb (nutritionist) }}</ref> The British established the military post of Bathurst (now [[Banjul]]) in 1816.

=== Gambia Colony and Protectorate (1821–1965) ===
{{Main|Gambia Colony and Protectorate}}
[[File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-25-4.jpg|thumb|right|The British Governor, [[George Chardin Denton]] (1901–1911), and his party, 1905]]
In the ensuing years, Bathurst (now [[Banjul]]) was at times under the jurisdiction of the British Governor-General in [[Sierra Leone]]. In 1888, The Gambia became a separate colony.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B9eyDwAAQBAJ |title=Gambia Foreign Policy and Government Guide |date=7 February 2007 |publisher=International Business Publications |isbn=978-1-4330-1692-9 |page=28 |access-date=11 May 2023 |archive-date=6 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006225151/https://books.google.com/books?id=B9eyDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

An agreement between Britain and [[French Republic|France]] in 1889 established the boundaries of the colony. In 1891, a joint Anglo-French Boundary Commission faced resistance from local leaders whose lands would be divided.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-true-history-of-the-gambias-bizarre-origin-story |title=The True Origin of The Gambia's Bizarre Borders |author=Atlas Obscura |date=20 January 2017 |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011104609/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-true-history-of-the-gambias-bizarre-origin-story |url-status=live }}</ref> The Gambia became a [[British Crown colony]] called [[Gambia Colony and Protectorate|British Gambia]], divided for administrative purposes into the colony (city of Banjul and the surrounding area) and the protectorate (remainder of the territory). The Gambia received its own executive and legislative councils in 1901, and it gradually progressed toward self-government. Slavery was abolished in 1906<ref>{{cite web |title=The Gambia History |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Gambia/History |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103183728/https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Gambia/History |url-status=live }}</ref> and following a brief conflict between the British colonial forces and indigenous Gambians, British colonial authority was firmly established.<ref>{{cite book |last=Archer |first=Frances Bisset |year=1967 |title=The Gambia Colony and Protectorate: An Official Handbook |series=Library of African Study |pages=90–94 |isbn=978-0-7146-1139-6 }}</ref> In 1919, a romantic relationship between Travelling Commissioner J. K. McCallum and Wolof woman [[Fatou Khan]] scandalized the administration.<ref>{{Citation |last=Hassoum |first=Ceesay |editor1-first=Emmanuel K |editor1-last=Akyeampong |editor2-first=Henry Louis |editor2-last=Gates |title=Khan, Fatou |date=2012 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001/acref-9780195382075-e-1069 |work=Dictionary of African Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-538207-5 |access-date=16 January 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125120640/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001/acref-9780195382075-e-1069 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

During World War II, some soldiers fought with the [[Allies of World War II]]. Though these soldiers fought mostly in [[Burma Campaign|Burma]], some died closer to home and a [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] cemetery is in Fajara (close to Banjul). Banjul contained an [[airstrip]] for the [[US Army Air Forces]] and a port of call for Allied naval convoys.<ref name=Biz>{{Cite book |title=Gambia Business Law Handbook |volume=1: Strategic Information and Basic Laws |publisher=International Business Publications |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4387-6988-2 }}</ref>

After World War II, the pace of constitutional reform increased. Following general elections in 1962, the United Kingdom granted full internal self-governance in the following year.<ref name=Biz/>

[[File:Gambia 1953 stamps crop 6.jpg|thumb|Stamp with portrait of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]], 1953]]

=== Contemporary (1965–present) ===

==== Independence and formation of the republic ====
The Gambia achieved [[Gambia Independence Act 1964|independence]] on 18 February 1965, as a [[constitutional monarchy]] within the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], with [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] as [[Queen of the Gambia|Queen of The Gambia]], represented by the [[Governor-General of The Gambia|Governor-General]]. Shortly thereafter, the national government held a [[1965 Gambian republic referendum|referendum]] proposing that the country become a [[republic]]. This referendum failed to receive the two-thirds majority required to amend the constitution, but the results won widespread attention abroad as testimony to The Gambia's observance of secret balloting, honest elections, civil rights, and liberties.<ref name=Biz/>

On 24 April 1970, The Gambia became a [[Republic within the Commonwealth]], following a second [[1970 Gambian Republic referendum|referendum]]. Prime Minister Sir [[Dawda Kairaba Jawara]] assumed the office of [[President of the Gambia|President]], an [[Executive Presidency|Executive Post]], combining the offices of [[head of state]] and [[head of government]] which he held since 1962.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Drammeh |first=Seedy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zxzREAAAQBAJ&dq=1970+Prime+Minister+Sir+Dawda+Kairaba+Jawara&pg=PA119 |title=Rethinking Irregular Migration: Causes, Course, Consequences and Corrective Measures |date=14 June 2018 |publisher=African Books Collective |isbn=978-9983-960-42-6 |access-date=4 April 2024 |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728053709/https://books.google.com/books?id=zxzREAAAQBAJ&dq=1970+Prime+Minister+Sir+Dawda+Kairaba+Jawara&pg=PA119#v=onepage&q=1970%20Prime%20Minister%20Sir%20Dawda%20Kairaba%20Jawara&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> President Sir Dawda Jawara was re-elected five times.<ref name=ucdp>UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia</ref>

[[1981 Gambian coup attempt|An attempted coup]] on 29 July 1981 followed a weakening of the economy and allegations of corruption against leading politicians.<ref name=ucdp/> The coup attempt occurred while President Jawara was attending the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in London and was carried out by a rogue group of leftists calling themselves the National Revolutionary Council, composed of [[Kukoi Samba Sanyang]]'s Socialist and Revolutionary Labour Party (SRLP) and elements of the Field Force, a paramilitary force which constituted the bulk of the country's armed forces.<ref name=ucdp/>

President Jawara requested military aid from [[Senegal]], which deployed 400 troops to The Gambia on 31 July. By 6 August, some 2,700 Senegalese troops had been deployed, defeating the rebel force.<ref name=ucdp/> Between 500 and 800 people were killed during the coup and the ensuing violence.<ref name=ucdp/>

In 1982, in the aftermath of the 1981 attempted coup, Senegal and The Gambia signed a treaty of confederation. The [[Senegambia Confederation]] aimed to combine the armed forces of the two states and to unify their economies and currencies. The Gambia permanently withdrew from the confederation in 1989.

In the [[1992 Gambian general election|general election of April 1992]], Dawda Jawara once again won a fifth term as president of The Gambia.

==== Following dissolution of the Senegambia Confederation ====
In 1994, the [[Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council]] (AFPRC) [[1994 Gambian coup d'état|deposed the Jawara government]] and banned opposition political activity. Lieutenant [[Yahya Jammeh]], chairman of the AFPRC, became head of state. Jammeh was just 29 years old at the time of the coup. The AFPRC announced a transition plan to return to a democratic civilian government.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

The Provisional Independent Electoral Commission (PIEC) was established in December 1995 to conduct national elections and it supervised a referendum on a revised Constitution, the elections for president and the National Assembly by early January 1997.<ref name="Gambia IEC">{{cite web |title=History |url=https://iec.gm/about-iec/history/ |website=Independent Electoral Commission - IEC- The Gambia |access-date=10 September 2024}}</ref> In 1997 the {{Official website|url=https://iec.gm/|name=Independent Electoral Commission - IEC- The Gambia}} was established to replace the PIEC, responsible for the registration of voters and for the conduct of elections and referendums.<ref name="Gambia IEC"/>

The IEC organized the next 5-year elections for late 2001 and early 2002, and The Gambia completed a full cycle of [[Gambian presidential election, 2001|presidential]], [[Gambian parliamentary election, 2002|legislative]], and local elections, which foreign observers deemed free, fair, and transparent.<ref name=human>{{cite web |author=U.S. Department of State |title=U.S.D.S. Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2002: Gambia, The |date=31 March 2003 |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3e918c264.html |access-date=26 November 2021 }}</ref> President Yahya Jammeh, who was elected to continue in the position he had assumed during the coup, took the oath of office again on 21 December 2001. Jammeh's [[Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction]] (APRC) maintained its strong majority in the National Assembly, particularly after the main opposition [[United Democratic Party (The Gambia)|United Democratic Party]] (UDP) boycotted the legislative elections.<ref name=background>{{StateDept |section |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5459.htm#politics |title=Background Note: The Gambia }}</ref>

On 2 October 2013, The Gambian Interior Minister announced that The Gambia would leave [[Commonwealth of Nations|the Commonwealth]] with immediate effect, ending 48 years of membership of the organisation. The Gambian government said it had "decided that The Gambia will never be a member of any Neo-Colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism".<ref name=nocom>
{{cite news |title=UK regrets The Gambia's withdrawal from Commonwealth |work=BBC News |date=3 October 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24376127 |access-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003172723/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24376127 |archive-date=3 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 11 December 2015, President Jammeh (without any legal authority) unilaterally declared The Gambia an [[Islamic Republic]], calling it a break from the country's colonial past, although the constitution remained secular.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vines |first=Alex |date=22 January 2016 |title=The Gambia: Africa's (supposedly-short-lived) new Islamic republic |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35359593 |access-date=2 January 2023 |website=[[BBC]] }}</ref>

The months leading up to the [[2016 Gambian presidential election|2016 presidential election]] were tense. The youth leader of the main opposition [[United Democratic Party (The Gambia)|UDP]], Solo Sandeng, died in detention at the notorious [[State Intelligence Services (The Gambia)|National Intelligence Agency]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 January 2023 |title=The Gambian man who took on a tyrant and made history |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64262310 |access-date=4 June 2024 |archive-date=4 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604154251/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64262310 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ousainou Darboe]], the leader of the UDP, and many senior members of his party were sent to jail for demanding the release of Solo Sandeng dead or alive.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2016 |title=Gambia: Death of Ebrima Solo Sandeng must be investigated and protesters released |url=https://www.article19.org/resources/gambia-death-of-ebrima-solo-sandeng-must-be-investigated-and-protesters-released/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |website=Article 19 |archive-date=5 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605103509/https://www.article19.org/resources/gambia-death-of-ebrima-solo-sandeng-must-be-investigated-and-protesters-released/ |url-status=live }}</ref> President Jammeh faced opposition leaders Adama Barrow from the Independent Coalition of parties<ref>[http://www.senenews.com/2016/10/31/gambie-lopposition-designe-adama-barrow-comme-candidat-unique-pour-affronter-yahya-jammeh-en-decembre_170269.html Gambie : l'opposition désigne Adama Barrow comme candidat unique pour affronter Yahya Jammeh en décembre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129211446/http://www.senenews.com/2016/10/31/gambie-lopposition-designe-adama-barrow-comme-candidat-unique-pour-affronter-yahya-jammeh-en-decembre_170269.html |date=29 November 2016}}. Senenews.com (31 October 2016). Retrieved on 18 December 2016.</ref> and Mamma Kandeh from The Gambia Democratic Congress party.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20161130035032/http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/gambia-will-mama-kandehs-nomination-papers-be-accepted/ Gambia: Will Mama Kandeh's Nomination Papers Be Accepted? – Freedom Newspaper]}}. Freedomnewspaper.com (6 November 2016). Retrieved on 18 December 2016.</ref>  The high court of the Gambia sentenced main opposition leader and human rights advocate [[Ousainou Darboe]] to 3 years in prison in July 2016,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/07/gambia-prison-sentences-for-opposition-leaders-continues-downward-spiral-for-human-rights/ |title=Gambia: Prison sentences for opposition leaders continues downward spiral for human rights |date=20 July 2016 |work=Amnesty International |access-date=29 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026164743/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/07/gambia-prison-sentences-for-opposition-leaders-continues-downward-spiral-for-human-rights/ |archive-date=26 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> disqualifying him from running in the presidential election. This gave Adama Barrow to contest under the UDP ticket.

Following the 1 December 2016 elections, the elections commission declared [[Adama Barrow]] the winner.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38183906 Gambia's Jammeh loses to Adama Barrow in shock election result] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629053218/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38183906 |date=29 June 2018}}. BBC News (2 December 2016). Retrieved on 18 December 2016.</ref> Jammeh, who had ruled for 22 years, first announced he would step down after losing the 2016 election before declaring the results void and calling for a new vote, sparking a [[Gambian presidential election, 2016|constitutional crisis]] and leading to an [[Invasion of the Gambia|invasion]] by an [[Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]] coalition.<ref name="BBC">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38271480 Gambia leader Yahya Jammeh rejects election result] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616002629/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38271480 |date=16 June 2018}}. BBC News (10 December 2016). Retrieved on 18 December 2016.</ref> On 20 January 2017, Jammeh announced that he had agreed to step down and would leave the country.<ref name="Agrees" />

In January 2017, President Barrow removed the "Islamic" title from The Gambia's name.<ref name="abr" /> On 14 February 2017, The Gambia began the process of returning to its membership of the Commonwealth and formally presented its application to re-join to Secretary-General [[Patricia Scotland]] on 22 January 2018.<ref name="boris">{{cite news |title=The Gambia: UK 'very pleased' about Commonwealth return |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38968336 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719150054/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38968336 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |access-date=22 June 2018 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref name=cwlthre>{{cite press release |title=The Gambia presents formal application to re-join the Commonwealth |url=http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/gambia-presents-formal-application-re-join-commonwealth |access-date=24 January 2018 |agency=The Commonwealth |date=23 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135618/http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/gambia-presents-formal-application-re-join-commonwealth |archive-date=24 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Boris Johnson]], who became the first British [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|foreign secretary]] to visit The Gambia since the country gained independence in 1965,<ref name="borisgambia" /> announced that the British government welcomed The Gambia's return to the Commonwealth.<ref name="borisgambia">{{cite news |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/boris-johnson-gambia-3241111-Feb2017/ |title=Boris Johnson is only delighted the Gambia wants back into the British Commonwealth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215171821/http://www.thejournal.ie/boris-johnson-gambia-3241111-Feb2017/ |archive-date=15 February 2017 |website=TheJournal.ie |date=15 February 2017 }}</ref> The Gambia officially rejoined the Commonwealth on 8 February 2018.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/gambia-rejoins-commonwealth |title=The Gambia rejoins the Commonwealth |agency=Commonwealth of Nations |date=8 February 2018 |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714083101/http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/gambia-rejoins-commonwealth |archive-date=14 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/08/gambia-rejoins-commonwealth-democratic-election/ |title=Gambia rejoins the Commonwealth after democratic election |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=8 February 2018 |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612234935/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/08/gambia-rejoins-commonwealth-democratic-election/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 February 2018, [[Jaha Dukureh]], a women's rights activist was nominated for the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] for her work in combating [[female genital mutilation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Jaha Dukureh to Graduate from UCF |url=https://www.ucf.edu/news/nobel-peace-prize-nominee-graduate-ucf/ |publisher=University of Central Florida News |work=UCF Today |date=3 May 2018 |access-date=30 July 2022 |archive-date=26 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626104337/https://www.ucf.edu/news/nobel-peace-prize-nominee-graduate-ucf/ |author=Jenna Marina Lee}}</ref>

On 4 December 2021, Adama Barrow won re-election in the [[2021 Gambian presidential election|presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Felix |first1=Bate |last2=Saine |first2=Pap |title=Gambian President Barrow wins re-election; opposition cries foul |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/president-barrow-holds-early-lead-gambias-election-2021-12-05/ |work=Reuters |date=5 December 2021 |access-date=2021-12-06 |archive-date=2021-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206003745/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/president-barrow-holds-early-lead-gambias-election-2021-12-05/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 20 December 2022, a supposed [[2022 Gambian coup attempt|coup attempt by the Gambian army was foiled]],<ref name="BBC-2022">{{Cite news |date=21 December 2022 |title=Gambia coup attempt foiled – government |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64055295 |access-date=21 December 2022 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205101052/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64055295 |url-status=live }}</ref> with four soldiers arrested. The Gambian [[Gambia Armed Forces|Armed Forces]] have denied that any attempt at a coup was made.<ref name="BBC-2022" /> Barrow's use of foreign troops for his security and for protection of some infrastructure has hurt his popularity.<ref name="BBC-2022"/>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of the Gambia}}
[[File:Ga-map.png|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Map of The Gambia]]
The Gambia is a very small and narrow country whose [[The Gambia–Senegal border|borders]] mirror the meandering [[Gambia River]]. It lies between latitudes [[13th parallel north|13]] and [[14th parallel north|14°N]], and longitudes [[13th meridian west|13]] and [[17th meridian west|17°W]].

The Gambia is less than {{convert|50|km|abbr=off}} wide at its widest point, with a total area of {{cvt|11,295|km2|sqmi|lk=out}}. About {{convert|1,300|km2|abbr=off}} (11.5%) of The Gambia's area are covered by water. It is the smallest country on the African mainland. In comparative terms, The Gambia has a total area slightly more than that of the island of [[Jamaica]].

Senegal surrounds The Gambia on three sides, with {{cvt|80|km|mi}} of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean marking its western extremity.<ref name=ciageography>{{Cite CIA World Factbook |country=Gambia, The |access-date=30 May 2007 }}</ref>

The present boundaries were defined in 1889 after an agreement between the United Kingdom and France. During the negotiations between the French and the British in Paris, the French initially gave the British around {{convert|200|mi|km|order=flip}} of The Gambia River to control. Starting with the placement of boundary markers in 1891, it took nearly 15 years after the Paris meetings to determine the final borders of The Gambia. The resulting series of straight lines and arcs gave the British control of areas about {{convert|10|mi|km|order=flip}} north and south of The Gambia River.<ref name=wright>{{cite book |last=Wright |first=Donald |title=The World and a Very Small Place in Africa: A History of Globalization in Niumi, The Gambia |publisher=M. E. Sharpe |year=2004 |location=Armonk, New York |pages=149–150 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg1en2yyJmEC&pg=PA149 |isbn=978-0-7656-1007-2 |access-date=2020-08-25 |archive-date=2024-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728053647/https://books.google.com/books?id=Qg1en2yyJmEC&pg=PA149 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Gambia contains three terrestrial ecoregions: [[Guinean forest-savanna mosaic]], [[West Sudanian savanna]], and [[Guinean mangroves]].<ref name="Dinerstein">{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad |display-authors=6 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |year=2017 |pages=534–545 |issn=0006-3568 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287 |doi-access=free }}</ref> It had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 4.56/10, ranking it 120th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name=FLII>{{cite journal |last1=Grantham |first1=H. S. |last2=Duncan |first2=A. |last3=Evans |first3=T. D. |last4=Jones |first4=K. R. |last5=Beyer |first5=H. L. |last6=Schuster |first6=R. |last7=Walston |first7=J. |last8=Ray |first8=J. C. |last9=Robinson |first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M. |last11=Clements |first11=T. |last12=Costa |first12=H. M. |last13=DeGemmis |first13=A. |last14=Elsen |first14=P. R. |last15=Ervin |first15=J. |last16=Franco |first16=P. |last17=Goldman |first17=E. |last18=Goetz |first18=S. |last19=Hansen |first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E. |last21=Jantz |first21=P. |last22=Jupiter |first22=S. |last23=Kang |first23=A. |last24=Langhammer |first24=P. |last25=Laurance |first25=W. F. |last26=Lieberman |first26=S. |last27=Linkie |first27=M. |last28=Malhi |first28=Y. |last29=Maxwell |first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M. |last31=Mittermeier |first31=R. |last32=Murray |first32=N. J. |last33=Possingham |first33=H. |last34=Radachowsky |first34=J. |last35=Saatchi |first35=S. |last36=Samper |first36=C. |last37=Silverman |first37=J. |last38=Shapiro |first38=A. |last39=Strassburg |first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T. |last41=Stokes |first41=E. |last42=Taylor |first42=R. |last43=Tear |first43=T. |last44=Tizard |first44=R. |last45=Venter |first45=O. |last46=Visconti |first46=P. |last47=Wang |first47=S. |last48=Watson |first48=J. E. M. |display-authors=6 |title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material |journal=Nature Communications |volume=11 |issue=1 |year=2020 |page=5978 |issn=2041-1723 |doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3 |pmid=33293507 |pmc=7723057 |bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
The Gambia has a [[tropical savannah climate]]. A short rainy season normally lasts from June until September, but from then until May, lower temperatures predominate, with less [[precipitation]].<ref name=ciageography/> The [[climate]] in The Gambia closely resembles that of neighboring Senegal, of [[Mali]], and of the northern part of [[Guinea]].<ref name=hayward>{{cite book |last1=Hayward |first1=Derek |first2=J. S. |last2=Oguntoyinbo |title=Climatology of West Africa |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=1987 |location=Lanham, Maryland |page=189 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0RooGyB2f60C&pg=PA189 |isbn=978-0-389-20721-4 |access-date=2020-08-25 |archive-date=2024-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728053647/https://books.google.com/books?id=0RooGyB2f60C&pg=PA189#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|width=auto
|location = Banjul
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 37.2
|Feb record high C = 38.9
|Mar record high C = 40.6
|Apr record high C = 41.1
|May record high C = 41.1
|Jun record high C = 37.8
|Jul record high C = 33.9
|Aug record high C = 33.3
|Sep record high C = 34.4
|Oct record high C = 37.2
|Nov record high C = 35.6
|Dec record high C = 35.6
|year record high C = 41.1
|Jan high C = 31.7
|Feb high C = 33.5
|Mar high C = 33.9
|Apr high C = 33.0
|May high C = 31.9
|Jun high C = 31.9
|Jul high C = 30.8
|Aug high C = 30.2
|Sep high C = 31.0
|Oct high C = 31.8
|Nov high C = 32.7
|Dec high C = 31.9
|year high C = 32.0
|Jan low C = 15.7
|Feb low C = 16.6
|Mar low C = 17.9
|Apr low C = 18.8
|May low C = 20.3
|Jun low C = 22.9
|Jul low C = 23.6
|Aug low C = 23.3
|Sep low C = 22.6
|Oct low C = 22.2
|Nov low C = 18.8
|Dec low C = 16.2
|year low C = 19.9
|Jan record low C = 7.2
|Feb record low C = 10.0
|Mar record low C = 11.7
|Apr record low C = 12.2
|May record low C = 13.9
|Jun record low C = 18.3
|Jul record low C = 20.0
|Aug record low C = 20.0
|Sep record low C = 17.2
|Oct record low C = 16.1
|Nov record low C = 12.2
|Dec record low C = 8.9
|year record low C = 7.2
|Jan rain mm = 0.5
|Feb rain mm = 0.0
|Mar rain mm = 0.0
|Apr rain mm = 0.0
|May rain mm = 1.3
|Jun rain mm = 62.7
|Jul rain mm = 232.4
|Aug rain mm = 346.8
|Sep rain mm = 255.1
|Oct rain mm = 75.8
|Nov rain mm = 1.6
|Dec rain mm = 0.7
|year rain mm = 976.9
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 0
|Apr rain days = 0
|May rain days = 0
|Jun rain days = 5
|Jul rain days = 14
|Aug rain days = 19
|Sep rain days = 16
|Oct rain days = 6
|Nov rain days = 0
|Dec rain days = 0
|year rain days = 60
|Jan humidity = 47
|Feb humidity = 47
|Mar humidity = 50
|Apr humidity = 58
|May humidity = 67
|Jun humidity = 73
|Jul humidity = 81
|Aug humidity = 85
|Sep humidity = 84
|Oct humidity = 80
|Nov humidity = 69
|Dec humidity = 55
|year humidity = 67
|Jan sun = 207.7
|Feb sun = 237.3
|Mar sun = 266.6
|Apr sun = 252.0
|May sun = 229.4
|Jun sun = 201.0
|Jul sun = 182.9
|Aug sun = 189.1
|Sep sun = 183.0
|Oct sun = 217.0
|Nov sun = 246.0
|Dec sun = 210.8
|Jand sun = 6.7
|Febd sun = 8.4
|Mard sun = 8.6
|Aprd sun = 8.4
|Mayd sun = 7.4
|Jund sun = 6.7
|Juld sun = 5.9
|Augd sun = 6.1
|Sepd sun = 6.1
|Octd sun = 7.0
|Novd sun = 8.2
|Decd sun = 6.8
|yeard sun = 7.2
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name= WMO>{{cite web |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=140 |title=World Weather Information Service – Banjul |publisher=World Meteorological Organization |access-date=10 June 2016 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330143327/http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=140 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes, humidity, and sun)<ref name="DWD">{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_617010_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von Banjul-Yundum (Flugh.) / Gambia |work=Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |language=de |access-date=10 June 2016 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330111457/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_617010_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

=== Nature and wildlife ===
{{Main|Wildlife of the Gambia}}
Biodiversity in The Gambia is extremely rich given the country's size, and considered to be of global significance.<ref name="FAO">{{cite web |title=The State of the Gambia Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/fc5fe885-642d-47ca-98ce-b0ef7cbe6c48/content |website=Food and Agriculture Organization |publisher=UNFAO |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref>
Plant assemblages consist of mangrove swamp along the river, wetland in lowland areas through to savanna woodland and a plateau dominated by sandhills in the upland region.<ref name="Britannica" >{{cite web |last1=Gailey |first1=Harry |last2=Clark |first2=Andrew |title=The Gambia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Gambia |website=Britannica.com |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gailey |first1=Harry |last2=Clark |first2=Andrew |title=The Gambia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Gambia |website=Britannica.com |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> There is a rich array of [[List of birds of the Gambia|birdlife]], with over 500 resident species. The national animal is the [[spotted hyena]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Animals in Gambia |url=https://a-z-animals.com/animals/location/africa/gambia/ |website=a-z-animals.com |publisher=A-Z Animals |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> [[Pygmy hippopotamus]]es and [[crocodile]]s may be found in the river system<ref name="Britannica" /> while common African species such as [[chimpanzee]]s, [[baboon]]s, [[antelope]]s, and [[warthog]]s are also present.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Dave |title=Gambia's wildlife, the big five! |url=https://www.fairplaygambia.com/gambias-wildlife-the-big-five/ |website=fairplaygambia.com |date=25 June 2022 |publisher=FairPlay Gambia |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> 30 [[amphibian]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Integrated Coastal Area and Marine Biodiversity Management - Phase II |url=https://wwf.panda.org/?uProjectID=GM0853 |website=panda.org |publisher=World Wildlife Fund |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> and 74 [[reptile]] species have been recorded including [[tortoise]]s, [[snake]]s and various [[lizard]]s;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barnett |first1=Linda |last2=Emms |first2=Craig |title=Common Reptiles of the Gambia |url=https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/documents/DAR12009/3838/12-009%20FR%20Appendix%203%20Common%20Reptiles%20of%20The%20Gambia%20-%20article.pdf |website=darwininitiative.org.uk |publisher=Rare Repro, Hailsham, East Sussex |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> while over 500 [[fish]] species can be found in the marine and aquatic environments<ref name="FAO" /> together with [[List of mammals of the Gambia|marine mammals]] including dolphins,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Van Waerebeek |first1=K |title=Conservation of cetaceans in The Gambia and Senegal, 1999-2001, and status of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin. WAFCET- 2 Report |url=https://vliz.be/en/imis?basketaction=add&module=ref&refid=109819 |website=VLIZ.be |publisher=VLIZ |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> whales<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murphy |first1=Paul |last2=Van Waerebeek |first2=Koen |last3=Jallow |first3=Alpha |title=Cetaceans in Gambian coastal waters |journal=49th Annual Meeting, Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission |date=1997 |volume=SC/49/SM11 |doi=10.13140/2.1.4468.6405 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262373720 |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> and the rare [[West African manatee]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Virginia |last2=Tobey |first2=James |last3=Kathy |first3=Castro |last4=Brian |first4=Crawford |last5=Ibrahima |first5=Mat |last6=Ousman |first6=Drammeh |last7=Tanvi |first7=Vaidyanathan |title=Marine Biodiversity Assets and Threats Assessment - Gambia-Senegal Sustainable Fisheries Project |url=https://www.crc.uri.edu/download/Gambia_Biodiversity_Threats_Assessment.pdf |website=www.crc.uri.edu |publisher=Coastal Resources Centre |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of the Gambia}}
{{multiple image
| border = infobox
| image_gap = 20
| caption_align = center
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = Dawda Jawara (1979).jpg
| width1 = 128
| caption1 = Sir [[Dawda Jawara]]<br />1st [[President of the Gambia|President]] (1970–1994)<br />[[Prime Minister of the Gambia|Prime Minister]] (1962–1970)
| image2 = Yahya Jammeh.jpg
| width2 = 128
| caption2 = [[Yahya Jammeh]]<br />2nd President (1996–2017)<br />Chairman of the [[Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council|AFPRC]] (1994–1996)
| image3 = Adama Barrow - 2018 (39774084330) (cropped).jpg
| width3 = 128
| caption3 = [[Adama Barrow]]<br />3rd President (2017–present)
}}
[[File:Banjul Arch 22.jpg|thumb|The [[Arch 22]] monument commemorating [[1994 Gambian coup d'état|the 1994 coup]] which saw the then 29-year-old [[Yahya Jammeh]] seize power in a bloodless coup, ousting Sir [[Dawda Jawara]], who had been President of the Gambia since 1970<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/28/world/in-gambia-new-coup-follows-old-pattern.html |title=In Gambia, New Coup Follows Old Pattern |date=28 August 1994 |work=The New York Times |access-date=13 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226204826/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/28/world/in-gambia-new-coup-follows-old-pattern.html |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

The Gambia gained [[Gambia Independence Act 1964|independence]] from the United Kingdom on 18 February 1965. From 1965 to 1994, the country was ostensibly a multi-party [[liberal democracy]]. It was ruled by Sir [[Dawda Jawara]] and his [[People's Progressive Party (Gambia)|People's Progressive Party]] (PPP). However, the country never experienced political turnover during this period and its commitment to succession by the ballot box was never tested.<ref>Edie, p. 162</ref> In 1994, a [[1994 Gambian coup d'état|military coup]] propelled a commission of military officers to power, known as the [[Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council]] (AFPRC). After two years of direct rule, a new constitution was written and in 1996, the leader of the AFPRC, [[Yahya Jammeh]], was elected as president. He ruled in an authoritarian style until the [[Gambian presidential election, 2016|2016 election]], which was won by [[Adama Barrow]], backed by a coalition of opposition parties.

According to the 2023 [[V-Dem Democracy Indices]], the Gambia is ranked 68th of 179 nations worldwide and the 11th of 56 [[democracy in Africa|in Africa]].<ref name="vdem_dataset">{{cite web |last=V-Dem Institute |date=2023 |title=The V-Dem Dataset |url=https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |access-date=14 October 2023 |archive-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208183458/https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Political history ===
During the Jawara era, there were initially four political parties, the PPP, the [[United Party (Gambia)|United Party]] (UP), the [[Democratic Party (Gambia)|Democratic Party]] (DP), and [[I.M. Garba-Jahumpa]]'s [[Muslim Congress Party]] (MCP). The 1960 constitution had established a [[House of Representatives of the Gambia|House of Representatives]], and in the [[Gambian legislative election, 1960|1960 election]] no party won a majority of seats. However, in 1961, the British Governor chose UP leader [[Pierre Sarr N'Jie]] to serve as the country's first head of government, in the form of a Chief Minister. This was an unpopular decision, and the [[Gambian legislative election, 1962|1962 election]] was notable as parties were able to appeal to ethnic and religious differences across the Gambia. The PPP won a majority, and formed a coalition with the [[Democratic Congress Alliance]] (DCA; a merger of the DP and MCP). They invited the UP to the coalition in 1963, but it left in 1965.<ref name=Edie162>Edie, pp. 162–164</ref>

The UP was seen as the main opposition party, but it lost power from 1965 to 1970. In 1975, the [[National Convention Party (Gambia)|National Convention Party]] (NCP) was formed by [[Sheriff Mustapha Dibba]], and became the new main opposition party to the PPP's dominance.<ref name=Edie162/> Both the PPP and NCP were ideologically similar, so in the 1980s a new opposition party emerged, in the form of the radical socialist [[People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism]] (PDOIS). However, between the 1966 and 1992 elections, the PPP was "overwhelmingly dominant", winning between 55% and 70% of the vote in each election and a large majority of seats continually.<ref>Edie, p. 165</ref>

In principle, competitive politics existed during the Jawara era, however, it was stated that there was in reality a "one-party monopoly of state power centred around the dominant personality of Sir Dawda Jawara". [[Civil society]] was limited post-independence, and opposition parties were weak and at the risk of being declared subversive. The opposition did not have equal access to resources, as the business class refused to finance them. The government had control over when they could make public announcements and press briefings, and there were also allegations of [[Electoral fraud|vote-buying]] and improprieties in the preparation of the [[Electoral roll|electoral register]]. A 1991 court challenge by the PDOIS against irregularities on the electoral register in Banjul was dismissed on a technicality.<ref>Edie, pp. 168–170</ref>

In July 1994, a [[1994 Gambian coup d'état|bloodless military coup d'état]] brought an end to the Jawara era. The [[Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council]] (AFPRC), led by [[Yahya Jammeh]], ruled dictatorially for two years. The council suspended the constitution, banned all political parties, and imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the populace.<ref>Edie, p. 182</ref> A transition back to democracy occurred in 1996, and a new constitution was written, though the process was manipulated to benefit Jammeh.<ref name=Edie185>Edie, p. 185</ref> In a 1996 referendum, 70% of voters approved the constitution, and in December 1996, Jammeh was elected as president. All but PDOIS of the pre-coup parties were banned, and former ministers were barred from public office.<ref>Edie, p. 186</ref>

During Jammeh's rule, the opposition was again fragmented. An example was the infighting between members of the [[National Alliance for Democracy and Development]] (NADD) that was formed in 2005. Jammeh used the police forces to harass opposition members and parties. Jammeh was also accused of human rights abuses, especially towards human rights activists, civil society organisations, political opponents, and the media. They faced exile, harassment, arbitrary imprisonment, murder, and [[forced disappearance]]. Particular examples include the murder of journalist [[Deyda Hydara]] in 2004, a [[April 2000 Gambian student massacre|student massacre at a protest]] in 2000, public threats to kill human rights defenders in 2009, and public threats towards homosexuals in 2013. Furthermore, Jammeh made threats to the religious freedom of non-Muslims, used 'mercenary judges' to weaken the judiciary, and faced numerous accusations of election rigging.<ref name=trans>{{Cite web |title=Democratic Transition in the Gambia: The Burden of Leadership and Consolidation |date=2017 |website=Centre for Democracy and Development |url=http://cddwestafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/democratictransitioninthegambia.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004701/http://cddwestafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/democratictransitioninthegambia.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[Gambian presidential election, 2016|December 2016 presidential election]], Jammeh was beaten by [[Adama Barrow]], who was backed by a [[Coalition 2016|coalition of opposition parties]]. Jammeh's initial agreement to step down followed by a change of mind induced a [[2016–17 Gambian constitutional crisis|constitutional crisis]] that culminated in a [[ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia|military intervention by ECOWAS forces]] in January 2017. Barrow pledged to serve at the head of a three-year transitional government.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/601994/Gambia_-_Pol_Opn_-_CPIN_-_v2_0.pdf |title=Gambia: Political opinion |date=March 2017 |publisher=Home Office |location=United Kingdom |page=14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615033526/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/601994/Gambia_-_Pol_Opn_-_CPIN_-_v2_0.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Nigerian [[Centre for Democracy and Development]] describe the challenges facing Barrow as needing to restore "citizen's trust and confidence in the public sector". They describe a "fragile peace" with tensions in rural areas between farmers and the larger communities. They also reported on tensions between ethnic groups developing. An example is that in February 2017, 51 supporters of Jammeh were arrested for harassing supporters of Barrow. Although his election was initially met with enthusiasm, the Centre notes that this has been dampened by Barrow's initial constitutional faux pas with his vice president, the challenge of inclusion, and high expectations post-Jammeh.<ref name=trans/>

On 5 December 2021, Incumbent President Adama Barrow was declared the winner of The Gambia's [[2021 Gambian presidential election|presidential election]] by the electoral commission. The 4 December 2021 election, the first since former dictator Yahya Jammeh fled into exile, was seen as crucial for the young democracy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Incumbent Barrow declared winner of Gambia's presidential vote as opposition cries foul |url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20211205-incumbent-barrow-declared-winner-of-gambia-s-presidential-election |work=France 24 |date=5 December 2021 }}</ref>

=== Constitution ===
The Gambia has had a number of constitutions in its history. The two most significant are the 1970 constitution, which established The Gambia as a presidential republic, and the 1996 constitution, which served as a basis for Jammeh's rule and was kept following Barrow's victory in 2016. Jammeh manipulated the 1996 constitutional reform process to benefit himself. No reference was made to term limits, indicating Jammeh's preference to stay in power for an extended period of time.<ref name=Edie185/> According to the 1996 constitution, the President is the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Jammeh and Barrow have also both taken on the role of Minister of Defence.<ref name=EASO>{{Cite web |title=The Gambia: Country Focus |date=December 2017 |website=European Asylum Support Office |url=https://www.easo.europa.eu/sites/default/files/coi-gambia.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004602/https://www.easo.europa.eu/sites/default/files/coi-gambia.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Presidency ===
The president appoints the vice president and cabinet of ministers and also chairs the cabinet. The office of Prime Minister was abolished in 1970. Total executive power is vested in the president. He can also appoint five members of the National Assembly, the judges of the superior courts, regional governors, and district chiefs. In terms of the civil service, he can appoint the Public Service Commission, the ombudsman, and the Independent Electoral Commission. The president is directly elected for five-year terms based on a simple majority of votes. There are no term limits.<ref name=EASO/> The Constitution is under review as of 2018 and a two-term limit and other changes required to enhance the governance structures are expected.

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of the Gambia}}
[[File:Yahya Jammeh with Obamas 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Yahya Jammeh]] and Mrs. [[Zeinab Jammeh]] with [[Barack Obama|Barack]] and [[Michelle Obama]] in the [[White House]], August 2014]]

The Gambia followed a formal policy of non-alignment throughout most of former President Jawara's tenure. It maintained close relations with the United Kingdom and with Senegal and other African countries. The July 1994 coup strained The Gambia's relationship with Western powers, particularly the United States, which until 2002 suspended most non-humanitarian assistance in accordance with Section 508 of the [[Foreign Assistance Act]]. After 1995, President Jammeh established diplomatic relations with several additional countries, including [[Libya]] (suspended in 2010), and [[Cuba]].<ref name="bn">[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5459.htm "Background note: The Gambia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022010255/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5459.htm |date=2020-10-22}}. U.S. Department of State (October 2008).{{PD-notice }}</ref> The [[China|People's Republic of China]] cut ties with The Gambia in 1995 – after the latter established diplomatic links with [[Taiwan]] – and re-established them in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Chun Han |title=Beijing Resumes Formal Ties With Gambia, in Signal to Taipei |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-resumes-formal-ties-with-gambia-in-signal-to-taipei-1458233742?mod=fox_australian |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=17 March 2016 |access-date=19 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319140747/http://www.wsj.com/articles/beijing-resumes-formal-ties-with-gambia-in-signal-to-taipei-1458233742?mod=fox_australian |archive-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As a member of the [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS), The Gambia has played an active role in that organisation's efforts to resolve the civil wars in [[Liberia]] and Sierra Leone and contributed troops to the community's [[Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group|ceasefire monitoring group]] (ECOMOG) in 1990 and ([[ECOMIL]]) in 2003.<ref name="bn" /> In November 2019, The Gambia filed [[Rohingya genocide case|a case against Myanmar in The Hague]], accusing its military of genocide against Myanmar's ethnic Rohingya community.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/11/gambia-rohingya-genocide-myanmar-un-court |title=Gambia files Rohingya genocide case against Myanmar at UN court |first=Owen |last=Bowcott |date=11 November 2019 |access-date=7 April 2020 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215191826/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/11/gambia-rohingya-genocide-myanmar-un-court |url-status=live}}</ref>

Under Yahya Jammeh, The Gambia was also backing up rebels of MFDC in Casamance in southern Senegal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bridge opening further reduces Senegal-Gambia interstate war risks and improves peace settlement prospects with Casamance secessionists |url=https://ihsmarkit.com/country-industry-forecasting.html?id=10659123121 |access-date=29 December 2021 |website=IHS Markit}}</ref> The subsequent worsening of the human rights situation placed increasing strains on US–Gambian relations.<ref name="bn" />

The Gambia withdrew from the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] on 3 October 2013, with Jammeh's government stating it had "decided that The Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-24376127 |title=UK regrets The Gambia's withdrawal from Commonwealth |newspaper=BBC News |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506140901/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-24376127 |archive-date=6 May 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the Barrow government, The Gambia began the process of returning to its status as a [[republic in the Commonwealth of Nations]] with the support of the British government, formally presenting its application to re-join the Commonwealth to Secretary-General Patricia Scotland on 22 January 2018,<ref name="boris" /><ref name=cwlthre/> returning to its status as a republic in the Commonwealth of Nations on 8 February 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gambia, The |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/gambia |website=Commonwealth |language=en}}</ref>

==== List of international organisation memberships ====
* [[Commonwealth of Nations]]
* [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS)
* [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]]<ref name=oicmems>{{cite web |title=Member States |url=http://www.oic-oci.org/states/?lan=en |website=OIC |access-date=31 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609063319/http://www.oic-oci.org/states/?lan=en |archive-date=9 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[United Nations]]
* [[African Union]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Member States |url=https://au.int/en/memberstates |website=African Union |access-date=31 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025239/https://au.int/en/memberstates |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organisation of Islamic Cooperation |url=https://www.oic-oci.org/states/?lan=en |access-date=6 May 2024 |website=www.oic-oci.org |archive-date=20 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120203028/http://www.oic-oci.org/states/?lan=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Main|Gambia Armed Forces}}
[[File:Masaneh Kinteh and Carter Ham saluting.jpg|thumb|[[United States Africa Command|U.S. AFRICOM]] commander [[Carter Ham]] and senior Gambian Army officer [[Masaneh Kinteh]] surveying the troops, 21 July 2011]]

The [[Gambia Armed Forces]] (GAF) was created in 1985 as a stipulation of the [[Senegambia Confederation]], a political union between The Gambia and [[Senegal]]. It originally consisted of The Gambia [[Gambia National Army|National Army]] (GNA), trained by the British, and [[Gambia National Gendarmerie]] (GNG), trained by the Senegalese. The GNG was merged into the police in 1992, and in 1997 Jammeh created a [[Gambian Navy]] (GN). Attempts to create a [[Gambian Air Force]] in the mid-2000s ultimately fell through. In 2008, Jammeh created a National Republican Guard, composed of special forces units. The GNA has a strength of roughly 900, in two infantry battalions and an engineering company. It makes use of [[Ferret armoured car|Ferret]] and [[M8 Greyhound]] armoured cars. The GN is equipped with patrol vessels, and [[Taiwan]] donated a number of new vessels to the force in 2013.

Since the GAF was formed in 1985, it has been active in UN and [[African Union]] peacekeeping missions. It has been classed as a Tier 2 peacekeeping contributor<ref>Bellamy, Alex J. and Williams, Paul D. (2013). ''Providing Peacekeepers: The Politics, Challenges, and Future of United Nations Peacekeeping Contributions''. Oxford University Press, p. 30. {{ISBN|0-19-967282-2}}.</ref> and was described by the [[Center on International Cooperation]] as a regional leader in peacekeeping.<ref>NYU Center on International Cooperation (28 February 2012). [https://web.archive.org/web/20120524005317/http://www.cic.nyu.edu/peacekeeping/docs/gpo_2012.pdf "Annual Review of Global Peace Operations 2012"].
</ref>

It dispatched soldiers to [[Liberia]] as part of [[Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group|ECOMOG]] from 1990 to 1991, during which two Gambian soldiers were killed. It has since contributed troops to [[ECOMIL]], [[United Nations Mission in Liberia|UNMIL]], and [[United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur|UNAMID]]. Responsibility for the military has rested directly with the President since Jammeh seized power at the head of a [[1994 Gambian coup d'état|bloodless military coup in 1994]]. Jammeh also created the role of [[Chief of the Defence Staff (The Gambia)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], who is the senior military officer responsible for the day-to-day operations of The Gambia Armed Forces. Between 1958 and 1985, The Gambia did not have a military, but The Gambia [[Gambia Field Force|Field Force]] existed as a paramilitary wing of the police. The military tradition of The Gambia can be traced to The Gambia [[Gambia Regiment|Regiment]] of the [[British Army]], that existed from 1901 to 1958 and fought in [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. In 2017, Gambia signed the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=15 August 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Gambia Armed Forces is and has been the recipient of a number of equipment and training agreements with other countries. In 1992, a contingent of Nigerian soldiers helped lead the GNA. Between 1991 and 2005, the Turkish armed forces helped train Gambian soldiers. It has also hosted British and United States training teams from the [[Royal Gibraltar Regiment]] and [[United States Africa Command|US AFRICOM]].

Gambia is the 82nd most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Global Peace Index |url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf}}</ref>

=== Human rights ===
{{See also|Human rights in the Gambia}}
According to the [[World Health Organization]], an estimated 78.3% of Gambian girls and women have suffered [[female genital mutilation in the Gambia|female genital mutilation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/prevalence/en/index.html |title=Female genital mutilation and other harmful practices |website=[[World Health Organization]] |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=14 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423210304/http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/prevalence/en/index.html |archive-date=23 April 2011 }}</ref>

[[LGBT rights in the Gambia|LGBT activity]] is illegal, and punishable with life imprisonment,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/09/gambia-passes-bill-life-imprisonment-homosexual-acts |title=The Gambia passes bill imposing life sentences for some homosexual acts |agency=Associated Press |date=8 September 2014 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |access-date=10 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503010442/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/09/gambia-passes-bill-life-imprisonment-homosexual-acts |archive-date=3 May 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> although the Barrow administration promised not to prosecute consenting same sex couples, it has also said it will not repeal the law.

The ''[[The Daily Observer|Daily Observer]]'' reporter [[Ebrima Manneh]] is believed by human rights organisations to have been arrested in July 2006 and secretly held in custody since then.<ref name=CFP>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpj.org/2009/04/gambia-must-account-for-missing-journalist-ebrima.php |title=Gambia must account for missing journalist Ebrima Manneh |date=14 April 2009 |publisher=[[Committee to Protect Journalists]] |access-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215124010/https://cpj.org/2009/04/gambia-must-account-for-missing-journalist-ebrima.php |archive-date=15 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Manneh was reportedly arrested by Gambia's [[State Intelligence Services (the Gambia)|National Intelligence Agency]] after attempting to republish a [[BBC News|BBC]] report criticizing President [[Yahya Jammeh]].<ref name=CFP/> [[Amnesty International]] considers him to be a [[prisoner of conscience]] and named him a 2011 "priority case".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/individuals-at-risk/priority-cases/gambia-ebrima-manneh/page.do?id=1361052 |title=Ebrima Manneh |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |access-date=17 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429082908/http://www.amnestyusa.org/individuals-at-risk/priority-cases/gambia-ebrima-manneh/page.do?id=1361052 |archive-date=29 April 2011 }}</ref> In 2019 The Gambian newspaper ''The Trumpet'' reported that Manneh had died in captivity at some point in mid-2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://rsf.org/en/news/gambia-missing-editor-died-detention-2008-after-mistreatment |title=Gambia: Missing editor died in detention in 2008 after mistreatment |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |date=22 March 2019 |access-date=12 September 2019 |archive-date=21 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421110336/https://rsf.org/en/news/gambia-missing-editor-died-detention-2008-after-mistreatment }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://trumpet.gm/2019/03/19/journalist-manneh-died-on-road-to-diabugu-hospital/ |title=Journalist Manneh Died On Road To Diabugu Hospital |last=Ceesay |first=Fabakary B. |date=19 March 2019 |website=The Trumpet |access-date=12 September 2019 |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801011121/https://trumpet.gm/2019/03/19/journalist-manneh-died-on-road-to-diabugu-hospital/ }}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Subdivisions of the Gambia|Local government areas of the Gambia}}
[[File:Gambia-LGAmap.png|upright=1.8|thumb|Local government areas of the Gambia]]
The Gambia is divided into eight [[Divisions of the Gambia|local government areas]], including the national capital, Banjul, which is classified as a city. The divisions of The Gambia were created by the Independent Electoral Commission in accordance to Article 192 of the [[Constitution of the Gambia|National Constitution]].<ref name=ciageography/>

{| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Administrative divisions
!rowspan=2| Name !!rowspan=2| Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>) !!colspan=3|Population census !!rowspan=2| Capital !!rowspan=2| Number<br />of<br />districts
|-
!2003 !!2013 !!2024 <ref name=GBoS>The Gambia 2024 Population and Housing Census</ref><br />(provisional)
|-
!scope="row"| '''[[Banjul]]''' (capital city)
|align="right"| 12.2||align="right"| 35,061||align="right"| 31,054||align="right"| 26,461|| [[Banjul]]|| align="right"| 3
|-
!scope="row"| [[Kanifing LGA|Kanifing]]
|align="right"| 75.6||align="right"| 322,735||align="right"| 377,134||align="right"| 379,348|| [[Kanifing]] ||align="right"| 1
|-
!scope="row"| [[Brikama (Gambia)|Brikama]] <br />(formerly Western)
|align="right"| 1,764.3||align="right"| 389,594||align="right"| 688,744||align="right"| 1,151,128|| [[Brikama]] ||align="right"| 9
|-
!scope="row"| [[Mansa Konko (Gambia)|Mansa Konko]] <br />(formerly Lower River)
|align="right"| 1,628.0||align="right"| 72,167||align="right"| 81,042||align="right"| 90,624|| [[Mansa Konko|Mansakonko]] ||align="right"| 6
|-
!scope="row"| [[Kerewan (Gambia)|Kerewan]] <br />(formerly North Bank)
|align="right"| 2,255.5||align="right"| 172,835||align="right"| 220,080||align="right"| 248,475|| [[Kerewan]] ||align="right"| 7
|-
!scope="row"| [[Kuntaur (Gambia)|Kuntaur]] <br />(formerly the western half <br />of [[Central River Division]])
|align="right"| 1,466.5||align="right"| 78,491||align="right"| 96,703||align="right"| 118,104|| [[Kuntaur]]|| align="right"| 5
|-
!scope="row"| [[Janjanbureh (Gambia)|Janjanbureh]] <br />(formerly the eastern half <br />of [[Central River Division]])
|align="right"| 1,427.8||align="right"| 107,212||align="right"| 125,204||align="right"| 147,412|| [[Janjanbureh, Gambia|Janjanbureh]] ||align="right"| 5
|-
!scope="row"| [[Basse (Gambia)|Basse]] <br />(formerly Upper River)
|align="right"| 2,069.5||align="right"| 182,586||align="right"| 237,220||align="right"| 261,160|| [[Basse (LGA)|Basse Santa Su]] ||align="right"| 7
|-
!Total Gambia
|align="right"| 10,689||align="right"|1,360,681||align="right"|1,857,181||align="right"| 2,422,712|| Banjul ||align="right"| 43
|}

The local government areas are further subdivided (2013) into 43 [[Districts of the Gambia|districts]]. Of these, Kanifing and Kombo Saint Mary (which shares [[Brikama]] as a capital with the Brikama Local Government Area) are effectively part of the Greater Banjul area.<ref>
{{cite web |last=Law |first=Gwillim |title=Divisions of Gambia |publisher=Administrative Divisions of Countries ("Statoids") |date=19 April 2006 |url=http://www.statoids.com/ugm.html |access-date=29 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804220753/http://www.statoids.com/ugm.html |archive-date=4 August 2011 |url-status=live}}
</ref>

== Economy ==
[[File:People tourists in swimming pool hotel Gambia.jpg|thumb|Tourists in The Gambia, 2014]]
[[File:GDP per capita development in Senegal and Gambia.svg|thumb|GDP per capita development in Senegal and Gambia]]
{{Main|Economy of the Gambia}}
The Gambia has a liberal, [[Market economy|market-based economy]] characterised by traditional subsistence agriculture, a historic reliance on groundnuts ([[peanut]]s) for export earnings, a re-export trade built up around its ocean port, low import duties, minimal administrative procedures, a fluctuating exchange rate with no exchange controls, and a significant [[Tourism in the Gambia|tourism industry]].<ref name="bn" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/gambiathe/73417.htm |title=Gambia, The |publisher=United States State Department |access-date=4 May 2025}}</ref>

The [[World Bank Group|World Bank]] pegged Gambian [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) for 2018 at US$1,624 million; the [[International Monetary Fund]] put it at US$977 million for 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 Gambia Import Data |url=https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/Country/GMB/Year/2009/TradeFlow/EXPIMP/Partner/by-country?utm_source=perplexity |url-access=registration |access-date=2018-12-21 |website=WITS}}</ref> From 2006 to 2012, The Gambian economy grew annually at a rate of 5–6% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fadera |first=Hatab |date=23 April 2012 |url=http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/gambia-to-commence-rail-system-in-2013-disclos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035755/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/gambia-to-commence-rail-system-in-2013-discloses-president-jammeh-as-he-opens-parliament |archive-date=29 November 2014 |title=Gambia to commence rail system in 2013:- Discloses President Jammeh, as he opens parliament |work=The Daily Observer}}</ref>

Agriculture accounts for roughly 30% of GDP and employs about 70% of the labour force. Within agriculture, peanut production accounts for 6.9% of GDP, other crops 8.3%, livestock 5.3%, fishing 1.8%, and forestry 0.5%. Industry accounts for about 8% of GDP and services around 58%. The limited amount of manufacturing is primarily agricultural-based (e.g., peanut processing, bakeries, a brewery, and a tannery). Other manufacturing activities involve soap, [[soft drinks]], and clothing.<ref name="bn" />

Previously,{{when|date=April 2019}} the United Kingdom and the European Union constituted the major Gambian export markets. However, in recent years Senegal, the United States, and Japan have become significant trade partners of The Gambia. In Africa, Senegal represented the biggest trade partner of The Gambia in 2007, which is a defining contrast to previous years that had Guinea-Bissau and Ghana as equally important trade partners. Globally, Denmark, the United States, and China have become important source countries for Gambian imports. The United Kingdom, Germany, [[Ivory Coast]], and the Netherlands also provide a fair share of Gambian imports. The Gambian trade deficit for 2007 was $331&nbsp;million.<ref name="bn" />

In May 2009, twelve commercial banks existed in The Gambia, including one Islamic bank. The oldest of these, [[Standard Chartered Bank]], dates its presence back to the entry in 1894 of what shortly thereafter became the [[Bank of British West Africa]]. In 2005 the Switzerland-based banking group [[International Commercial Bank]] established a subsidiary and now has four branches in the country. In 2007 Nigeria's [[Access Bank plc|Access Bank]] established a subsidiary that now has four branches in the country, in addition to its head office; the bank has pledged to open four more. 2008 saw the incorporation of Zenith Bank (Gambia) Limited, a subsidiary of Nigeria's behemoth [[Zenith Bank]] Plc, in the country. In May 2009 the Lebanese Canadian Bank opened a subsidiary called [[Prime Bank (Gambia)|Prime Bank]].<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/another-new-bank-inaugurated |title=Another new Bank inaugurated |work=The Observer |date=27 May 2009 |access-date=26 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719122332/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/another-new-bank-inaugurated |archive-date=19 July 2014}}</ref>

Since 2017, China has invested in the Gambia as part of its [[Belt and Road Initiative]]. A major focus of Chinese activity in Gambia has been processing of locally caught fish for the production of fish meal for export. The economic and environmental impacts of fish meal production in Gambia are controversial.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/08/fish-farming-is-feeding-the-globe-whats-the-cost-for-locals |title=Fish Farming is Feeding the Globe. What's the Cost for Locals? |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |last=Urbina |first=Ian |date=1 March 2021 }}</ref>

In 2024, the first solar power plant was inaugurated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hako |first=Nasi |date=13 March 2024 |title=A landmark solar PV plant has been inaugurated in The Gambia |url=https://www.esi-africa.com/renewable-energy/solar/a-landmark-solar-pv-plant-has-been-inaugurated-in-the-gambia/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=ESI-Africa.com |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728053658/https://www.esi-africa.com/renewable-energy/solar/a-landmark-solar-pv-plant-has-been-inaugurated-in-the-gambia/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery widths="250" heights="170">
Fishing boat The Gambia.jpg|Brightly painted fishing boats are common in [[Bakau]]
Green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) juvenile head.jpg|The Gambia's wildlife, like this [[green monkey]], attracts tourists
</gallery>

== Transportation ==
{{main|Transport in the Gambia}}
[[File:Road in Gambia 0003.jpg|thumb|A road in Gambia, 2007]]
[[File:Gambia & Senegal 2009 (3686723627).jpg|thumb|The Banjul ferry and Port of Banjul]]
The system of transportation in The Gambia mixes both public and private operations and consists of a system of roads (both paved and unpaved), water and air transportation. The [[Trans-Gambia Highway]] runs along both sides of the river Gambia, which bisects the country. The river may be crossed by ferry or the Senegambia bridge. There are no railways in the country.

Roadways in the country run to a length of 3,742&nbsp;km of which only 723&nbsp;km is paved and the remaining 3,019&nbsp;km remains unpaved.{{cn|date=September 2025}}

The country has a total of 390&nbsp;km of waterways, with the [[Port of Banjul]] being the only port, which is managed by The Gambia [[Gambia Ports Authority|Ports Authority]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transport in the Gambia |url=https://nzt.eth.link/wiki/Rail_transport_in_the_Gambia.html |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=nzt.eth.link}}</ref>

The country's only [[international airport]] is the [[Banjul International Airport]] at [[Yundum]], which is 26&nbsp;km away.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/654943/Yundum |title=Yundum |publisher=Britannica Online encyclopedia |access-date=10 August 2012 |archive-date=6 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406055020/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/654943/Yundum |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of the Gambia}}
[[File:Bevölkerungspyramide Gambia 2016.png|thumb|Population pyramid]]
{|class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px"
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:#cfb;"|Population<br />in The Gambia{{UN_Population|ref}}
|-
! style="background:#cfb;"|Year
! style="background:#cfb;"|Million
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1950 ||style="text-align:right;"|0.27
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|2000 ||style="text-align:right;"|1.2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{UN_Population|Year}} ||style="text-align:right;"|{{#expr:{{formatnum:{{UN_Population|Gambia}}|R}}/1e6 round 1}}
|}
The urbanisation rate {{as of| 2011| lc = on}} was 57.3%.<ref name=ciageography/> Provisional figures from the 2003 census show the gap between the urban and rural populations narrowing as more areas are declared urban. While urban migration, development projects, and modernisation are bringing more Gambians into contact with Western habits and values, indigenous forms of dress and celebration and the traditional emphasis on the extended family remain integral parts of everyday life.<ref name="bn" />

The [[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP) Human Development Report for 2010 ranks The Gambia 151st out of 169 countries on its [[Human Development Index]], putting the country in the "Low Human Development" category. This index compares [[Life expectancy|life-expectancy]], years of schooling, [[gross national income]] (GNI) ''per capita'' and other factors.<ref>{{Cite book |date=31 December 2010 |title=Human Development Report 2010 |doi=10.18356/e5a0500a-en |isbn=978-92-1-057698-7 |issn=2412-3129}}</ref>

The [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) was estimated at 3.98 children per woman in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2127rank.html |title=TOTAL FERTILITY RATE |publisher=CIA World Factbook |access-date=13 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028133713/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2127rank.html |archive-date=28 October 2009}}</ref>

=== Ethnic groups ===
{{bar box
|title=Ethnic Groups in the Gambia
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Ethnic Groups
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|Mandinka|darkgreen|34}}
{{bar percent|Fula|purple|31}}
{{bar percent|Wolof|red|11}}
{{bar percent|Jola|black|9}}
{{bar percent|Sarahule|orange|7}}
{{bar percent|Serere|darkblue|3}}
{{bar percent|Mangajo|maroon|2}}
{{bar percent|Bambara|darkgray|1}}
{{bar percent|Aku|white|.5}}
{{bar percent|Other|gray|1.5}}
}}
A variety of [[ethnic group]]s live in The Gambia, each preserving its own language and traditions. The [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]] ethnicity is the most numerous, followed by the [[Fula people|Fula]], [[Wolof people|Wolof]], [[Jola people|Jola]]/[[Karoninka people|Karoninka]], [[Soninke people|Serahule / Jahanka]], [[Serer people|Serers]], [[Manjago people|Manjago]], [[Bambara people|Bambara]], [[Oku people (Sierra Leone)|Aku Marabou]], [[Bainuk people|Bainunka]] and others,<ref name=2013Census>{{cite web |url=https://www.gbos.gov.gm/uploads/census/2013/Spatial-distribution-report_%20Final.pdf |title=2013 Population and Housing Census: Spatial Distribution |publisher=The Republic of The Gambia |last=National Population Commission Secretariat |date=30 April 2005 |website=Gambia Bureau of Statistics |access-date=29 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103134831/https://www.gbos.gov.gm/uploads/census/2013/Spatial-distribution-report_%20Final.pdf |archive-date=3 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> such as [[Toucouleur people|Tukulor]]. The Krio people, locally known as [[Aku people|Akus]], constitute one of the smallest ethnic minorities in The Gambia. They descend from [[Sierra Leone Creole people]] and have traditionally concentrated in the capital.

The roughly 3,500 non-African residents include Europeans and families of [[Lebanese diaspora|Lebanese]] origin (0.23% of the total population).<ref name="bn" /> Most of the European minority is<!-- most is singular --> [[British people|British]], although many of the British left after independence.{{cn|date=September 2025}}

=== Languages ===
{{Main| Languages of the Gambia}}
English is the official language of The Gambia and is thus used for official purposes and education. Other languages include [[Mandinka language|Mandinka]], [[Wolof language|Wolof]], [[Fula language|Fula]], [[Serer language|Serer]], [[Soninke language|Soninke]], [[Krio language|Krio]], [[Jola languages|Jola]] and other indigenous vernaculars.<ref name=ciageography/> Owing to the country's geographical setting, knowledge of [[French language|French]] (an official language in much of West Africa) is relatively widespread.

[[Mandinka language|Mandinka]] is spoken as a first language by 38% of the population, [[Pulaar language|Pulaar]] by 21%, [[Wolof language|Wolof]] by 18%, [[Soninke language|Soninke]] by 9%, [[Jola languages|Jola]] by 4.5%, [[Serer language|Serer]] by 2.4%, [[Manjak language|Manjak]] and [[Bainouk language|Bainouk]] by 1.6% each, [[Guinea-Bissau Creole|Guinean Creole]] by 1%, and [[English language|English]] by 0.5%. Several other languages are spoken by smaller numbers. [[Gambian Sign Language]] is used by the deaf.<ref>[https://www.ethnologue.com/country/GM Gambia.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205225838/https://www.ethnologue.com/country/GM |date=2021-12-05 }} ''Ethnologue'' 24, 2021</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in the Gambia}}
[[File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-28-13.jpg|thumb|1969 photo lableled "Science Dept. Gambia High School" in [[Banjul]], which was then called Bathurst]]
The constitution mandates free and compulsory primary education in The Gambia. Lack of resources and of educational infrastructure has made implementation of this difficult.<ref name=ilab>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131007165653/http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/tda2001/gambia.htm "The Gambia"]. ''2001 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor''. [[Bureau of International Labor Affairs]], [[U.S. Department of Labor]] (2002). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].</ref> In 1995 the gross primary enrolment rate was 77.1% and the net primary enrolment rate was 64.7%<ref name=ilab/> [[School fee]]s long prevented many children from attending school, but in February 1998 President [[Yahya Jammeh|Jammeh]] ordered the termination of fees for the first six years of schooling.<ref name=ilab/> Girls make up about 52% of primary-school pupils. The figure may be lower for girls in rural areas, where cultural factors and poverty prevent parents from sending girls to school.<ref name=ilab/> Approximately 20% of school-age children attend [[Quranic school]]s.<ref name=ilab/>

==== Higher education ====
There are various public and private tertiary educational institutions in the [[The Gambia College|Gambia]]. [[The Gambia College]], one of the oldest post-secondary education, was established in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gambia, The |url=https://www.aacrao.org/edge/country/gambia-the#:~:text=Gambia%20College%20was%20established%20in,level%20degrees%20in%20the%20country. |access-date=6 May 2024 |website=www.aacrao.org }}</ref> It offers certificate and diploma programmes in public health, education, nursing, and agriculture. [[University of the Gambia|The University of the Gambia]] was established by the Act of the National Assembly of the Gambia in 1999. Since its establishment the UTG offers both undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD in different faculties. The university used to be housed at the MDI in [[Kanifing]] and [[The Gambia College|The Gambia Collège]] in [[Brikama]]. The new campus in Faraba was inaugurated on 12 March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Inauguration: UTG Faraba Campus Marks a New Era in Higher Education – University Of The Gambia |url=https://www.utg.edu.gm/grand-inauguration-utg-faraba-campus-marks-a-new-era-in-higher-education/ |access-date=6 May 2024 }}</ref>

The [[International Open University]] (until January 2020 known as the Islamic Online University), a higher-education institution having more than 435,000 enrolled students from over 250 countries worldwide, has its global headquarters in The Gambia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ayvnewspaper.com/index.php/k2-categories/politics/item/5024-islamic-online-university-signs-agreement-with-fbc |title=Islamic Online University Signs Agreement with FBC |last=Admini |website=ayvnewspaper.com |access-date=11 April 2019 |archive-date=23 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923170413/http://ayvnewspaper.com/index.php/k2-categories/politics/item/5024-islamic-online-university-signs-agreement-with-fbc }}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{Main| Health in the Gambia}}
In the 2024 [[Global Hunger Index]] (GHI), the Gambia ranks 88th out of 127 countries, with a score of 19.9. This score indicates a moderate level of hunger.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Hunger Index Scores by 2024 GHI Rank |url=https://www.globalhungerindex.org/ranking.html |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Global Hunger Index (GHI) - peer-reviewed annual publication designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels |language=en}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main| Religion in the Gambia}}
{{bar box
|title=Religions in the Gambia<ref name=DHS>{{cite web |title=The Gambia: Demographic and Health Survey, 2013 |publisher=Gambia Bureau of Statistics |page=32 |url=https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR289/FR289.pdf |access-date=25 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225150115/http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR289/FR289.pdf |archive-date=25 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|titlebar= #ddd
|left1= '''Religions'''
|right1= '''Percent'''
|float= right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Islam in the Gambia|Islam]]|green|96.4}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in the Gambia|Christianity]]|blue|3.5}}
{{bar percent|Other|red|0.1}}
}}

Approximately 96% of the population identify as [[Sunni Islam|Sunni Muslim]], mostly Malikite [[Sufism|Sufi]]. Except for a tiny fraction of one percent, the remainder of the population are Christian. Article 25 of the Constitution protects the rights of citizens to practise any religion that they choose and intermarriage between Muslims and Christians is common.<ref name="chap4con">{{cite web |year=1997 |title=Chapter IV – Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms |url=http://www.commonlii.org/gm/legis/const/1997/5.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212164817/http://www.commonlii.org/gm/legis/const/1997/5.html |archive-date=12 December 2008 |access-date=14 January 2009 |work=Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia |quote=25. Freedom of speech, conscience, assembly, association and movement <br/> (1) Every person shall have the right to – [...] (c) freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice; }}</ref><ref name="irfr07">{{cite web |date=14 September 2007 |title=Gambia, The |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90099.htm |access-date=14 January 2009 |work=International Religious Freedom Report 2007 |publisher=Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521133723/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90099.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 2023 |title=Religions' Roles in Peacebuilding in The Gambia |url=https://talkabout.iclrs.org/2023/04/19/religions-roles-in-peacebuilding-in-the-gambia%EF%BF%BC/ |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=Talk About: Law and Religion |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728053651/https://talkabout.iclrs.org/2023/04/19/religions-roles-in-peacebuilding-in-the-gambia%EF%BF%BC/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Islam ====
Virtually all commercial life in The Gambia comes to a standstill during major Muslim holidays, which include [[Eid al-Adha]] and [[Eid ul-Fitr]].<ref>Burke, Andrew and Else, David (2002) ''The Gambia & Senegal''. Lonely Planet. p. 35. {{ISBN|1-74059-137-2}}.</ref> Sunni Muslims in The Gambia mainly follow the [[Maliki]] school of [[jurisprudence]].<ref>Sait, Siraj and Lim, Hilary (2011) [http://www.gltn.net/jdownloads/GLTN%20Documents/land_law_and_islam.pdf ''Land, Law and Islam''] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160813191050/http://gltn.net/jdownloads/GLTN%20Documents/land_law_and_islam.pdf |date= 13 August 2016}}. Zed Books. p. 42. {{ISBN|1-84277-813-7}}.</ref> There is also a significant presence of the [[Ahmadiyya]] movement in the country.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Breach of Faith |publisher=Human Rights Watch |page=8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yi8ONIe1fv4C&pg=PA8 |date=June 2005 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314122619/https://books.google.com/books?id=yi8ONIe1fv4C&pg=PA8 |archive-date=14 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=irfr07/> A [[Shia]] Muslim minority exists in The Gambia, mainly due to [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] and other [[Arab people|Arab]] [[immigrants]] to the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wow.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/6/23/shia-presence-in-gambia |title=Shia Presence in Gambia |publisher=Wow.gm |access-date=7 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914182148/http://wow.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/6/23/shia-presence-in-gambia |archive-date=14 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The vast majority of South-Asian immigrants are also Muslims.<ref name=irfr07/>

==== Christianity ====
The Christian community comprises about 4% of the population.<ref name=DHS/> Residing in the western and southern parts of The Gambia, most members of the Christian community identify themselves as [[Roman Catholic]]. However, smaller Christian denominations are also present, including [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]], [[Methodism|Methodists]], [[Baptists]], [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventists]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], and small evangelical congregations.<ref name=irfr07/>

==== Traditional religions ====
It is unclear to what extent [[Traditional African religion|indigenous]] beliefs, such as the [[Serer religion]], continue to be practised. Serer religion encompasses cosmology and a belief in a supreme deity called [[Roog]]. Some of its religious festivals include the ''[[Xooy]]'', ''Mbosseh'', and ''Randou Rande''. Each year, adherents of Serer religion make the annual pilgrimage to [[Kingdom of Sine|Sine]] in Senegal for the ''Xooy'' divination ceremony.<ref>Kalis, Simone (1997). ''Medecine Traditionnele Religion et Divination Chez Les Seereer Siin Du Senegal''. L'Harmattan. {{ISBN| 2-7384-5196-9 }}</ref> Serer religion also has a rather significant imprint on Senegambian Muslim society in that [[Senegambian]] Muslim festivals such as "Tobaski", "Gamo", "Koriteh" and "Weri Kor" have names representing [[loanword]]s from the Serer religion – they were ancient Serer festivals.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Diouf, Niokhobaye |year=1972 |title=Chronique du royaume du Sine, suivie de Notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin (1972) |journal=Bulletin de l'IFAN |volume=34B |issue=4 |pages=706–7, 713–14 }}</ref> {{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Like the Serers, the [[Jola people]] have their own religious customs, including a major religious ceremony, [[Boukout]].

==== Other religions ====
Owing to a small number of immigrants from [[South Asia]], [[Hindus]] and followers of the [[Baháʼí Faith]] are also present.<ref name=irfr07/>

There is also a small [[History of the Jews in the Gambia|Jewish]] community in the Gambia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jpost.com/jewish-world/jewish-news/tiny-gambia-community-draws-close-to-judaism|title= Tiny Gambia community draws close to Judaism|date= March 2011}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{more citations needed section|date=April 2017}}

[[Image:James Island near Juffureh (4129325186).jpg|right|thumb|James Island near Juffureh]]



Although The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, <ref>{{Cite web |title=PPIAF {{!}} The Gambia Country Overview |url=https://www.ppiaf.org/documents/3894 |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=www.ppiaf.org}}</ref>its culture is the product of very diverse influences. The national borders outline a narrow strip on either side of the [[Gambia River|River Gambia]], a body of water that has played a vital part in the nation's destiny and is known locally simply as "the River". Without natural barriers, The Gambia has become home to most of the ethnic groups that are present throughout [[West Africa|western Africa]], especially those in [[Senegal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Gambia – Government and society |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Gambia |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928075310/https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Gambia |url-status=live }}</ref>

Europeans also figure prominently in Gambian history because the River Gambia is navigable deep into the continent, a geographic feature that made this area one of the most profitable sites for the slave trade from the 15th through the 17th centuries. (It also made it strategic to the halt of this trade once it was outlawed in the 19th century.) Some of this history was popularised in the [[Alex Haley]] book and TV series ''[[Roots: The Saga of an American Family|Roots]]'', which was set in The Gambia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roots revival: how does the new Kunta Kinte compare to the classic? |url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/feb/08/roots-revival-how-does-the-Kunta-Kinte-remake-stand-up |date=8 February 2017 |website=the Guardian |access-date=30 May 2020 }}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of the Gambia}}
[[File:Smithsonian Institution Archives - sia77-7470-27.jpg|thumb|Musicians from Gambia, West Africa gave a free public concert in the Carmichael Auditorium, National Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, in June 1977. The musicians performed on the koru, hallam, and balafon]]
The music of The Gambia is closely linked musically with [[Music of Senegal|that of its neighbour, Senegal]], which surrounds its inland frontiers completely. It fuses popular Western music and dance, with ''[[sabar]]'', the traditional drumming and dance music of the [[Wolof people|Wolof]] and [[Serer people|Serer people of Senegal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=FolkWorld #71: Africa |url=http://www.folkworld.eu/71/e/africa.html |website=www.folkworld.eu |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731225505/http://www.folkworld.eu/71/e/africa.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Gambian cuisine}}
The cuisine of the Gambia is heavily influenced by the culinary traditions of neighbouring Senegal, reflecting a mix of local ingredients and historical influences, including French colonial cuisine. A popular dish in particular is the Senegalese [[domoda]], a savoury peanut stew made with meat, peanut paste, and vegetables, representative of Gambian comfort food. Another dish is Gambian okra stew (''[[Gambian cuisine|superkanja]]'')  which in addition to okra, has palm oil, meat and smoked fish. Senegalese [[Yassa (food)|yassa]] is also enjoyed widely; it features marinated fish or chicken seasoned with lemon, onions, and mustard, providing a sharp flavour that contrasts with the earthiness of many other dishes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chefspencil.com/popular-foods-in-the-gambia/ |title=Top 10 Most Popular Foods in The Gambia |last=Bojang |first=Fatoumatta |date=21 September 2022 |website=Chef's Pencil |access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref> Gambian cuisine usually includes peanuts, rice, fish, meat, onions, tomatoes, cassava, sweet potatoes, egg plant, cabbage, chili peppers and oysters from the River Gambia.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

=== Literature ===
{{main|Gambian literature}}
[[File:Kora - bridge-harp or plucked harp-lute.png|thumb|The kora is played by traditional storytellers of the Gambia River valley. These storytellers, call griots, recite stories and histories]]

As with other West African countries, The Gambia has a tradition of oral literature, including the [[griot]]s, traditional storytellers and musicians.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Saine |first1=Abdoulaye |title=Culture and customs of Gambia |date=2012 |publisher=Greenwood |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |isbn=978-0-313-35910-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ikWccsfwZJAC |pages=59–61 |access-date=2023-03-19 |archive-date=2023-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408085529/https://books.google.com/books?id=ikWccsfwZJAC |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the 1960s, an English-language Gambian literature has emerged. [[Lenrie Peters]] is considered the founding father of this literature, whilst notable writers include [[Tijan Sallah]], [[Nana Grey-Johnson]] and [[Mariama Khan]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perfect |first1=David |title=Historical dictionary of the Gambia |date=2016 |location=Lanham, Maryland |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-6526-4 |edition=Fifth |chapter=Literature |pages=302–303 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sallah |first1=Tijan M. |title=Saani baat: aspects of African literature and culture (Senegambian and other African essays) |date=2021 |publisher=[[Africa World Press]] |location=Trenton, New Jersey |isbn=978-1-5690269-8-4 |page=89 }}</ref>

=== Media ===
{{main|Gambia Radio & Television Service|Radio Gambia|List of newspapers in the Gambia}}
Critics have accused the government of restricting free speech. A 2002 law created a commission with the power to issue licences and imprison journalists; in 2004, additional legislation allowed prison sentences for libel and slander and cancelled all print and broadcasting licenses, forcing media groups to re-register at five times the original cost.<ref name="BBCProfile">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1032156.stm#media |title=Country profile: The Gambia |publisher=[[BBC News website]] |access-date=16 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123010005/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1032156.stm#media |archive-date=23 November 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=199422&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa/ |title=President tightens media laws in The Gambia |date=11 May 2005 |newspaper=[[Mail & Guardian]] |access-date=16 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219055811/http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=199422&area=%2Fbreaking_news%2Fbreaking_news__africa%2F |archive-date=19 February 2008}}</ref>

Three Gambian journalists have been arrested since the coup attempt. It has been suggested that they were imprisoned for criticising the government's economic policy, or for stating that a former interior minister and security chief was among the plotters.<ref>{{cite news |title=Banjul newspaper reporter freed on bail pending trial |date=13 June 2006 |publisher=[[Reporters without borders]] |url=http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17063 |access-date=16 October 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513112031/http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17063 |archive-date=13 May 2006}}</ref> Newspaper editor [[Deyda Hydara]] was shot to death under unexplained circumstances, days after the 2004 legislation took effect.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Licensing fees are high for newspapers and radio stations, and the only nationwide stations are tightly controlled by the government.<ref name="BBCProfile" />

[[Reporters Without Borders]] has accused "President [[Yahya Jammeh]]'s police state" of using murder, arson, unlawful arrest and death threats against journalists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gambia – Annual report 2005 |date=December 2004 |publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]] |url=http://archives.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=13576 |access-date=16 October 2008 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20170426044528/http://archives.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article%3D13576 |archive-date=26 April 2017}}</ref>

In 2010, [[Musa Saidykhan]], former editor of [[The Independent (Gambia)|''The Independent'' newspaper]], was awarded US$200,000 by the [[ECOWAS Court]] in [[Abuja|Abuja, Nigeria]]. The court found the Government of The Gambia guilty of torture while he was detained without trial.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major Camara narrates his involvement in 2006 abortive coup - The Point |url=https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/headlines/major-camara-narrates-his-involvement-in-2006-abortive-coup |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=thepoint.gm}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
{{Main|Tourism in the Gambia}}

=== Sports ===
[[Image:52nd Independence Anniversary Celebrations and Inauguration of His Excellency Mr. Adama Barrow President of the Republic of The Gambia.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Independence Anniversary Celebrations and Inauguration of His Excellency Mr. Adama Barrow President of the Republic of The Gambia 2016]]
[[File:2008 Summer Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Beijing, China 同一个世界 同一个梦想 - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program - FMWRC (4928829094).jpg|thumb|Gambia at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] - Opening Ceremony - Beijing, China]]
As in neighbouring [[Senegal]], the national and most popular sport in The Gambia is [[Senegalese wrestling|wrestling]].<ref>[http://amazinggambia.weebly.com/sport.html Sport – Gambia!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423003315/http://amazinggambia.weebly.com/sport.html |date=23 April 2016}}, weebly.com, accessed 3 April 2016.</ref> [[Association football]] and [[basketball]] are also popular. Football in The Gambia is administered by The Gambia [[Gambia Football Federation|Football Federation]], who are affiliated to both [[FIFA]] and [[Confederation of African Football|CAF]]. The GFA runs league football in The Gambia, including top division [[GFA League First Division]], as well as The Gambia [[Gambia national football team|national football team]]. Nicknamed "The Scorpions", the national side have never qualified for the [[FIFA World Cup]], but qualified for the [[Africa Cup of Nations]] at senior level for the first time in 2021. They also qualified for the second time in row in 2023 to participate in the [[2023 Africa Cup of Nations|AFCON in Ivory Coast]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Jubilant Nation Celebrates Another AFCON Qualification, After a Stunning Fightback Against Congo |url=https://www.grts.gm/news-article-details/sports/a-jubilant-nation-celebrates-another-afcon-qualification-after-a-stunning-fightback-against-congo |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=www.grts.gm |archive-date=29 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529095810/https://www.grts.gm/news-article-details/sports/a-jubilant-nation-celebrates-another-afcon-qualification-after-a-stunning-fightback-against-congo |url-status=live}}</ref> They play at [[Independence Stadium (Bakau)|Independence Stadium]]. The Gambia won two CAF U-17 championships one in 2005 when the country hosted, and 2009 in Algeria automatically qualifying for FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru (2005) and Nigeria (2009) respectively. The U-20 also qualified for FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007 and 2023 in Canada and Argentina respectively. The female U-17 also competed in FIFA U-17 World Cup 2012 in Azerbaijan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U-17 Women's National Team faces Gambia at 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup today |url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/u-17-womens-national-team-faces-gambia-at-2012-fifa-u-17-womens-world-cup-today/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=SoccerWire |language=en}}</ref>

The Gambia featured a national team in [[beach volleyball]] that competed at the [[2018–2020 CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup]] in both the women's and the men's section.<ref>{{cite news |title=Continental Cup Finals start in Africa |url=https://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/continental-cup-finals-start-in-africa?id=94414 |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=[[FIVB]] |date=22 June 2021 |archive-date=7 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807141038/https://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/continental-cup-finals-start-in-africa?id=94414 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Outline of the Gambia|Outline of The Gambia]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===

{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Edie |first=Carlene J. |date=2000 |title=Democracy in the Gambia: Past, Present and Prospects for the Future |journal=Africa Development |volume=XXV |pages=161–198}}
* {{cite web |title=UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia: Gambia. In depth: Economic crisis and a leftist coup attempt in 1981 |work=[[Uppsala Conflict Data Program]] |publisher=Uppsala University |url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=60&regionSelect=2-Southern_Africa# |access-date=8 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220417/http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=60&regionSelect=2-Southern_Africa |archive-date=4 October 2013}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Library resources box}}
* [https://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=GM Key Development Forecasts for The Gambia] from [[International Futures]] 

=== Government ===
* [https://op.gov.gm Office of The Prisedent] – official website of the president of The Gambia
* [https://www.assembly.gm/ National Assembly] – official website of the National Assembly of the Gambia
* [https://www.gbosdata.org Statistics] – official website of Bureau of Statistics

=== Tourism ===
* [http://www.visitthegambia.gm/ Visit The Gambia] – The Gambia's official tourism portal

=== Maps ===
* {{Wikiatlas}}
* {{Osmrelation-inline|192774}}

{{Gambia topics}}

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