Zambia and Gambia explained

Jan. 16, 2024 /Human Interest/ — Zambia and Gambia, despite their similar-sounding names, are quite different countries in Southern and West Africa, respectively. Here’s a breakdown of their key differences:

Geography:

Location: Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordering Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Gambia is a narrow country on the west coast of Africa, almost entirely surrounded by Senegal.

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Zambia map

Size: Zambia is significantly larger than Gambia, with a land area of 752,614 square kilometers compared to Gambia’s 10,000 square kilometers.

People and Culture:

Population: Zambia has a population of around 18 million, while Gambia has about 2.5 million people.

Ethnicity: Zambia is more ethnically diverse, with over 70 different ethnic groups. The largest ethnic group in Gambia is the Mandinka, followed by the Fula and Wolof.

Languages: English is the official language in both countries. However, Zambia has over 70 indigenous languages, while Gambia has six main languages.

Religion: Zambia is predominantly Christian, while Gambia is mainly Muslim.

Economy:

Main industries: Zambia’s economy is largely based on mining, agriculture, and tourism. Gambia’s economy relies heavily on tourism, agriculture, and peanut production.

Currency: Zambia uses the Zambian kwacha (ZMW), while Gambia uses the Gambian dalasi (GMD).

Government:

Political system: Both Zambia and Gambia are republics. Zambia has a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. Gambia has a president who is both head of state and head of government.

Here’s a table summarizing the key differences:

Feature | Zambia | Gambia
Location | Southern Africa | West Africa
Size | 752,614 sq km | 10,000 sq km
Population | 18 million | 2.5 million
Main languages | English, 70+ indigenous languages | English, 6 main languages
Religion | Christian | Muslim
Main industries | Mining, agriculture, tourism | Tourism, agriculture, peanut production
Currency | Zambian kwacha (ZMW) | Gambian dalasi (GMD)
Political system | Republic with president and prime minister | Republic with president