Sub Saharan Africa

Gambia
Last reviewed: 18 July 2011

Country information

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Map of The Public of The Gambia

Area: 11,295 sq km - The smallest country on mainland Africa
Population: 1.8 million (est 2011)
Capital City: Banjul
People: The Gambia is made up of several ethnic groups, including the Mandinka (the largest), the Fula, the Wolof, the Jola and the Serahuli.
Language(s): English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, and other indigenous languages are widely spoken.
Religion(s): The Gambia is predominantly Muslim (90%), but there is a significant Christian community (8%) and indigenous beliefs (2%) are also practised. Religious tolerance is good.
Currency: Dalasi (GMD)
Major political parties: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC); National Reconciliation Party (NRP); People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS); United Democratic Party (UDP); the People's Progressive Party (PPP); the National Convention party (NCP); the National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM); Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP); National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD); Gambian Moral Council (GMC)
Government: The Gambia is a republic under multi-party democratic rule. The APRC currently holds a huge majority (42 of the 48 elected seats)
Head of State: Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh
The President is both the Head of State and Head of Government
Foreign Minister: Momodou Tangara.
Membership of international groupings/organisations: African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), African Development Bank (AfDB), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 77 (G-77), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Interpol, International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), African Union (AU), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). United Nations (UN), United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), World Bank (WBG), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Trade Organisation (WTO).