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
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 10,120 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 1,180 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 166

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

Land boundaries:
total: 749 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (1): Senegal 749 km

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

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 18 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: extent not specified
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive fishing zone country ranks ]

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

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

Elevation:
mean elevation: 34 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m

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

Land use:
agricultural land: 56.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 41% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 14.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 43.9% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
50 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast

Natural hazards:
droughts

Environment - current issues:
deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases

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 African mainland