Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic.
- Capital
- Banjul
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 2,523,327
- Area
- 11,300 sq km
- Location
- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
- Climate
- tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
- Natural resources
- fish; clay; silica sand; titanium (rutile and ilmenite); tin; zircon
- Languages
- English (official); Mandinka; Wolof; Fula…
- Religions
- Muslim 96.4%; Christian 3.5%; other or none 0.1% (2019-20 est.)
- Independence
- 18 February 1965 (from the UK)
- Administrative divisions
- 5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West…
- Currency
- dalasis (GMD)
- Export partners
- Kazakhstan 92%; Guinea-Bissau 2%; China 1%; India 1%…
- Import partners
- Kazakhstan 26%; China 18%; Senegal 8%; India 7%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain