The Gambia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Republic of the Gambia
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Motto: "Progress, Peace, Prosperity"
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Anthem: For The Gambia Our Homeland
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Location of the Gambia (dark red area within circle) on the coast of West Africa.
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Capital | Banjul |
Largest city | Serekunda |
Official languages | English |
National languages | Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Serer, Jola |
Ethnic groups
(2003)
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Demonym(s) | Gambian |
Government | Presidential republic |
• President
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Adama Barrow |
• Vice President
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Halifa Sallah |
Legislature | National Assembly |
Independence | |
• from the United Kingdom
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18 February 1965 |
• Republic declared
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24 April 1970 |
Area | |
• Total
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11,295 km2 (4,361 sq mi) (164th) |
• Water (%)
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11.5 |
Population | |
• 2009 estimate
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1,782,893 (149th) |
• 2003 census
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1,360,681 |
• Density
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164.2/km2 (425.3/sq mi) (74th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2011 estimate |
• Total
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$3.496 billion |
• Per capita
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$1,943 |
GDP (nominal) | 2011 estimate |
• Total
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$977 million |
• Per capita
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$543 |
Gini (1998) | 50.2 high |
HDI (2007) | 0.456 low · 168th |
Currency | Dalasi (GMD) |
Time zone | GMT |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +220 |
ISO 3166 code | GM |
Internet TLD | .gm |
The Gambia is officially called the Republic of the Gambia. This country is also known as Gambia. It is a country in West Africa. It is surrounded by Senegal. It is the smallest country on mainland Africa.
Contents
Geography
The geography of Gambia is unusual. It is a long, thin country. Except for its coastline it is completely surrounded by the country of Senegal. The River Gambia flows from Senegal through its centre and into the Atlantic Ocean.
Culture
The population of The Gambia is about 1.7 million. People from The Gambia are called Gambians. A number of people from different cultures and backgrounds live in The Gambia. Some of the largest groups are called Mandinka, Fula, and Wolof.
English is the official language, but people speak other languages as well.
Most Gambians follow the religion of Islam.
The American writer Alex Haley, who wrote the book Roots, found that his family came from The Gambia in the 1760s.
Images for kids
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Senegambian stone circles (megaliths) which run from Senegal through the Gambia and which are described by UNESCO as "the largest concentration of stone circles seen anywhere in the world".
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Dawda Jawara, Prime Minister of the Gambia, 1965–1970 and President of the Gambia, 1970–1994
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Yahya Jammeh, President of the Gambia, 1994–2017
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The Arch 22 monument commemorating the 1994 coup which saw the then 29-year-old Yahya Jammeh seize power in a bloodless coup, ousting Dawda Jawara, had been President of The Gambia since 1970
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Yahya Jammeh and Mrs. Zeineb Jammeh with Barack and Michelle Obama in the White House, August 2014
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Bundung mosque is one of the largest mosques in Serekunda.
See also
In Spanish: Gambia para niños