Safest cities in Gambia
2 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in The GambiaAlthough there is no recent history of terrorism in The Gambia, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Avoid large gatherings and protests in public areas and follow the advice of local authorities.
Crime
- Protecting your belongingsThere are reports of passports and other valuables being stolen from hotel rooms.
Local travel
- Security checkpoints operate in and around the capital Banjul and are common on all major routes in The Gambia. They are not always well sign-posted. Take care when approaching them and expect your vehicle to be searched if you’re stopped by security forces.
Laws and cultural differences
- RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, you should be respectful of those who are fasting.
- Personal IDAs a foreign national, you must carry ID such as a passport. The police will usually accept a printed copy.
- Public offencesThere are severe penalties for any form of sexual offence against a child. There are reports of increased child sex tourism. Report any incidents to the police.
- DetainmentIt is not always possible for the British High Commission to gain early access to detained British nationals in The Gambia.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesThere is a zero tolerance towards illegal drugs. This includes importing, exporting, or possession of drugs. Do not accept packages on behalf of anyone without knowing the contents.
- LGBT+ travellersThere is a zero tolerance towards LGBT+ people in The Gambia. Same-sex relationships are illegal and could lead to lengthy prison sentences.
- MoneyThe Gambia is primarily a cash-based economy. Check with your tour operator or hotel before travelling. An increasing number of hotels and restaurants accept Visa cards but very few accept credit cards. There are not many ATMs outside the tourist area of Senegambia. In other locations, ATMs can be unreliable.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in The Gambia, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving conditionsDriving standards are poor, roads are severely potholed and after dark there is poor road and vehicle lighting.
- River travelThe ferry service from Banjul to Barra is operating but it is often overcrowded and overloaded. Safety measures and maintenance are not up to international standards and ferries lack life saving equipment and rescue services. Consider using the alternative route across the Senegambia Bridge near Farafenni.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingLocalised flooding can occur during the rainy season, which runs from June to October. During the rainy season, heavy rain and storms can also cause disruption to roads and other infrastructure. Some routes may become difficult or impassable at short notice and fallen trees or debris may affect travel. Monitor local weather updates, follow the…
- Power shortagesLocal and nationwide power cuts can occur which may disrupt water supplies, communications and other basic services. You should be prepared for possible disruption and monitor local media for updates.
- Preparing for power cutsTo prepare for long power cuts:
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Gambia, updated 2026-07-07 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- no data
- Income inequality
- Gini 38.82020
- Human development
- HDI 0.5242023
- Income
- $3,660/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 29.6 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 66/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 50/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 37/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 4.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.53GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 38.3 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 48%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.1 doctors /1k1.1 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 75 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 4.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 3.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 1.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Gambia (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Gambia compares
| Measure | Gambia | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 2.4 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 38.8 | 35.2 | +3.6 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.524 | 0.763 | −0.239 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 29.6 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +14.2 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 50/100 | 52/100 | −2/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 37/100 | 39/100 | −2/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 38.3 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +18.6 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.2/10 | 3.8/10 | +0.4/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Gambia | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 4.5 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 38.8 | 38.3 | +0.5 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.524 | 0.563 | −0.039 — better for Africa median |
| Road deaths | 29.6 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +1.7 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 50/100 | 42/100 | +8/100 — better for Gambia |
| Corruption perceptions | 37/100 | 30/100 | +7/100 — better for Gambia |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 38.3 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +11.0 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 4.2/10 | 5.3/10 | −1.1/10 — better for Gambia |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
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