Gambia - Geography

Here, let us take a look at the Geography of Gambia. Almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland. Mother's mean age at first birth is 20.7 years (2019/20 est.) (Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49), whereas, the Maternal mortality ratio is 458 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Geographical data of Gambia
Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references Africa
Tarrain flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Natural Resources fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Natural Hazards droughts
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
Land Boundaries 749 km
Border Countries Senegal 749 km
Coastline 80 km
Climate tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Area
Total Area
Land Area 10,120 sq km
Water Area 1,180 sq km
comparative Area slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Maritime Claims
Territorial sea 12 nm
Contiguous zone 18 nm
Continental shelf extent not specified
Exclusive fishing zone 200 nm
Elevations
Highest point unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi
Lowest point Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation 34 m
Land Use
Agricultural land 56.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land arable land: 41% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.)
Forest 43.9% (2018 est.)
Other 0% (2018 est.)
Population Distribution

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

People and Society

In Gambia, the different Ethnic groups are such that we have: 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.)

Population
Pop growth rate 2.16% (2024 est.)
Birth rate 27.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate 5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Health expenditure 2.6% of GDP (2020)
Physicians Density
Hospital bed Density 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Total fertility rate 3.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Gross reproduction rate 1.74 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate 18.9% (2019/20)
Est married women (ages 15-49) 60.9% (2023 est.)
Literacy age 15 and over can read and write
Education expenditures 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Net Migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Nationality Gambian | Gambian(s)
Languages English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Religions Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1% (2019-20 est.)
Age Structure
0-14 years 38.2% (male 486,472/female 477,309)
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
Urbanization
Urban population 64.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas (Pop) 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.)
Infant Motality
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
Life Expectancy at birth
Total population 68.4 years (2024 est.)
Male 66.7 years
Female 70.1 years
Drinking Water Sources
Improved: urban urban: 91.8% of population
Improved: rural rural: 85.7% of population
Improved: total total: 89.5% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 8.2% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 14.3% of population
Unimproved: total total: 10.5% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility acess
Improved: urban urban: 75.8% of population
Improved: rural rural: 33.6% of population
Improved: total total: 60% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 24.2% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 66.4% of population
Unimproved: total 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.)
Tobacco use
Total 11.1% (2020 est.)
Male 21.4% (2020 est.)
Female 0.8% (2020 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.)
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.

All Important Facts about Gambia

Want to know more about Gambia? Check all different factbooks for Gambia below.

Gambia is found in Western Africa