Partner risk indices

Country Risk Index

59

Political Risk Index

50.5

Short-Term Economic Risk Index

57.3

Long-Term Economic Risk Index

67.9

Operational Risk Index

63.8

Source: Partner Research Partner, as of 8 Nov 2026. 0-100, higher means higher risk.

Key indicators

Market overview

• The Gambia is in West Africa and is classified by the World Bank as Low income. (World Bank)
• Population: 2.8 million (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• GDP: US$2.8bn in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)

Economic conditions

• Real GDP growth: 5.7% in 2025 (estimate); the IMF projects 5.1% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• Average consumer price inflation: 7.9% in 2025 (estimate); projected 7% for 2026. (IMF WEO)
• General government gross debt: 73.7% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Current account balance: -4.1% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Government net lending/borrowing: -4.7% of GDP in 2025 (estimate). (IMF WEO)
• Official exchange rate averaged 71.29 local currency units per US dollar in 2025, against 61.1 in 2023: 16.7% more units per dollar (the currency weakened against the dollar). (World Bank WDI)

Key risks

• Partner risk indices (0-100, higher = higher risk), as of 8 Nov 2026: Country Risk Index 59 (rank 32 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Political Risk Index 50.5 (rank 22 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Short-Term Economic Risk Index 57.3 (rank 33 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Long-Term Economic Risk Index 67.9 (rank 49 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk); Operational Risk Index 63.8 (rank 22 of 53 in Africa, 1 = lowest risk). (Partner Research Partner)
• Highest-scoring Partner risk component: logistics risk (72, operational). (Partner Research Partner)
• World Bank governance scores (2025, 0-100, higher is better): control of corruption 38; government effectiveness 43; political stability and absence of violence 66; rule of law 52; regulatory quality 44. (World Bank WGI)
• External debt stocks: 70% of GNI (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Unemployment (modelled ILO estimate): 6.5% of labour force (2025). (World Bank WDI)

Investment considerations

• Foreign direct investment, net inflows: 10.6% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Domestic credit to the private sector: 9.4% of GDP (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Bank lending interest rate: 22% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Trade (exports plus imports): 62.2% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• The Meridian holds 112 published records tagged to The Gambia. (The Meridian)

Sector snapshot

• Energy and power: access to electricity 69% of population (2024); renewable share of final energy consumption 47.7% (2022). (World Bank WDI)
• Mining and minerals: mineral rents 0% of GDP (2021); ores and metals exports 7.3% of merchandise exports (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Financial services: foreign direct investment, net inflows 10.6% of GDP (2025); bank lending interest rate 22% (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Technology, media and telecoms: internet users 49.5% of population (2024); mobile subscriptions 126.2 per 100 people (2024). (World Bank WDI)
• Agriculture: agriculture, forestry and fishing, value added 23.8% of GDP (2025); employment in agriculture 27.6% of employment (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Manufacturing and industry: manufacturing, value added 1.5% of GDP (2024); industry (including construction), value added 15.8% of GDP (2025). (World Bank WDI)
• Infrastructure and real estate: urban population 65% of population (2025); access to electricity 69% of population (2024). (World Bank WDI)

Data limitations and sources

• Older data, shown with its period and not described as current: Renewable share of final energy consumption (Latest published value is for 2022); Oil rents (Latest published value is for 2021); Mineral rents (Latest published value is for 2021).
• IMF figures for the most recent year are IMF estimates and later years are projections. World Bank series typically lag by one to two years. Headlines come from automated news monitoring and are not verified by The Meridian.
• Sources last checked 15 Nov 2026.

Meridian transactions

• Shelter Afrique Development Bank launches XOF60bn sustainable bond on the WAEMU regional market
• Moussa Diao and Hervé Bouvet acquire Oryx Energies in a management buyout
• Africa Finance Corporation US$2bn syndicated term loan (26 lenders): Nigerian counsel to the lenders
• The Gambia signs US$100m trade finance facility with BADEA
• West African Aquaculture Ltd & Hansson v Republic of The Gambia (ICSID ARB/18/10) – annulment
• EBID invests USD 10 million in G-Farms’ operations in The Gambia

Meridian articles

• Central Bank of The Gambia orders banks to replace non-Gambian staff outside expatriate quotas by end-2026
• ICSID committee annuls US$33m shrimp farm award against The Gambia for failure to state reasons
• IMF completes Gambia’s fifth ECF review, extends programme and releases about US$22.5m
• Gambia’s Eni Block A1 licence puts offshore security and fisheries conflicts on the agenda
• ECOWAS Convergence Council says 2027 launch of the Eco remains achievable
• ECOWAS competition authority holds first annual conference in The Gambia