The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in Western Africa. It is the smallest country on the African continental mainland and is bordered to the north, east, and south by Senegal, and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The River Gambia flows through the centre of the country and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. On the 18th of February 1965, The Gambia became independent from the British Empire. Banjul is its capital.

The Gambia is a very small and narrow country whose borders mirror the meandering Gambia River. The country is less than 48km wide, with a total area of 11,300 km². Its present boundaries were defined in 1889 after an agreement between the United Kingdom and France. It is almost an enclave of Senegal and the smallest country on the continent of Africa.