Country Guide • Gambia
Gambia is located on the west coast of Africa. The Gambia River flows for 200 miles through Gambia on its way to the Atlantic. The country is the smallest on the continent of Africa and averages only 20 miles in width. It is completely surrounded by Senegal to the north, east, and south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is a narrow strip of low lying land that is covered in thick mangrove swamps below the lower half of the Gambia River.
| Official Name | Republic of The Gambia |
|---|---|
| Area | 11,300km² (4,363mile²) |
| Population | 1,500,000 |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population per mile² | 344 |
| Capital City | Banjul |
| Religions | 85% Sunni Muslims, Christians 4%, 1% follow local native tribal beliefs |
| Language | Officially English but other languages including Mandinka, Wolof, Fula and other indigenous languages are used also |
| Government | Republic Under Multiparty Democratic Rule |
| Currency | Dalasi |
| GDP | $2.5 billion |
| GDP per Head | $1,770 |
| Natural Resources | Fish |
| Land Use | Arable Land 19% |
| Agriculture | Peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels and livestock including cattle, sheep and goats |
| Industry | Fish, processing peanuts, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, wood and metal working and clothing |
| Tourism | Gambia has many beautiful natural features including of course the Gambia River which runs the whole length of the country. It has its fair share of golden beaches on the Atlantic coast and then there is the culture and the people of Gambia to savour some of the charms of this African country |
| Natural Hazards | Floods during the rainy season (June-October) are common |
| Health Risks | Tick-borne encephalitis, hepatitis, yellow fever, rabies, typhoid fever and malaria |
| Climate | Gambia has a tropical climate with a hot wet season between June - October alternating with a cool dry season from November - April. During the dry season the Harmattan, a dry and dust laden wind blows from the Sahara Desert in the north east. Average annual rainfall in Banjul is 51 inches and average temperature ranges are from 15 to 31°C in January to 23 to 32°C in June |
| Time | GMT/UTC- No Change |
| National Days | February 18 |
| Visas | For visits up to 28 days, there are no entry requirements for British citizens. Citizens of the member countries of ECOWAS, all Commonwealth countries, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden do not need a visa/entry permit for a maximum of 28 days either |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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