Gambia
General Information for Gambia
Geo-political:
Capital City: Banjul. 13° 27.00′ N, 016° 34.00′ W
Nationality: (noun) Gambian(s), (adjective) Gambian.
Population: 2,173,999 (July 2020).
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 220.
Number of Internal Airports: 1 (2020).
Major Languages Spoken: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula and other indigenous vernaculars.
Economy:
Currency: 1 Dalasi (GMD) of 100 Butut.
Exchange Rates:
(as of November 2020)
USD 1.00 = GMD 51.79
GMD 1.00 = USD 0.02
Exchange rates under licence from
XE.com
Main Industries: Peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking,
metalworking and clothing.
Agricultural Products: Rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava, manioc, tapioca, palm kernels,
cattle, sheep and goats.
Imports: Foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment.
Exports: Peanut products, fish, cotton lint and palm kernels.
Commodities: Products: Exports 42 bbl/d. Imports 3,738 bbl/d.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Contiguous Zone: Contiguous Zone: 18 n.m. Continental Shelf: extent not specified. Exclusive Fishing Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 80 km.
Climate: Tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May).
Natural Resources: Fish, clay, silica sand, titanium, rutile, ilmenite, tin and zircon.
Natural Hazards: Droughts.
Terrain: Flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills.
Average Temperatures:
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 31° C | 25° C |
| June | 31° C | 23° C |
| September | 30° C | 23° C |
MEDICAL:
Medical facilities in The Gambia are very limited, and the cost of medical evacuation
can be very high. Private clinics will only treat fee-paying patients. If you intend
to bring prescription medication, you should also bring a copy of your prescription
and keep items in the original packaging.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from areas
with risk of yellow fever transmission. This is particularly relevant for those travelling
to The Gambia from neighbouring African countries.
Also see "
General".
CONNECTIONS:
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or
restrictions within the community.
Also see "
General".
BANKS:
You are advised to bring travellers' cheques or cash to The Gambia because only a
few places accept credit cards. Bureaux de Change and local banks do not. There is
an ATM in the tourist area of Senegambia and several other locations which accept
Visa but not MasterCard.
Also see "
General".
REPATRIATION:
A compulsory Airport Development Fee must be paid by all passengers on exiting the
country. The fee is EUR20, or equivalent in local currency. Visa credit card is accepted,
but no others. The only exceptions are passengers in transit and infants under two
years old. The fee will be collected at departure by a designated GCAA (Gambia Civil
Aviation Authority) official/appointed bank until such time as an IATA code is secured
for its inclusion in air tickets. Please check with your travel agent whether this
fee has been included in your air ticket.
Also see "
General".
GENERAL:
Information obtained from UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (April 2012). Consult
www.fco.gov.uk/ for updates.
