| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | GMISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | GMBISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | BanjulGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | AfricaGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | The GambiaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | Republic of The GambiaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Local name | The GambiaCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Etymology | named for the Gambia River that flows through the country; Portuguese explorers in the 15th century derived the name for the river from its local name, Ba-Dimma, meaning "the river"CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | Presidential republicCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 18 February 1965 (from the UK)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 18 February (1965)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Head of state | No authoritative open source found |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | GMDISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | DalasiISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | 6ISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Subdivision names | Banjul / Central River / Lower River / North Bank / Upper River / WesternISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Historical overview | No authoritative open source found |
| National symbols | lionCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland"; lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE; history: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | red, blue, green, whiteCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | citizenship by birth: yes; citizenship by descent only: yes; dual citizenship recognized: no; residency requirement for naturalization: 5 yearsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
named for the Gambia River that flows through the country; Portuguese explorers in the 15th century derived the name for the river from its local name, Ba-Dimma, meaning "the river"
description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green meaning: red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue for the Gambia River, and green for forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
