Africa · capital city
What Is the Capital of Gambia?
Banjul
The capital of Gambia is Banjul. About 481,000 people live in the Banjul urban area — 17% of the country's population.
481,000
Urban area population
UTC0
Time zone
13.45°N
Latitude · 16.57°W
Yes
Largest city
Banjul at a glance
Name origin
The name derives from a misunderstanding between Portuguese colonists and inhabitants in the 15th century; when asked what the area was called, the inhabitants thought they were being asked what they were doing and replied, "bangjulo," or "rope making".
Time zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
13 27 N, 16 34 W · IANA time zone Africa/Abidjan
Location of Gambia
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Capitals closest to Banjul
Dakar, Senegal — 183 km
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau — 207 km
Nouakchott, Mauritania — 517 km
Conakry, Guinea — 539 km
Freetown, Sierra Leone — 661 km
Praia, Cape Verde — 767 km
Bamako, Mali — 932 km
Monrovia, Liberia — 1,015 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Banjul
What is the capital of Gambia?
The capital of Gambia is Banjul. About 481,000 people live in the Banjul urban area — 17% of the country's population.
Is Banjul the largest city in Gambia?
Yes — Banjul is also the largest urban area of Gambia (481,000).
What time zone is Banjul in?
Banjul is on UTC0 — UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Banjul come from?
The name derives from a misunderstanding between Portuguese colonists and inhabitants in the 15th century; when asked what the area was called, the inhabitants thought they were being asked what they were doing and replied, "bangjulo," or "rope making".
Which capital is closest to Banjul?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Dakar (Senegal) is the closest, 183 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).