Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates 13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references Africa

Area
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km

Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km

Coastline 80 km

Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Terrain flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Natural resources fish

Land use
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 45% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 150 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years

Environment - current issues deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

NOTE: The information regarding The Gambia on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of The Gambia Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about The Gambia Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.