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The Gambia

Republic of The Gambia

English Gambian Dalasi (GMD) Mixed: English common law, Islamic law, customary law
AU, ECOWAS, AfCFTA, Commonwealth, OIC, WTO

The Gambia is the smallest mainland African country, with an economy dependent on tourism (particularly European winter sun seekers), agriculture (peanuts/groundnuts), re-export trade, and remittances. The country's location along the Gambia River provides access to inland markets. Since the 2017 democratic transition, The Gambia has improved governance and attracted renewed international support. The country benefits from ECOWAS market access and an English-speaking workforce. Challenges include a very small domestic market, limited infrastructure, and vulnerability to climate change and tourism seasonality.

Snapshot

Population~2.8 MWorld Bank, 2025
GDP (current USD)$2.6 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP per Capita$919World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth5.89%World Bank, 2025
Inflation (y/y)~11.56%World Bank, 2024
Unemployment6.52%World Bank, ILO modelled estimate, 2025
Internet Use~49.49%World Bank, 2024
Electrification~62.00%World Bank WDI
CPI Score (Rank)34.0/100 (#110)Transparency Intl
HDI (Rank)0.500 (#174)UNDP HDR

World Bank Indicators Compare with another country

GDP (current USD)$2.6 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP growth (annual)5.89%World Bank, 2025
GDP per capita (USD)$919World Bank, 2025
Population, total2.8 MWorld Bank, 2025
FDI net inflows (USD)$232.4 MWorld Bank, 2024
Inflation (consumer prices)11.56%World Bank, 2024
Unemployment (% labour force)6.52%World Bank, 2025
Internet use (% of people)49.49%World Bank, 2024
Trade (% of GDP)62.17%World Bank, 2025

Climate Readiness Full ranking

45out of 100
Emerging
Climate adaptation readiness for The Gambia, from 5 of 5 measured indicators.
Energy access6262.0% · 30% weight
Governance readiness3434 / 100 CPI · 20% weight
Human readiness500.500 HDI · 20% weight
Economic readiness31$919, 2025 · 15% weight
Digital readiness3333.0% · 15% weight
This scores climate adaptation readiness (adaptive capacity), following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. It is built only from measured values already held on this profile and normalised 0-100. It does not measure emissions or physical climate vulnerability: the platform does not yet hold emissions, hazard-exposure or natural-capital series. Energy access is the single most climate-specific indicator held; the other four are governance, economic, human-development and digital readiness proxies. The economic sub-score is relative to the African countries the platform covers.
How this is computed

Adaptive capacity to absorb climate finance and adapt, following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. Built only from measured values already held on each country profile. It is not a measure of emissions or physical climate vulnerability, which the platform does not yet hold.

  • Energy access (30%) World Bank, access to electricity (% of population). The single most climate and energy specific signal held: SDG 7 and the clean-energy transition.
  • Governance readiness (20%) Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index (0-100). ND-GAIN governance readiness: the capacity to govern and deploy climate finance. Higher is cleaner.
  • Human readiness (20%) UNDP, Human Development Index (0-1). ND-GAIN social readiness: the adaptive capacity of the population.
  • Economic readiness (15%) World Bank, GDP per capita (current US$), latest measured year. ND-GAIN economic readiness: the capacity to finance adaptation. Scored relative to the covered set.
  • Digital readiness (15%) World Bank, individuals using the Internet (% of population). Information systems for early warning and adaptation.

A country is scored only when at least 4 of the five indicators are held. Sub-scores are weighted and renormalised over the indicators that are present; nothing is estimated for one that is absent.

Country Facts

CapitalBanjul
RegionWest Africa
CurrencyGambian Dalasi (GMD)
FX RegimeManaged float
Legal SystemMixed: English common law, Islamic law, customary law
Time ZoneAfrica/Banjul

Focus Sectors

Tourism
Agriculture (peanuts
rice)
Fisheries
Re-export Trade
Telecoms
Financial Services
Construction

Regulations & Taxes

Corporate Income Tax27% standard
VAT / Sales Tax15% standard