Republic of the Gambia
Western Africa
Smiling · River · Tiny
Gambia (officially Republic of the Gambia) is a country located in Western Africa. Its capital city is Banjul, with other major cities including Serekunda and Brikama. With a population of approximately 2.5M, the main language spoken is English. The country covers an area of 10,689 km². The official currency is the dalasi (D). Traffic drives on the right side.
The Gambia is Africa's smallest mainland country — a thin strip of land surrounding the Gambia River, never more than 50 km wide, entirely surrounded by Senegal except for its short Atlantic coastline.
Banjul serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Gambia, positioned in Western Africa. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Serekunda, Brikama — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Banjul occupies a small island at the mouth of the Gambia River — a capital so compact it contains 400,000 people with less than 12 kilometres of river frontage — in the world's smallest mainland African country, a narrow strip of land both banks of the Gambia River creating a territory that penetrates 480 kilometres into Senegal like a geographic absurdity left by British colonial river navigation rights.
With a population of approximately 2.5M, Gambia is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is English, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Gambia is reached via the dialling code +220. Gambians maintained democratic credibility with the election of Adama Barrow in 2016, when longtime dictator Yahya Jammeh lost the vote and briefly refused to leave before regional military pressure persuaded his departure — an African electoral transition celebrated internationally as proof that electoral democracy could displace an established autocrat through the ballot rather than the bullet.
Gambia spans 10,689 km², in the Western Africa subregion of Africa. Geographically centred around 13.5°N, 16.6°W, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Africa convention.
The official currency is the dalasi (D), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Gambia's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+00:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.
Football / Wrestling holds a special place in the heart of Gambia's national identity. Football is Gambia's dominant sporting passion, with the national team's surprise Africa Cup of Nations debut appearance in 2021 creating celebrations comparable to independence day — a country of 2.5 million qualifying for the tournament's final stages for the first time and winning two matches, generating a degree of national euphoria that transcended the modest sporting achievement.
The highest point in Gambia is Red Rock, rising to 53 metres above sea level. Abuko Nature Reserve near Banjul is Africa's smallest wildlife reserve, just 105 hectares of riparian forest along a stream — containing vervet monkeys, baboons, hyenas, monitor lizards, and over 270 bird species in a patch of forest surviving within urban suburban sprawl, demonstrating that even tiny protected areas can anchor biodiversity in heavily pressured landscapes.