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Welcome To Gambia
Country number
109
Selected MR Agencies

An Introduction to Gambia

The Republic of Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. As with many other West African countries, Gambia's history is heavily influenced by the slave trade, which led to the first, Portugese colony on the Gambia and later, a British one. Two centuries of struggle between the British and French were concluded by an agreement establishing a British colony within the current boundaries in 1889. Although the UK officially abolished slavery in 1807, it was only finally extinguished in the Gambia a century later, in 1906. See full country profile.

Latest Research News from Africa

Feb 6
Ipsos has appointed Ziad Issa as the new Media CEO in the MENA region, succeeding Elie Aoun who has decided to step down after 32 years at the company. Feb 6 2024
Jan 16
Insight and communities firm Verve has announced eighteen promotions across its locations in London, Manchester, Sydney, Iasi (Romania) and Johannesburg, including the appointment of Kim Howard as Semiotics Research Director. Jan 16 2024


1 current African job:

Survey Research Manager, Remote Working - Worldwide, $ Competitive salary - (posted Feb 27 2024)
Know of an MR agency based in Gambia? We don't - please get in touch


Fast Facts
Map of Gambia
CAPITAL: Banjul
GOVERNMENT: republic
AREA: 11,295 sq km
POPULATION: 1,797,860 (July 2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: English
The Gambia River
The Gambia River


Monumental Achievements Along the Gambia river lie the Senegambian Stone Circles, erected before the 12th century and possibly in the 8th, on top of earlier graves, and described by UNESCO as 'representative of a much wider megalithic zone in the region, which in terms of size, consistency, and complexity appears to be unrivalled anywhere in the world'. The stones became a World Heritage Site in 2006. There are around 1,000 stone circles, each constructed of ten to twenty-four stones that can weigh up to ten tonnes. Their purpose is not clear but with large numbers of human remains found at each site , they may be funeral monuments.

The Gambia has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1984 - but has never won any medals. It also has a National Paralympic Committee, but has never entered any athletes - this is due to change at London 2012!

A little More Knowledge?
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Gambia in Profile

The Republic of Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. As with many other West African countries, Gambia's history is heavily influenced by the slave trade, which led to the first, Portugese colony on the Gambia and later, a British one. Two centuries of struggle between the British and French were concluded by an agreement establishing a British colony within the current boundaries in 1889. Although the UK officially abolished slavery in 1807, it was only finally extinguished in the Gambia a century later, in 1906.

Gambia gained independence in 1965 and despite an attempted coup and a period of military rule, it has since enjoyed relative political stability. The economy is dominated by farming, fishing and tourism and the country is fertile, but around a third of the population still lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day.

Some Business and General Info

GDP: $3.494 billion (2010 est.) - $1,900 per capita (2010 est.)

Religions Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

Currency: Dalasi (GMD) - $1 = 46.7 GMD

Telephone Code: +220

Research Industry

No MR association as far as we know.

Overview of Trade and Industry

The Gambia has a liberal, market-based economy, a fluctuating exchange rate with no exchange controls, and a significant tourism industry.

Famous for its export of groundnuts (peanuts), the country also has a significant re-export trade based around its ocean port, with low import duties and minimal administrative procedures.

2010 exports of around $103m and consisting largely of peanuts, fish, cotton lint and palm kernels' went chiefly to India (47.5%), France (12.6%), China (10.9%) and the UK (7.4%). Imports far outweighed them at $332.5m, consisting of food, manufacturing products, fuel, machinery and transport equipment - and came from China (over 20%), Senegal, Brazil, Ivory Coast, the Netherlands and India.

My view
from...
Gambia
Researchers Talk!
Have your say!
If you are a researcher based in Gambia, in whatever capacity, then we would love to hear from you!

Email me:
laurence@mrweb.com

Views from...

Please get in touch if you work in research in the Gambia, or have experience of conducting research there.