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The economy of the Gambia is heavily reliant on agriculture.[15] The Gambia has no significant mineral or other natural resources, and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and animal hides.
Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Greater Banjul Area in Serrekunda in The Gambia | |
| Currency | Dalasi (GMD, D) |
|---|---|
| 1 July – 29 June | |
Trade organisations | AU, AfCFTA, CEN-SAD, ECOWAS, G77, WTO |
Country group |
|
| Statistics | |
| Population |  2,468,569 (2023)[3] |
| GDP | |
| GDP rank | |
GDP growth |
|
GDP per capita | |
GDP per capita rank | |
GDP by sector |
|
| 6.5% (2020 est.)[4] | |
Population below poverty line | |
| 35.9 medium (2015)[8] | |
Labour force | |
Labour force by occupation |
|
| Unemployment | 8.6% |
Average gross salary | $0.65 per man-hour (2015)[citation needed] |
Main industries | processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing |
| External | |
| Exports | $182 million (f.o.b., 2010) |
Export goods | lumber, cashews, refined petroleum, fish oil, ground nut oil |
Main export partners | |
| Imports | $251 million (f.o.b., 2010) |
Import goods | clothing and apparel, refined petroleum, rice, raw sugar, palm oil |
Main import partners | |
FDI stock | N/A (2011) |
Gross external debt | $1 Billion (2005 est.) |
| Public finances | |
| 150% of GDP (2020) | |
| Revenues | D4.5 billion (2015) |
| Expenses | $D963.6 million (2015) |
| Economic aid | $45.4 million (1995) |
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars. | |
Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on foreign aid, and on responsible government economic management as forwarded by International Monetary Fund technical help and advice.
Current GDP per capita Archived 2012-05-04 at the Wayback Machine of the Gambia registered a peak growth of 23.3% in the 1970s. Economic growth slowed by 8.30% in the 1980s and a further 5.20% in the 1990s.
Re-export trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and hurt the re-export trade. The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in tourism after its decline in response to the military's takeover in July 1994. Lately, Indian global health expert Dr Edmond Fernandes stated that Gambia presents a global investment opportunity and dissected various areas of business interests.[16]
This is a chart of trend of gross domestic product of Gambia at market prices estimated[17] by the International Monetary Fund with figures in millions of Dalasi (currency used in Gambia).
| Year | Gross Domestic Product | US dollar exchange | Inflation index (2000=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 435 | 1.71 Dalasi | 13 |
| 1985 | 782 | 4.09 Dalasi | 25 |
| 1990 | 2,367 | 8.13 Dalasi | 65 |
| 1995 | 3,617 | 9.49 Dalasi | 90 |
| 2000 | 5,382 | 12.78 Dalasi | 100 |
| 2005 | 13,174 | 28.70 Dalasi | 158 |
For purchasing power parity comparisons, the US dollar is exchanged at 4.35 Dalasi only.
The Gambia's economy is characterized by traditional subsistence agriculture, a historic reliance on peanuts or groundnuts for export earnings, a re-export trade built up around its ocean port, low import duties, minimal administrative procedures, a fluctuating exchange rate with no exchange controls, and a significant tourism industry. Average wages in 2007 hover around $1–2 per day.
Agriculture accounts for 23% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 75% of the labor force. Within agriculture, peanut production accounts for 5.3% of GDP, other crops 8.3%, livestock 4.4%, fishing 1.8%, and forestry 0.5%.
Industry accounts for 12% of GDP. Manufacturing accounts for 6% of GDP. The limited amount of manufacturing is primarily agriculturally based (e.g., peanut processing, bakeries, a brewery, and a tannery). Other manufacturing activities include soap, soft drinks, and clothing. Services account for 19% of GDP.
Tourism in Gambia has three major strands. There is the traditional sun seeking holiday making use of the hot climate and wonderful beaches. The Gambia is also usually the first African destination for many European birders, due to its easily accessed and spectacular avian fauna. There are also a significant number of African Americans tracing their roots in this country, from which many Africans were taken during the slave trade. While not that many American slaves came from Gambia it was made popular by Alex Haleys historic novel and TV miniseries Roots: The Saga of an American Family
The tourist season is the dry season, during the Northern Hemisphere winter.
In 2020 The Gambia's major export markets were Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, India and China, accounting for 84% of all exports. Neighboring Senegal accounted for 50.5% of exports. This contrasted with 1999 when the UK and other EU countries were The Gambia's major domestic export markets, accounting for 86% of all exports.[18]
In 2020 Norway, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Brazil and Turkey were the major sources of imports, accounting for 49% of the total. This contrasted with 1999 when the UK and other EU countries were the major sources of imports, accounting for 60% of all imports.[18]
 |
GDP:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (2019 est.)[20]
Labor force: 400,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%
Budget:
Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing
Electricity
Agriculture - products: peanuts, pearl millet, sorghum, rice, maize, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishery resources not fully exploited.
Exports: $132 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports: $201 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Debt - external: $430 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $45.400 million (1995)
Currency: Dalasi (D)
Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 – 43.860 (January 2017), 11.626 (November 1999), 10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996), 9.546 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
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