Imports of goods and services in Gambia
Gambia: Imports of goods and services was 49.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Imports of goods and services in Gambia, 1966–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 49.4% for imports of goods and services in 2025.
The figure is up 47.9% on the previous year and up 70.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Gambia peaked at 71.6% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 2008.
Gambia ranks 87th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 60 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 43.6% | — |
| 1967 | 47.2% | +8.3% |
| 1968 | 51.0% | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 51.1% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 40.9% | -19.9% |
| 1971 | 37.2% | -9.1% |
| 1972 | 40.8% | +9.6% |
| 1973 | 42.4% | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 43.7% | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 43.6% | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 46.4% | +6.3% |
| 1977 | 47.5% | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 59.9% | +26.0% |
| 1979 | 63.3% | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 63.6% | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 66.8% | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 59.6% | -10.7% |
| 1983 | 62.5% | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 64.8% | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 53.9% | -16.8% |
| 1986 | 56.1% | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 59.3% | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 58.5% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 65.3% | +11.7% |
| 1990 | 71.6% | +9.7% |
| 1991 | 34.7% | -51.6% |
| 1992 | 36.9% | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 36.4% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 28.7% | -21.3% |
| 1995 | 35.5% | +23.8% |
| 1996 | 29.2% | -17.9% |
| 1997 | 25.4% | -12.9% |
| 1998 | 28.6% | +12.5% |
| 1999 | 28.0% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 30.6% | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 25.1% | -17.8% |
| 2002 | 32.5% | +29.4% |
| 2003 | 37.8% | +16.3% |
| 2004 | 29.3% | -22.3% |
| 2005 | 30.1% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 29.3% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 26.3% | -10.5% |
| 2008 | 24.6% | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 26.0% | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 26.3% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 25.8% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 27.9% | +8.1% |
| 2013 | 26.5% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 36.4% | +37.5% |
| 2015 | 29.0% | -20.5% |
| 2016 | 25.4% | -12.4% |
| 2017 | 37.3% | +46.9% |
| 2018 | 42.5% | +14.2% |
| 2019 | 35.8% | -15.7% |
| 2020 | 37.8% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 35.5% | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 36.2% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 32.9% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 33.4% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 49.4% | +47.9% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 49.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 29.1%, 1.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 49.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 1.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 48.2% | 43.6% | 51.1% | 4 |
| 1970s | 46.6% | 37.2% | 63.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.0% | 53.9% | 66.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.5% | 25.4% | 71.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.2% | 24.6% | 37.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.3% | 25.4% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.5% | 32.9% | 49.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More economy & growth data for Gambia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.69 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.02 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -665,150 BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -0.241 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 232.36 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 13.05 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0966 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 84.19 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.98 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Gambia?
- Imports of goods and services in Gambia was 49.4% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 71.6% in 1990.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 2008.
- How does Gambia rank for imports of goods and services?
- Gambia ranks 87th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.