Gambia (Republic of The Gambia)

Gambia Republic of The Gambia
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	174th best
Capital	Banjul
Land Area	10 120km21
Location	Africa
Population	2.3m2
Life Expectancy	62.08yrs (2017)3
GNI	$2 172 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	GM, GMB, 2705
Internet Domain	.gm6
Currency	Dalasi (GMD)7
Telephone	+2208

1. Overview
2. Gambia National and Social Development
3. Gambia's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Gambia's Health
6. Gambia's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Gambia's Modernity and Learning
8. National Culture
9. Peace Versus Instability
10. Economic Inequality and Poverty
11. Religion and Beliefs
12. Links

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1. Overview

#senegal #UK

“The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, contains a lot within its compact frame, attracting sun-seekers and birdwatchers and displaying a wealth of natural riches. This tiny sliver of land is wedged into surrounding Senegal, and is seen as a splinter in its side, or the tongue that makes it speak, depending on who you talk to. For many, The Gambia is a country with beaches that invite visitors to laze and linger on package tours. Its beaches and the adjacent resorts long ago became famous among sun-starved Europeans. But there´s more here than just sun and surf.

Small fishing villages, nature reserves and historic slaving stations are all within easy reach of the clamorous Atlantic resorts. Star-studded ecolodges and small wildlife parks dot the inland like a green belt around the coast, and among birdwatchers The Gambia is revered as one of Africa´s best and most accessible birding destinations - it lies on the main migratory path between Europe and Africa. On a leisurely river cruise, you´ll easily spot more than 100 species while your pirogue (traditional canoe) charts an unhurried course through mangrove-lined wetlands and lush gallery forests.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Gambia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
171	Djibouti	0.509
172	Sudan	0.508
173	Madagascar	0.501
174	Gambia	0.500
175	Ethiopia	0.498
176	Eritrea	0.492
177	Guinea-Bissau	0.483
178	Liberia	0.481
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
171	Ethiopia	$2 361
172	Rwanda	$2 210
173	Uganda	$2 181
174	Gambia	$2 172
175	Togo	$2 167
176	Mali	$2 133
177	Burkina Faso	$2 118
178	Guinea-Bissau	$1 908
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Norway	29.8
2	Denmark	30.0
3	Finland	33.7
	...
171	Guinea	118.8
172	Liberia	118.9
173	Burundi	120.8
174	Gambia	121.1
175	Zimbabwe	121.4
176	Iraq	121.9
177	Niger	122.3
178	Congo, (Brazzaville)	122.4
	Africa Avg	112.4
	World Avg	87.9
q=196.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Gambia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

The Gambia's population is predicted to rise to 2.818 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.73. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
139	Lithuania	2.8m
140	Qatar	2.8m
141	Namibia	2.4m
142	Gambia	2.3m
143	Botswana	2.3m
144	Gabon	2.1m
145	Lesotho	2.1m
146	Macedonia	2.1m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
163	Uganda	62.7
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best13
Pos.		201313
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
153	Iraq	4.57
154	Kenya	4.64
155	Senegal	4.65
156	Gambia	4.73
157	Mozambique	4.75
158	Comoros	4.78
159	Sierra Leone	4.78
160	Guinea-Bissau	4.92
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better14
Pos.		2016 Per 10014
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
3=	Burkina Faso	04.7
5	Sierra Leone	04.8
6=	Zambia	04.8
7	Eritrea	04.9
8=	Gambia	04.9
9	Angola	05.0
10=	Afghanistan	05.0
10=	Zimbabwe	05.0
12	Nigeria	05.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.		2017 %15
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
57	Greece	10.9%
58	Malta	10.6%
59	Italy	10.0%
60	Gambia	9.8%
61	Dominica	9.2%
62	Serbia	9.1%
63	Ivory Coast	9.0%
64	Malaysia	8.5%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants16
Pos.		2010 %16
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
126	Panama	4.0%
127	Norway	3.8%
128	Bahrain	3.7%
129	Gambia	3.7%
130	Chile	3.7%
131	Peru	3.7%
132	Czechia	3.6%
133	Mauritania	3.5%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #gambia #gambia_human_rights #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank17
1	Sweden	9.0
2	Norway	14.5
3	Denmark	14.5
	...
148	Guinea	116.5
149	Ethiopia	116.7
150	Guinea-Bissau	117.0
151	Gambia	117.2
152	Liberia	117.8
153	Qatar	119.2
	Africa Avg	108.2
	World Avg	87.9
q=199.

The Gambia is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. The Gambia does better than average in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₁₈ (amongst the highest in Africa) and in freethought₁₉. But that's it. The Gambia has problems. It does worse than average for its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₀, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₁, speed of uptake of HR treaties₂₂, supporting press freedom₂₃ and in LGBT equality₂₄. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for opposing gender inequality₂₅. Human rights in Gambia have greatly improved from 2017, since President Yahya Jammeh has been replaced with Adama Barrow and an era of authoritarian abuse is ending.₂₆. Widespread reforms in multiple sectors have been instigated to support human rights, strengthen the judiciary and ensure media freedom₂₆. There is still a lot of work to do.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Gambia

5. Gambia's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2020)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Mauritius	64.5
2	Morocco	73.1
3=	Eritrea	77.0
	...
12	Djibouti	95.7
13	Cape Verde	97.3
14	Seychelles	97.3
15	Gambia	101.3
16=	Egypt	101.8
16=	Ghana	101.8
18	Comoros	102.1
19=	Guinea	104.5
19=	Malawi	104.5
	Africa Avg	108.2
q=54.

Health (2020)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Hong Kong	18.3
3	Maldives	41.0
	...
121=	Azerbaijan	100.0
122	Colombia	100.3
123	Syria	101.3
124	Gambia	101.3
125	Honduras	101.4
126	Moldova	101.5
127=	Ghana	101.8
127=	Egypt	101.8
	World Avg	93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives₂₈. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau₂₈.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean₂₈, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa₂₈.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

The Gambia has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. The Gambia does better than average when it comes to its smoking rate₂₉, its immunizations take-up₃₀ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₁. The Gambia doesn't do so well in other areas. The Gambia does worse than average in its fertility rate₁₃ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its adolescent birth rate₂₅. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Gambia in 1990 was 51.3yrs, lower than the global average of 64.6. It improved by +12.4yrs in the 30 years from then, much better than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
163	Uganda	62.7
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better31
Pos.		2016 Per Capita31
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
62	Mauritius	3.6
63	Malawi	3.7
64=	El Salvador	3.8
64=	Gambia	3.8
64=	Israel	3.8
64=	UAE	3.8
68	N. Korea	3.9
69	Honduras	4.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best13
Pos.		201313
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
153	Iraq	4.57
154	Kenya	4.64
155	Senegal	4.65
156	Gambia	4.73
157	Mozambique	4.75
158	Comoros	4.78
159	Sierra Leone	4.78
160	Guinea-Bissau	4.92
	Africa Avg	4.31
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Smoking Rates Lower is better29
Pos.		201429
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
33	Bhutan	155
34	Chad	156
35	Zambia	165
36	Gambia	166
37	Paraguay	166
38	Nigeria	173
39	Guinea-Bissau	175
40	Central African Rep.	178
	Africa Avg	340
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Overweight Adults Lower is better32
Pos.		2016 %32
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
48=	Liberia	30.9
49	Ivory Coast	31.6
50	Singapore	31.8
51	Gambia	31.9
52	Ghana	32.0
53=	China	32.3
53=	Mauritius	32.3
55	N. Korea	32.4
	Africa Avg	33.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better25
Pos.		2015 Per 100025
1	N. Korea	0.5
2	S. Korea	1.6
3	Switzerland	2.9
	...
169	Zimbabwe	109.7
170	Nigeria	110.6
171	Uganda	111.9
172	Gambia	113.0
173	Madagascar	116.2
174	Congo, (Brazzaville)	117.7
175	Sierra Leone	118.2
176	Tanzania	118.6
	Africa Avg	87.5
	World Avg	47.9
q=185.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better30
Pos.		2015 Avg %30
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
60	Turkey	95.5
61	Malta	95.5
62	Botswana	95.4
63	Gambia	95.4
64	Cyprus	95.3
65	Switzerland	95.3
66	Israel	95.2
67=	Grenada	95.2
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Gambia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2023)33
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank33
1	Seychelles	55.3
2	Kenya	57.4
3=	Zambia	57.6
	...
15	Ghana	76.2
16	Chad	79.5
17=	Mozambique	81.0
18	Gambia	82.0
19=	Cameroon	82.0
20	Djibouti	82.3
21=	Sudan	83.5
21=	Tanzania	83.5
23	Benin	85.8
	Africa Avg	90.1
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)33
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank33
1	Japan	33.2
2	Philippines	45.0
3	Uruguay	48.0
	...
81=	Mozambique	81.0
81=	Dominican Rep.	81.0
83	Belarus	81.5
84=	Gambia	82.0
84=	Cameroon	82.0
86	Belgium	82.2
87	Djibouti	82.3
88	Ireland	82.4
	World Avg	85.7
q=188.

The Gambia is 84th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 4 data sets. The Gambia does better than average in annual meat consumption per person₃₄ and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. The Gambia does worse than average in terms of its environmental performance₃₅. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its forested percent change 2000-2020₃₆.

Environmental Performance Higher is better35
Pos.		201835
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
153	Laos	42.9
154	Burkina Faso	42.8
155	Sierra Leone	42.5
156	Gambia	42.4
157	Congo, (Brazzaville)	42.4
158	Bosnia & Herzegovina	41.8
159	Togo	41.8
160	Liberia	41.6
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		Total Signed
1=	China	1993 Dec 29
1=	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
1=	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
60	Egypt	1994 Aug 31
61	UK	1994 Sep 01
62	Chad	1994 Sep 05
63	Gambia	1994 Sep 08
64	Micronesia	1994 Sep 18
65	Malaysia	1994 Sep 22
66	Benin	1994 Sep 28
67	France	1994 Sep 29
	Africa Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

Meat Consumption Lower is better34
Pos.		2021 kg34
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
25	Djibouti	14.8
26	Benin	15.6
27	Guinea	16.7
28	Gambia	16.7
29	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	17.2
30	Nepal	17.3
31	Solomon Islands	17.4
32	Syria	17.8
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Gambia's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #modernity #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	S. Africa	52.8
2	Egypt	70.4
3	Tunisia	73.4
	...
41	Burundi	139.0
42	Madagascar	142.5
43	Benin	143.3
44	Gambia	144.0
45	Central African Rep.	146.3
46	Equatorial Guinea	149.3
47	Chad	150.6
48	Niger	151.0
49	Guinea	157.5
	Africa Avg	120.7
q=53.

Modernity & Learning (2020)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Finland	8.4
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	15.1
	...
188	Madagascar	142.5
189	Kiribati	143.0
190	Benin	143.3
191	Gambia	144.0
192	Cambodia	144.6
193	Central African Rep.	146.3
194	Tuvalu	148.0
195	Equatorial Guinea	149.3
	World Avg	83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2938
2	Israel	4.1138
3	Japan	3.5838
	...
101	Albania	0.1539
102	Namibia	0.1440
103=	Georgia	0.1341
103=	Gambia	0.1342
105	Tajikistan	0.1243
106=	Burundi	0.1242
107	Madagascar	0.1142
108=	Philippines	0.1144
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better45
Pos.		201845
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
130	Guatemala	37.8%
131	Pakistan	37.2%
132	Cameroon	37.2%
133	Gambia	36.8%
134	Nepal	35.9%
135	Kenya	35.2%
136	Honduras	33.5%
137	Haiti	33.2%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better46
Pos.		2021 Years46
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
174	Haiti	9.7
175	Ethiopia	9.7
176	Sierra Leone	9.6
177	Gambia	9.4
178	Tuvalu	9.4
179	Mauritania	9.4
180	Tanzania	9.2
181	Syria	9.2
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

IQ Higher is better47
Pos.		200647
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
127=	Guinea	67
127=	Liberia	67
127=	Haiti	67
130	Gambia	66
131=	Zimbabwe	66
131=	Senegal	66
133	Sierra Leone	64
134=	Mozambique	64
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better48
Pos.		201648
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
160	Nepal	17%
161=	Mauritania	17%
161=	S. Sudan	17%
163	Gambia	17%
164	Laos	16%
165	Namibia	16%
166	Turkmenistan	15%
167	Bangladesh	13%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

8. National Culture

#corruption #politics

On the Corruption Index, Gambia scored on average 29 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 5 points.

Corruption Higher is better49
Pos.		2022 Points49
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
107	Ecuador	36.0
108=	Kazakhstan	36.0
108=	Thailand	36.0
110	Gambia	34.0
111=	Sierra Leone	34.0
111=	Malawi	34.0
111=	Indonesia	34.0
111=	Bosnia & Herzegovina	34.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#human_development #peace #politics

Global Peace Index Lower is better50
Pos.		2023 Score50
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
56	Namibia	1.86
57	Moldova	1.87
58	Chile	1.87
59	Gambia	1.89
60	Greece	1.89
61	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.89
62	Jordan	1.90
63	Zambia	1.90
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better51
Pos.		201951
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
155	Uganda	27.20
156	Sudan	27.40
157	Afghanistan	28.30
158=	Gambia	28.50
158=	Burundi	28.50
160	Comoros	28.90
161=	Liberia	29.80
161=	Mozambique	29.80
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better52
Pos.		2017 %52
1	Ukraine	25.0
2=	Belarus	25.4
2=	Slovenia	25.4
	...
65	Australia	35.8
66=	Mauritius	35.8
67	Romania	35.9
68=	Gambia	35.9
69	Greece	36.0
70	Spain	36.2
71	Laos	36.4
72	Thailand	36.5
	Africa Avg	42.6
	World Avg	38.1
q=152.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better53
Pos.		2018 Severity53
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
80	Tanzania	.273
81	Sudan	.279
82	Angola	.282
83	Gambia	.286
84	Senegal	.288
85	Nigeria	.291
86	Sierra Leone	.297
87	Liberia	.320
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)54
Pos.		Higher is better %54
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
110=	Guinea	0
110=	Ghana	0
110=	Jordan	0
110=	Gambia	0
110=	Kenya	0
110=	Ethiopia	0
110=	Afghanistan	0
110=	Egypt	0
110=	Liberia	0
110=	Libya	0
110=	Ivory Coast	0
110=	Pakistan	0
110=	Niger	0
110=	Saudi Arabia	0
110=	Rwanda	0
110=	Cameroon	0
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₅₅:

Christian	4.5%
Muslim	95.1%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%₅₆.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₅₇, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for The Gambia states:

“Article 25 of the Constitution protects the rights of citizens to follow any religion or belief that they choose. The government has not established a state religion, although the constitution establishes Qadi (Muslim judge trained in the Islamic legal tradition) courts in such places as the chief justice determines. Their jurisdiction applies only to marriage, divorce, and inheritance questions for Muslims where they apply traditional Islamic law. The Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) is an independent body that advises the government on religious issues. Although the government does not have representation on the council, it provided the council with substantial funding₅₈. The minister of religious affairs maintains a formal relationship with the council. Government meetings and events typically commenced with two prayers, one Islamic and one Christian.

The government funds religious instruction in schools. Public and private schools throughout the country provide Biblical and Qur'anic studies with government support.”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₅₉

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?