The Gambia vs. Senegal
Geography
| The Gambia | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania |
| Geographic coordinates | 13 28 N, 16 34 W | 14 00 N, 14 00 W |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,120 sq km water: 1,180 sq km | total: 196,722 sq km land: 192,530 sq km water: 4,192 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly less than twice the size of Delaware | slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana |
| Land boundaries | total: 749 km border countries (1): Senegal 749 km | total: 2,684 km border countries (5): The Gambia 749 km, Guinea 363 km, Guinea-Bissau 341 km, Mali 489 km, Mauritania 742 km |
| Coastline | 80 km | 531 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: extent not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
| Climate | tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May) | tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind |
| Terrain | flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills | generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 34 m | highest point: unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 69 m |
| Natural resources | fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon | fish, phosphates, iron ore |
| Land use | agricultural land: 56.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 41% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.) forest: 43.9% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 46.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 17.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.1% (2018 est.) forest: 43.8% (2018 est.) other: 9.4% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 50 sq km (2012) | 1,200 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | droughts | lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; periodic droughts; seasonal flooding; overfishing; weak environmental protective laws; wildlife populations threatened by poaching |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland | westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal |
| Total renewable water resources | 8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 38.97 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map | the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural as shown in this population distribution map |
Source: CIA Factbook
