Country Details
Gabon
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
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Government
Detailed information and insights
Country name
Conventional long form
Republic of The Gambia
Conventional short form
The Gambia
Etymology
named for the Gambia River that flows through the country; Portuguese explorers in the 15th century derived the name for the river from its local name, Ba-Dimma, meaning "the river"
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
the name derives from a misunderstanding between Portuguese colonists and inhabitants in the 15th century; when asked what the area was called, the inhabitants thought they were being asked what they were doing and replied, "bangjulo," or "rope making"
Administrative divisions
5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast
Legal system
mixed 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
Amendment process
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
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
Election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); vice president appointed by the president
Most recent election date
4 December 2021
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%
Expected date of next election
2026
Legislative branch
Legislature name
National Assembly
Legislative structure
unicameral
Number of seats
58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed)
Electoral system
plurality/majority
Scope of elections
full renewal
Term in office
5 years
Most recent election date
4/9/2022
Parties elected and seats per party
National People's Party (NPP) (18); United Democratic Party (UDP) (15); National Reconciliation Party (NRP) (4); Independents (12); Other (4)
Percentage of women in chamber
8.6%
Expected date of next election
April 2027
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
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
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
info@gambiaembassydc.us
https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025)
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
ConsularBanjul@state.gov
https://gm.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
meaning: red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue for the Gambia River, and green for forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace
meaning: red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue for the Gambia River, and green for forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace
National symbol(s)
lion
National color(s)
red, blue, green, white
National anthem(s)
Title
"For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
Lyrics/music
Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
History
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