Places · Cities and towns · The Gambia
Largest cities and towns in The Gambia
The largest urban area in The Gambia is Serrekunda, a sprawling collection of neighbourhoods just west of the capital. Brikama, further inland, is the next biggest town. Banjul is the capital but has a surprisingly small population — only around 30,000 people at the 2013 census — because it sits on a small island. Most Gambians live in the Greater Banjul Area along the coast, while upriver towns such as Farafenni, Soma, Janjanbureh and Basse are regional hubs.
Where people live
The Gambia's population is heavily concentrated in the west. The Kanifing Municipality and the neighbouring West Coast Region together hold well over half of the country's people, and the built-up area now runs almost continuously from Banjul through Serrekunda to Brikama and down the coast towards Brufut and Tanji. Upriver, towns are smaller and more widely spaced, serving large rural areas. The country's roughly 2.4 million people (according to preliminary 2024 census results) are growing quickly, and the urban fringe expands every year.
Population figures for individual towns are hard to compare because boundaries between neighbourhoods and towns are blurred. The list below is ordered roughly by size based on the 2013 census, and should be read as a general guide rather than an exact ranking. For locations, open the map of The Gambia; for the administrative areas, see regions of The Gambia.
Main towns at a glance
| Town | Region | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Serrekunda | Kanifing Municipality | Largest urban area; commercial heart of the country |
| Brikama | West Coast Region | Regional capital and major market town |
| Sukuta, Lamin, Nema Kunku, Brufut | West Coast Region | Large, fast-growing suburbs of Greater Banjul |
| Bakau | Kanifing Municipality | Coastal town with fishing beach and crocodile pool |
| Banjul | City of Banjul | Capital; government, port and old town |
| Farafenni | North Bank Region | Trading town on the Trans-Gambia route |
| Gunjur | West Coast Region | Coastal fishing town in the south |
| Basse | Upper River Region | Largest town in the east; river market |
| Soma | Lower River Region | Crossroads town near the Senegambia Bridge |
| Janjanbureh | Central River Region | Historic island town and regional capital |
| Kerewan | North Bank Region | Small regional capital |
Serrekunda
Serrekunda is not a single city with neat limits but a dense cluster of former villages that have merged into one urban area in Kanifing Municipality. It has the country's biggest market, most of its shops, and a constant flow of traffic through junctions such as Westfield. The main resort strip at Kololi and Kotu is on its western edge. See the full Serrekunda guide.
Serrekunda neighbourhood names. People often refer to the area by its individual neighbourhoods rather than "Serrekunda" as a whole. Well-known ones include:
- Serrekunda (the market area itself), Kanifing and Kanifing Estate
- Latrikunda, Bundung and Talinding
- Dippa Kunda, Ebo Town and Churchill's Town
- Bakoteh, Manjai Kunda and Fajikunda
- Kololi, Kotu, Jeshwang and Tabokoto
Boundaries between these areas are informal, and many residents use landmarks, markets and junctions rather than official names to give directions.
Brikama
Brikama is the administrative centre of the West Coast Region and one of the fastest-growing towns in the country. It is a busy transport and market hub, known for its woodcarvers' market and its strong musical tradition, particularly the kora and griot families. Makasutu Culture Forest is nearby. Brikama is inland, around 30–40 km from Banjul by road depending on the route and traffic.
Banjul
Banjul, the capital, is on St Mary's Island at the mouth of the river. Its population has actually declined over the decades as people moved to the more spacious mainland suburbs, so it is much smaller than Serrekunda or Brikama. It remains the seat of government and home to the main port, Albert Market, Arch 22, the National Museum and the Barra ferry. See the Banjul city guide.
Bakau and Fajara
Bakau is an old coastal town at Cape Point, with a lively fishing beach, the Kachikally crocodile pool and a busy local market. Neighbouring Fajara is a leafy residential area. Both are in Kanifing Municipality. See Bakau and Fajara.
The Greater Banjul suburbs: Lamin, Sukuta, Nema Kunku, Brufut
Much of the country's recent growth has happened in towns just across the Kanifing boundary in the West Coast Region. Sukuta and Nema Kunku sit between Serrekunda and Brufut; Lamin is on the main road towards Brikama, near Abuko Nature Reserve; and Brufut has grown from a coastal village into a sizeable town, with hotels along the nearby Brufut Heights coast. Several of these were among the larger settlements recorded in the 2013 census, and they have continued to grow rapidly since.
Coastal towns: Gunjur and the south
Gunjur is the largest town on the southern coast, with a big fishing beach and a strong local culture. Further south are Sanyang, Tujereng and Kartong, and to the north the fishing village of Tanji. See the southern coast guide.
Upriver towns
- Farafenni (North Bank Region) is one of the largest towns outside the Greater Banjul Area and a busy trading centre, close to the Senegal border on the Trans-Gambia route between northern and southern Senegal.
- Kerewan is the administrative centre of the North Bank Region, a small town on a creek of the river.
- Soma (Lower River Region) is a crossroads on the south bank where the Trans-Gambia route meets the South Bank Highway, near the Senegambia Bridge. Mansa Konko, the regional capital, is next door.
- Janjanbureh (formerly Georgetown) is on MacCarthy Island in the Central River Region, a historic colonial river town and a base for boat trips.
- Basse (Basse Santa Su) is the main town of the Upper River Region and the largest in the east, with a big market serving eastern Gambia and nearby parts of Senegal.
To visit these towns, see the river crossings guide, getting around and sample itineraries.
Choosing where to base yourself
Most visitors stay in the resort area of Kololi, Kotu, Bakau or Fajara, or on the quieter southern coast. People moving to The Gambia often look at Brufut, Bijilo, Sukuta and the surrounding areas. The where to stay guide, real estate guide and cost of living guide help compare them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest city in The Gambia?
Serrekunda, in Kanifing Municipality, is the largest urban area. It is a dense cluster of neighbourhoods just west of Banjul rather than a single city with clear limits.
Is Banjul the largest city in The Gambia?
No. Banjul is the capital, but it had only around 30,000 residents at the 2013 census because it sits on a small island. Serrekunda and Brikama are far larger.
What are the neighbourhoods of Serrekunda?
Well-known areas include Serrekunda market area, Kanifing, Latrikunda, Bundung, Talinding, Dippa Kunda, Ebo Town, Churchill's Town, Bakoteh, Manjai Kunda, Fajikunda, Kololi, Kotu, Jeshwang and Tabokoto.
Where is Brikama?
Brikama is inland in the West Coast Region, south-west of Banjul and Serrekunda. It is the region's administrative centre and one of the largest towns in the country.
What is the largest town in eastern Gambia?
Basse Santa Su, usually called Basse, in the Upper River Region is the largest town in the east and an important market centre.
Which region are most Gambians living in?
Most Gambians live in the western urban area: Kanifing Municipality and the West Coast Region together hold well over half of the population.
What to read next
- Regions of The Gambia — the administrative map.
- Serrekunda — the biggest urban area.
- Brikama — the West Coast Region's hub.
- Banjul — the capital.
- Basse — the far east.
- Map of The Gambia — find every town.