Gambia and Somalia
Gambia and Somalia combine ministerial contacts with Gambian support for Somali territorial integrity. In 2026, Gambia advocated that position at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and their foreign ministers subsequently met on the sidelines of a summit in Malabo.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08Bilateral context
Sering Modou Njie and Abdisalam Abdi Ali held a bilateral meeting on 27 March 2026 during the eleventh summit of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States in Malabo.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
A substantive earlier event was Gambia's intervention on 10 January 2026 at an extraordinary OIC session in Jeddah.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Gambia to Somalia | ||
| Goods: Somalia to Gambia | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Gambia to Somalia | ||
| Export share: Somalia to Gambia | ||
| Investment stock: Gambia in Somalia | ||
| Investment stock: Somalia in Gambia |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Gambia | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 2.59 billion USD2025 · WB | 13 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 919.06 USD2025 · WB | 661.17 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 5.89 %2025 · WB | 2.99 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 11.56 %Annual average · 2024 · WB | |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | ||
| Unemployment | 6.52 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 18.95 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -0.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 73.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -4.15 %2024 · WB | |
| Population | 2,822,0932025 · WB | 19,654,7392025 · WB |
| Area | 11,300 km²2023 · WB | 637,660 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDGambia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Somalia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personGambia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Somalia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Gambia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Somalia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Gambia: 2024 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionGambia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Somalia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Gambia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Somalia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Gambia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPGambia: 2024 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Population
- PeopleGambia: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Somalia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceGambia: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Somalia: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Gambia to Somalia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Somalia to Gambia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Gambia, as chair of its fifteenth summit, rejected Israeli recognition of Somaliland and reaffirmed support for Somalia's unity and sovereignty. [1] [2]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Gambia living in Somalia | ||
| Residents from Somalia living in Gambia | ||
| Study and training: Gambia in Somalia | ||
| Study and training: Somalia in Gambia | ||
| Academic stays: Gambia in Somalia | ||
| Academic stays: Somalia in Gambia | ||
| Travel: Gambia to Somalia | ||
| Travel: Somalia to Gambia |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Gambia is 2.6 billion USD (2025), compared with 13 for Somalia (2025). The reference populations are 2.82 and 19.65 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Gambia was 0.2 times that of Somalia in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [3] [4] [5] [6]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Bilateral context
Sering Modou Njie and Abdisalam Abdi Ali held a bilateral meeting on 27 March 2026 during the eleventh summit of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States in Malabo. They discussed strengthening relations and multilateral cooperation. [1] [2]
Cooperation and bilateral issues
A substantive earlier event was Gambia's intervention on 10 January 2026 at an extraordinary OIC session in Jeddah. Gambia, as chair of its fifteenth summit, rejected Israeli recognition of Somaliland and reaffirmed support for Somalia's unity and sovereignty. The speech's legal and political characterisations are the Gambian government's position. The intervention requested coordinated support with Somalia's federal government, without thereby announcing a new bilateral financing or deployment programme. [1] [2]
Position on territorial integrity
In his 10 January 2026 OIC speech, Gambia's foreign minister supported Somalia's federal government and rejected separate recognition of Somaliland. [2]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — GMB-SOM
mofa.gov.gm · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bilateral relations — GMB-SOM
mofa.gov.gm · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Official series — gdp
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official series — population
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07