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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• 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: