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Gambia

GM

West Africa

Gambia is home to 6 documented ethnic groups in West Africa — led by Mandinka Gambia (~34%), Fulani Gambia (~22%), Wolof Gambia (~13%), Gambia Other (~12%). This page blends their phenotype and demographic data into one weighted reference: skin tone, facial features, hair texture and build, drawn from published census and ancestry sources.

Demographic Composition

Composition weights are derived from self-identification in published census and demographic surveys. Each row links to the source ethnic-group atlas page.

Ethnic groupWeightSource
Mandinka GambiaMandinka Gambia34.0%Gambia 2013 Census plus subsequent estimates; Mandinka (~34%, ~870,000+ of ~2.6M+ total). Mande source population, cross-border with Senegalese, Guinean, Malian, Sierra Leonean, and Guinea-Bissauan Mandinka
Fulani GambiaFulani Gambia22.0%Gambia 2013 Census; Fulani / Peulh (~22%); cross-border populations
Wolof GambiaWolof Gambia13.0%Gambia 2013 Census; Wolof (~13%); cross-border with Senegalese Wolof
Gambia OtherGambia Other12.0%Gambia 2013 Census residual; includes Serer, Aku (Krio descendants of liberated slaves), Manjago, plus other groups
Jola GambiaJola Gambia11.0%Gambia 2013 Census; Jola (~11%); cross-border with Senegalese (Casamance) and Guinea-Bissauan Jola
SerahuliSerahuli8.0%Gambia 2013 Census; Serahuli / Soninke (~8%); Mande source population

Gambia Phenotype Profile

Gambia has a heterogeneous demographic structure with Mandinka (~34%) as the largest group plus substantial Fulani, Wolof, Jola, and Serahuli populations. The country's ethnic structure substantially overlaps with neighboring Senegal.

A descriptive view, not a claim about individuals

This page shows a weighted aggregate of phenotype observations across the Gambia population, based on demographic composition from published census and ancestry sources. Phenotypes within any country are far more varied than the aggregate suggests; this is a descriptive reference, not a deterministic claim about any individual. For source-level detail on individual ethnic groups, see the constituent atlas pages linked below.

Methodology Notes

Composition weights derived from Gambia 2013 Census plus subsequent estimates.

See full project methodology →

Primary Sources

  1. 1.Gambia Bureau of Statistics. Population and Housing Census 2013. Banjul: GBoS; 2015.
  2. 2.Hughes A, Perfect D. Historical Dictionary of the Gambia. 4th ed. Scarecrow; 2008.
  3. 3.Wright DR. The World and a Very Small Place in Africa: A History of Globalization in Niumi, the Gambia. 3rd ed. ME Sharpe; 2010.
  4. 4.Tishkoff SA, Reed FA, Friedlaender FR, et al. The genetic structure and history of Africans and African Americans. Science. 2009;324(5930):1035-1044.
  5. 5.Saine A. Culture and Customs of Gambia. Greenwood; 2012.

Other countries in West Africa

Aggregate phenotype references for neighbouring West Africa nations, weighted by demographic composition.

Browse all West Africaethnic groups & countries →