CountriesIndicatorsThis week
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026

Gambia

The Gambia has 2.8 m people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $2.6 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of the oil it uses (EIA, 2024).

Written automatically from the figures on this page.

Population
2.8 m (2025)

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.

1

Dependencies at a glance

The Gambia imports all of the oil it uses.

Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
ResourceDependencePositionMain partners
OilImports mostImports all of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025, Senegal → Gambia as reported by the exporterSenegal
Natural gasUses no gas, by this source PreliminaryEIA, 2024No partner data from the source
WheatNot reported by this source–
MaizeLow net tradeImported 0.4% of the maize it used in 2007 EstimateNo recent data: the latest balance is from 2007Main partners are from 2023, 16 years after the balanceFAOSTAT, use 2007 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan
RiceImports mostImports 87% of the rice it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023India, Brazil, Pakistan
SoybeansNot reported by this source–
PotashImports mostImports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
PhosphateImports mostImports all of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
ArmsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: Türkiye, 100% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025Türkiye
ChipsSupplier concentration onlyNot reported by this sourceUN Comtrade, 2025–

Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).

  • OilImports most

    Imports all of the oil it uses

    Main partners: Senegal

    EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025, Senegal → Gambia as reported by the exporter

  • Natural gas

    Uses no gas, by this source Preliminary

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, 2024

  • Wheat

    Not reported by this source

  • MaizeLow net trade

    Imported 0.4% of the maize it used in 2007 Estimate

    No recent data: the latest balance is from 2007

    Main partners are from 2023, 16 years after the balance

    Main partners: Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan

    FAOSTAT, use 2007 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • RiceImports most

    Imports 87% of the rice it uses

    Main partners: India, Brazil, Pakistan

    FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • Soybeans

    Not reported by this source

  • PotashImports most

    Imports all of its potash supply Estimate

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • PhosphateImports most

    Imports all of its phosphate supply Estimate

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • ArmsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: Türkiye, 100% of imports

    Main partners: Türkiye

    SIPRI, 2021–2025

  • ChipsSupplier concentration only

    Not reported by this source

    UN Comtrade, 2025

Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRIyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Dependencies tool
2

Money and reserves

The Gambia’s economy produced $2.6 bn in 2025.

GDP, 2000–2025

$0$1.0 bn$2.0 bn$3.0 bn200020052010201520202025

Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026

Economic growth5.9%2025 · 32nd of 186 · World Bank
Inflation11.6%2024 · 21st of 176 · World Bank
Unemployment6.5%2025 · 65th of 181 · World Bank
ReservesUS$629million2024 · 144th of 164 · World Bank
Trade42% of GDP2024 · 144th of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$274million2025 · 134th of 200 · World Bank
3

People

The Gambia had 2.8 m people in 2025.

Population, 1950–2100

02.0 m4.0 m6.0 m8.0 m195019701990200020102030205020702100Projection
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios

Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection

The Gambia’s population by age

1950200020502100
MenWomen01020304050607080901000m00m
Millions of people in each five-year age group, men left and women right. Years after 2023 are UN projections (medium variant).

Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Births per woman4.012023 · 27th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age18.22023 · 213th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over3.2%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
4

Climate and hazards

The Gambia emitted 803,000 t of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.

The Gambia’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024

0 Mt0.20 Mt0.40 Mt0.60 Mt0.80 Mt1.0 Mt1990199520002005201020152024

Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026

CO2 emissions0.80Mt2024 · 171st of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.3t2024 · 190th of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 175018Mt2024 · 178th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress0.02023 · 146th of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
5

More figures

Shown only where a source covers the Gambia.

Refugees

4,617refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
13,440from it, abroad, 2025

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025

Sanctions

19entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 18 and UK 1

Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.

Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Chinese loans and grants

US$214millioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021

Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021

Cyber incidents

No publicly known incidents affecting the Gambia in EuRepoC’s dataset, 2000–2024.

Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted.

Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024

6

All figures

50 measures on this site have a recent figure for the Gambia.

GDP$2.6 bn2025164th of 186World Bank
GDP per person$9192025176th of 186World Bank
Economic growth5.9%202532nd of 186World Bank
Inflation11.6%202421st of 176World Bank
Government debtEstimate202550th of 191IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Government budget balanceEstimate2025149th of 195IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Current account balanceEstimate2025134th of 194IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Unemployment6.5%202565th of 181World Bank
Reserves, including gold$629 m2024144th of 164World Bank
Trade42%2024144th of 172World Bank
Foreign investment in$274 m2025134th of 200World Bank
Remittances received22.0%202410th of 162World Bank
Population2.8 m2025141st of 216World Bank
Population with UN projections2.7 m2023144th of 237UN WPP 2024
Births per woman4.01202327th of 237UN WPP 2024
Median age18.22023213th of 237UN WPP 2024
Life expectancy65.92023206th of 237UN WPP 2024
Refugees from the country13,440202576th of 206UNHCR
Refugees and others needing protection, by host4,6172025126th of 176UNHCR
Refugees hosted per 1,000 people1.62025104th of 176UNHCR
Crude oil production0 kb/d2025100th of 214EIA
Oil consumption4 kb/d2024187th of 212EIA
Natural gas productionPreliminary202497th of 213EIA
Natural gas consumption0.0 bcm2024126th of 213EIA
Electricity generated1 TWh2024171st of 193Ember
Low-carbon electricity0%2024190th of 193Ember
Electricity from coal0%202482nd of 193Ember
Electricity from wind and solar0%2024178th of 193Ember
Wheat imports0.1 Mt2024113th of 180FAOSTAT
Maize production0.0 Mt2024121st of 169FAOSTAT
Maize imports0.0 Mt2024168th of 196FAOSTAT
Rice production0.0 Mt202483rd of 135FAOSTAT
Rice imports0.2 Mt202453rd of 197FAOSTAT
Soybean imports0.0 Mt2024163rd of 179FAOSTAT
Potash fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024161st of 199FAOSTAT
Phosphate fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024138th of 199FAOSTAT
CO2 emissions0.80 Mt2024171st of 214Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person0.3 t2024190th of 213Global Carbon Budget
CO2 emitted since 175018 Mt2024178th of 214Global Carbon Budget
Water stress0.02023146th of 164WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
Water from abroad63%202329th of 193FAO AQUASTAT
Military spending, share of GDP0.6%2025133rd of 150World Bank
Military spending$15 m2025147th of 150World Bank
Deaths in organised violence1202460th of 62UCDP
Arms imports1 TIV m2025105th of 108SIPRI
People using the internet49%2024145th of 182World Bank
ICT service exports$1 m2024157th of 162World Bank
ICT service exports, share of service exports0.3%2024159th of 162World Bank
Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK)19202692nd of 181US CSL
Chinese loans and grants committed$9 m202187th of 122AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0

Sources for this page

  • World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Reserves, …
  • IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
  • UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
  • UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000
  • U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
  • Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
  • FAOSTATWheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, Soybean imports, …
  • Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750
  • WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
  • FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
  • UCDP Georeferenced Event DatasetConflict deaths
  • SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseArms imports, Dependencies at a glance
  • US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
  • AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
  • EU financial sanctions listSanctions
  • UK Sanctions ListSanctions
  • EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents

Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure

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