Page last updated on February 21,

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 11,295 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 167
land: 10,000 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 1,295 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
80 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

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

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
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon

Land use:
arable land: 27.88%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.44%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 71.68% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2008)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
8 cu km (1982)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - per capita country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
drought (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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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