Overview of Gambia
The Gambia, a nation situated on the western coast of Africa and encircled by Senegal, exhibits a distinctive form and size. Marked as Africa’s smallest mainland country, The Gambia also ranks among the continent’s most densely populated nations. While a few towns are positioned upriver, the majority of Gambians reside in rural villages. The principal ethnic groups mirror those round in Senegal and encompass the predominant Malinke population, alongside Wolof, Fulani (Fulbe), Diola (Jola), and Soninke peoples.
The Gambian economy heavily relies on the production and export of peanuts (groundnuts). The country’s recognition stems from its modest Atlantic coastline, characterized by its beaches, as well as its association with Jufureh (Juffure), reputed as the ancestral village of Kunta Kinte, the central figure in Alex Haley’s renowned novel, “Roots.”
Economic Snapshots
Gambia, a diminutive nation housing just over 2.2 million inhabitants, finds its place in the subSaharan region of Africa, characterized by its status as a low-income country. Nestled within the West African sub-region, Gambia secured a score of 50.3 on the global competitive index, ranking 155th among 180 countries evaluated by the World Bank.
With an approximately 80-kilometer coastline, English stands as the official language, coexisting alongside indigenous languages. The country’s religious landscape is primarily Muslim, while its literacy rate reached 50.8% as of 2018. Notably, Gambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached around USD $1.75 billion in 2019, with the household component accounting for approximately 20.7%.
Within Gambia’s agricultural sector, a diverse array of products is cultivated, including groundnuts, milk, oil palm fruit, sorghum, rice, maize, vegetables, and cassava. Additionally, the industrial landscape encompasses a range of products such as beverages, woodworking, clothing, metalworking, agricultural machinery assembly, hides, fishing, and tourism.