World Factbook
Gambia
Republic of The Gambia
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
10,120 sq km
water
1,180 sq km
total
11,300 sq km
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Land use
other
15.4% (2023 est.)
forest
22% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
62.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Coastline
80 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi
mean elevation
34 m
Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
749 km
border countries
Senegal 749 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
18 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
extent not specified
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
droughts
Geography - note
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland
Natural resources
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Population distribution
settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Major rivers (by length in km)
Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth