About The Gambia — Name and Fascinating Facts
About The Gambia: Name and Unique Facts
Yes, it is officially true — the The belongs in front of Gambia since 1964.
The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names says: "A letter dated May 1964 from the Gambian prime minister's office instructed that The Gambia should be used with a capital T. One of the reasons was to avoid confusion with Zambia, which was a new name to the international community at the time."
Interesting Facts About The Gambia
1. The official name is Republic of The Gambia.
2. The Gambia gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.
3. The Gambia is Africa's smallest mainland country — 11,295 sq km (4,361 sq miles).
4. The Gambia is geographically surrounded by Senegal.
5. From 1982–1989 The Gambia and Senegal formed Senegambia.
The Gambia banned gambling March 1, 2015.
6. The 1,130 km (700 mi) long Gambia River runs through the country — ferries and wooden pirogues often cross into Senegal.
7. Peanuts dominate agriculture — about 75% of the population relies on farming, while tourism is a major West African market.
The Gambia’s capital city is Banjul.
8. The median age of nearly 2 million Gambians is just 20.2 years old.
9. Gambling was banned in 2015 to prevent youth addiction.
10. Main ethnic groups: Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, others 4%.
11. Religion: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%.
12. In 2015 Yahya Jammeh renamed it Islamic Republic of The Gambia; in 2017 President Adama Barrow restored Republic of The Gambia.
13. National symbol: the lion. Anthem: For The Gambia, Our Homeland.
14. Administrative divisions: Banjul city + Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western regions.
15. The flag — red, blue with white edges, green — represents sun and savannah, Gambia River, and agriculture; white stands for peace and unity.
The Gambia flag.
FAQ — The Gambia Name and History
Why does The Gambia include “The” in its name?
In 1964, the Gambian prime minister requested the use of “The” to avoid confusion with Zambia and to maintain a distinct identity on the world stage.
Is The Gambia Africa’s smallest country?
The Gambia is Africa’s smallest mainland country at just 11,295 km², though island nations like Seychelles are smaller overall.
What is The Gambia’s main crop?
Peanuts dominate The Gambia’s agriculture, employing most rural families and historically powering the country’s export economy.
When did The Gambia gain independence?
The Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom on February 18, 1965, and became a republic in 1970.
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