The Gambia

**The Gambia** is officially called the **Republic of the Gambia**. This country is also known as **Gambia**. It is a country in West Africa. It is surrounded by Senegal. It is the smallest country on mainland Africa.

Banjul is the capital city. The largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama.

## Geography

The geography of Gambia is unusual. It is a long, thin country. Except for its coastline it is completely surrounded by the country of Senegal. The River Gambia flows from Senegal through its centre and into the Atlantic Ocean.

### Climate

The Gambia has a tropical climate. A hot and rainy season normally lasts from June until November.

## Politics and government

The Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom on 18 February 1965. It was ruled by Dawda Jawara and his People's Progressive Party (PPP) from 1965 to 1994. There was a military take-over in 1994. In 1996, Yahya Jammeh became president. Then in 2016, Adama Barrow was elected.

### Administrative divisions

The Gambia is divided into eight local government areas. They are:
- Banjul
- Kanifing
- Brikama
- Mansa Konko
- Kerewan
- Kuntaur
- Janjanbureh
- Basse

As of 2013, these are then divided into 43 districts.

## Culture

The population of The Gambia is about 1.7 million. People from The Gambia are called **Gambians**. A number of people from different cultures and backgrounds live in The Gambia. Some of the largest groups are called _Mandinka_, _Fula_, _Wolof_ and _Jolo_, in that order.

English is the official language, but people speak other languages as well.

Most Gambians follow the religion of Islam.

The American writer Alex Haley, who wrote the book _Roots_, found that his family came from The Gambia in the 1760s.

## Other websites

- Gambia information

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Republic of the Gambia
- **common name**: The Gambia
- **image flag**: Flag of The Gambia.svg
- **image coat**: Coat_of_arms_of_The_Gambia.svg
- **image map**: Gambia in its region.svg
- **map caption**: Location of the Gambia (dark red area within circle) on the coast of West Africa.
- **national motto**: "Progress, Peace, Prosperity"
- **national anthem**: _For The Gambia Our Homeland_
- **official languages**: English language, English
- **languages type**: National languages
- **languages**: List:
:Mandinka
:Pulaar
:Wolof
:Serer
:Jola
:Balanta
:Hassaniya Arabic
:Portuguese
:Jola-Fonyi
:Mandjak
:Mankanya
:Noon
:Pulaar
:Cangin
:Dyula
:French
:Fula
:Karon
:Kassonke
:Soninke
:Gambian Sign Language
:Gambian Hindustani
- **demonym**: Gambian
- **ethnic groups year**: 2003
- **capital**: Banjul
- **largest city**: Serekunda
- **government type**: Presidential republic
- **leader title1**: Heads of state of the Gambia, President
- **leader name1**: Adama Barrow
- **leader title2**: Vice President of the Gambia, Vice President
- **leader name2**: Isatou Touray
- **legislature**: National Assembly of the Gambia, National Assembly
- **area rank**: 164th
- **area magnitude**: 1 E10
- **area km2**: 11,295
- **area sq mi**: 4,007
- **percent water**: 11.5
- **population estimate**: 2,051,363
- **population census**: 1,857,181
- **population estimate year**: 2017
- **population estimate rank**: 146
- **population census year**: 2013
- **population density km2**: 176.1
- **population density sq mi**: 425.5
- **population density rank**: 74th
- **gdp ppp**: $3.582 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2017
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $1,686
- **gdp nominal**: $1.038 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2017
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $488
- **gini**: 35.9
- **gini year**: 2015
- **gini change**: decrease
- **hdi**: 0.466
- **hdi year**: 2018
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 174th
- **currency**: Gambian dalasi, Dalasi
- **currency code**: GMD
- **time zone**: Greenwich Mean Time, GMT
- **drives on**: right
- **calling code**: +220
- **iso3166code**: GM
- **cctld**: .gm