What is the capital of Gambia?
Banjul sits on St Mary's Island, also called Banjul Island, in the Gambia River where it opens into the Atlantic, barely two metres above sea level and linked to the mainland by bridges and ferries.
Banjul is the capital and seat of government of Gambia. Gambia itself has an estimated population of 2,822,093 (2025).
Banjul is not the largest city in Gambia. That is Serekunda, which makes Gambia one of the countries whose capital is not their biggest city.
Banjul at a glance
| City population | 26,461 (2024 census) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 405,809 (2024 census, Greater Banjul Area) |
| Country | 🇬🇲 Gambia |
| Founded | 1816 |
| Largest city in Gambia | Serekunda |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (GMT) |
| Currency | dalasi (GMD) |
About Banjul
The settlement was founded on 23 April 1816 under the name Bathurst.
The city was known as Bathurst from the 19th century until 24 April 1973, when it took the name Banjul.
The city proper is small, but the Greater Banjul Area, which adds the Kanifing municipality, holds well over 400,000 people.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Banjul.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Gambia?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Gambia on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.