Introduction
Background
In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic. During the roughly 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UK and other European powers may have exported as many as 3 million people from The Gambia.
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed the short-lived confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1994, Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup overthrowing the president and banning political activity. He subsequently won every presidential election until 2016, when he lost to Adama BARROW, who headed an opposition coalition during free and fair elections. BARROW won reelection in 2021. The Gambia is the only member of the Economic Community of West African States that does not have presidential term limits. Since the 2016 election, The Gambia and the US have enjoyed improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported democracy-strengthening activities, capacity building, economic development, and security sector education and training programs.
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Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references
Africa
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries
total: 749 km
border countries (1): Senegal 749 km
Coastline
80 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation
highest point: unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 34 m
Natural resources
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land use
agricultural land: 56.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 41% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 43.9% (2018 est.)
other: 0% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Population distribution
settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
droughts
Geography - note
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland
People and Society
Population
total: 2,523,327
male: 1,250,490
female: 1,272,837 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 144; male 144; total 144
Nationality
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups
Mandinka/Jahanka 33.3%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo 18.2%, Wolof 12.9%, Jola/Karoninka 11%, Serahuleh 7.2%, Serer 3.5%, other 4%, non-Gambian 9.9% (2019-20 est.)
Languages
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Religions
Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1% (2019-20 est.)
Demographic profile
The Gambia’s youthful age structure – approximately 55% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2021 – is likely to persist because the country’s total fertility rate remains strong at nearly 4 children per woman. The overall literacy rate is around 50%, and is significantly lower for women than for men. At least 70% of the populace are farmers who are reliant on rain-fed agriculture and cannot afford improved seeds and fertilizers. Crop failures caused by droughts between 2011 and 2013 increased poverty, food shortages, and malnutrition.
The Gambia is a source country for migrants and a transit and destination country for migrants and refugees. Since the 1980s, economic deterioration, drought, and high unemployment, especially among youths, have driven both domestic migration (largely urban) and migration abroad (legal and illegal). Emigrants are largely skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, and provide a significant amount of remittances. The top receiving countries for Gambian emigrants are Spain, the US, Nigeria, Senegal, and the UK. While the Gambia and Spain do not share historic, cultural, or trade ties, rural Gambians have migrated to Spain in large numbers because of its proximity and the availability of jobs in its underground economy (this flow slowed following the onset of Spain’s late 2007 economic crisis).
The Gambia’s role as a host country to refugees is a result of wars in several of its neighboring West African countries. Since 2006, refugees from the Casamance conflict in Senegal have replaced their pattern of flight and return with permanent settlement in The Gambia, often moving in with relatives along the Senegal-Gambia border. The strain of providing for about 7,400 Casamance refugees increased poverty among Gambian villagers. The number of refugees decreased to around 3,500 by 2022.
Age structure
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 486,472/female 477,309)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 723,360/female 743,127)
65 years and over: 3.7% (2024 est.) (male 40,658/female 52,401)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 85
youth dependency ratio: 80.5
elderly dependency ratio: 4.5
potential support ratio: 22.2 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 20.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.6 years
comparison ranking: total 205
Population distribution
settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)
note: includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.7 years (2019/20 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Infant mortality rate
total: 35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 35
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 66.7 years
female: 70.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 189
Gross reproduction rate
1.74 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
18.9% (2019/20)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 91.8% of population
rural: 85.7% of population
total: 89.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 8.2% of population
rural: 14.3% of population
total: 10.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
2.6% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 75.8% of population
rural: 33.6% of population
total: 60% of population
unimproved: urban: 24.2% of population
rural: 66.4% of population
total: 40% of population (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2023)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and sexually transmitted diseases: hepatitis B (2024)
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 2.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 121
Tobacco use
total: 11.1% (2020 est.)
male: 21.4% (2020 est.)
female: 0.8% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 130
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
60.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 5.6%
women married by age 18: 23.1%
men married by age 18: 0.2% (2020 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.1%
male: 65.2%
female: 51.2% (2021)
Environment
Environment - current issues
deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Land use
agricultural land: 56.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 41% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 43.9% (2018 est.)
other: 0% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 39.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.53 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 1.96 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 193,441 tons (2002 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
etymology: named for the Gambia River that flows through the heart of the country
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Banjul is located on Saint Mary's Island at the mouth of the Gambia River; the Mandinka used to gather fibrous plants on the island for the manufacture of ropes; "bang julo" is Mandinka for "rope fiber"; mispronunciation over time caused the term became the word Banjul
Administrative divisions
5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast
Independence
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Legal system
mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
Constitution
history: previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; note - in early 2018, the "Constitutional Review Commission," was established to draft and assist in instituting a new constitution; a second draft completed in March 2020 was rejected by the National Assembly in September; the president announced in January 2022 government plans to draft a new constitution
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast; amended 2001, 2004, 2018
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)
head of government: Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 December 2021 (next to be held in 2026); vice president appointed by the president
election results:
2021: Adama BARROW reelected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (NPP) 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 12.3%, other 6.8%
2016: Adama BARROW elected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Assembly (58 seats; 53 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 April 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
election results: percent of vote by party - NPP 33.9%, UDP 28.3%, independent 22.6%, NRP 7.5%, PDOIS 3.7%, APRL 3.7%; seats by party - NPP 18, UDP 15, independent 12, NRP 4, APRL 2, PDOIS 2; composition - men 53, women 5, percentage women 8.6%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 75
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts
Political parties
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC
Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC
Gambia Moral Congress or GMC
National People's Party or NPP
People's Progressive Party or PPP
United Democratic Party or UDP
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)
chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon L. CROMER (since 18 March 2022)
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul
mailing address: 2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC 20521-2070
telephone: [220] 439-2856
FAX: [220] 439-2475
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://gm.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace
National symbol(s)
lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white
National anthem
name: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia
Economy
Economic overview
low-income West African economy; agriculture-dominant; high poverty rate; heightened inflation; dependent on foreign assistance and remittances; structural reforms conditioned by IMF Extended Credit Facility program
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$7.905 billion (2023 est.)
$7.508 billion (2022 est.)
$7.156 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 170
Real GDP growth rate
5.3% (2023 est.)
4.92% (2022 est.)
5.26% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 42
Real GDP per capita
$2,900 (2023 est.)
$2,800 (2022 est.)
$2,700 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 196
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.34 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
16.97% (2023 est.)
11.51% (2022 est.)
7.37% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 195
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 20.4% (2017 est.)
industry: 14.2% (2017 est.)
services: 65.4% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 94; industry 186; agriculture 45
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 90.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 12% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -2.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 20.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -40% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
groundnuts, milk, rice, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate
6.5% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 38
Labor force
969,000 (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 149
Unemployment rate
6.48% (2023 est.)
6.08% (2022 est.)
6.21% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 131
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 10.6% (2023 est.)
male: 10.9% (2023 est.)
female: 10.4% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 130
Population below poverty line
53.4% (2020 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
38.8 (2020 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 50
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.6% (2020 est.)
highest 10%: 30.6% (2020 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
26.82% of GDP (2023 est.)
23.07% of GDP (2022 est.)
27.16% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $252 million (2018 est.)
expenditures: $353 million (2018 est.)
Current account balance
-$90.251 million (2022 est.)
-$86.877 million (2021 est.)
-$86.553 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 93
Exports
$267.377 million (2022 est.)
$142.652 million (2021 est.)
$175.682 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 199
Exports - partners
India 31%, China 23%, Italy 7%, Chile 7%, Portugal 5% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
coconuts/Brazil nuts/cashews, wood, shellfish, scrap iron, fish oil (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$829.516 million (2022 est.)
$726.23 million (2021 est.)
$690.979 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 195
Imports - partners
China 31%, Senegal 12%, India 8%, Brazil 8%, US 5% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
cotton fabric, rice, raw sugar, poultry, palm oil (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$577.028 million (2023 est.)
$568.244 million (2022 est.)
$652.671 million (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 175
Debt - external
$586.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$571.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 175
Exchange rates
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
61.096 (2023 est.)
54.923 (2022 est.)
51.484 (2021 est.)
51.502 (2020 est.)
50.062 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 65.4% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 82.8%
electrification - rural areas: 31.2%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 140,000 kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 405.405 million kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 104.176 million kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 50; consumption 179; installed generating capacity 180
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 99.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
524,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 524,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 189
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 60,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 150
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 2.678 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 144
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Gambia’s telecom market has five mobile networks providing effective competition; mobile subscriptions are well above the African average, itself a testament to the poor condition of the fixed-line infrastructure and the lack of availability of fixed services in many rural areas of the country; there are only four licensed ISPs, which are small networks serving local areas, and so competition is minimal; their limited services are complemented by the fixed-wireless offerings of three of the MNOs; the government has embarked on a National Broadband Network program aimed at closing the digital divide affecting many parts of the country; despite efforts to improve internet connectivity, the country ranks among the lowest globally in terms of digital readiness. (2022)
domestic: fixed-line subscriptions are 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 110 per 100 persons (2021)
international: country code - 220; landing point for the ACE submarine cable to West Africa and Europe; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
Broadcast media
1 state-run TV-channel; one privately-owned TV-station; 1 Online TV-station; three state-owned radio station and 31 privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country
(2019)Internet users
total: 858,000 (2021 est.)
percent of population: 33% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 153
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 5,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 187
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 53,735 (2018)
Waterways
390 km (2010) (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km)
comparison ranking: 98
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Banjul
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Gambian Armed Forces (GAF; aka Armed Forces of the Gambia): the Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambia Navy, Gambia Air Force, Republican National Guard (2024)
note: the National Guard is responsible for VIP protection, riot control, and presidential security; the Gambia Police Force under the Ministry of Interior maintains internal security
Military expenditures
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 154
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 3,000 military personnel (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the GAF has a limited and obsolescent or secondhand equipment inventory originating from several suppliers, including China, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2023)
Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (18-22 for officers); no conscription; service obligation six months (2024)
Military - note
the Gambian security forces have a history of involvement in domestic politics, including multiple coups attempts and mutinies, with the latest being an attempted coup in 2022; since 2017, Gambia’s security sector has been undergoing reforms as part of a national reconstruction effort to recover from the 22 years of Yahya JAMMEH’s autocratic rule under which the security forces were severely under-resourced in terms of finances and equipment and were largely directed towards regime protection and suppressing dissent; international partners, including member states of the EU, particularly France and Germany, as well as Turkey and the US have provided support to military and police reforms; several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have also provided security forces for stability, plus assistance and training through the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG); as of 2023, ECOMIG continued to provide about 1,000 military and gendarmerie personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal
the GAF is a small and lightly armed force responsible for external defense, providing maritime security, countering human trafficking, and aiding civil authorities in emergencies and natural disaster relief; it also engages in activities such as engineering, education, health, and agriculture for domestic socio-economic development; the GAF participates in peacekeeping missions, and since its first deployments in the 1990s, has been involved in more than 10 UN peacekeeping missions while contributing about 4,000 total troops
the GAF traces its origins to the Gambia Regiment of the British Army; established in 1901, the Gambia Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF, later Royal West African Frontier Force or RWAFF) and served in both World Wars, including the British 1944-45 military campaign in Burma; the Gambia Regiment was disbanded in 1958 and replaced by the Field Force, a police paramilitary unit; the Field Force was responsible for The Gambia’s security until the establishment of the GAF in 1985; in addition, a defense agreement signed in 1965 between The Gambia and Senegal provided mutual assistance in the face of an external threat; from 1981-1989, The Gambia and Senegal formed a Confederal Army that was made up of troops from both countries (2023)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 5,600 (2022)