Gambia Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 177th
MPR SCORE: 146
MPR Index: 0.0177 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.9309 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.800 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Gambia ranks 177th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) are a small, domestically focused force tasked with national defense, border security, and civil authority support. Given the country’s geographic size, limited economy, and peaceful surroundings, the GAF is structured primarily for internal stability rather than conventional warfare.

Since the 2016–2017 political transition that ended Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule, Gambia’s military has undergone a process of democratic reform, supported by the United Nations, European Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The GAF participates in regional peacekeeping missions, maintaining a reputation for professionalism, despite its modest capabilities.

Military Strengths

Overview

Gambia’s military strength lies in its internal stabilization role, peacekeeping contributions, and foreign-assisted reform framework.

1. Small, Disciplined Defense Structure

The GAF is composed of the Gambia National Army, the Gambia Navy, and the Republican National Guard, totaling an estimated 2,500–3,000 personnel.
Units are trained in domestic security, VIP protection, and border monitoring, with a focus on preventing political unrest and supporting law enforcement.

2. Active Peacekeeping Participation

The GAF contributes personnel to ECOWAS stabilization forces, particularly in Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Mali, gaining experience in logistics, force protection, and civil-military operations.

3. Security Sector Reform and International Assistance

Since 2017, Gambia has received support from the EU Security Sector Reform Project, UNDP, and ECOWAS, focusing on human rights training, chain-of-command restructuring, and civilian oversight.
Officers attend foreign military academies, including in Nigeria, Senegal, and the UK.

4. Naval and Riverine Patrol Capacity

The Gambia Navy operates small patrol craft for surveillance along the Gambia River, used for anti-smuggling and illegal fishing interdiction.

Why Gambia Is Still Ranked 177th

Very Small Force with Minimal Equipment
- GAF possesses no tanks, combat aircraft, or heavy artillery, relying on light infantry weapons, pickup trucks, and donated vehicles.
No Air Force or Strategic Deterrent
- Gambia maintains no air force or air surveillance infrastructure. Any air-related operations (e.g., medical evacuation) are conducted with foreign assistance.
No Independent Defense Production or Sustainment Capacity
- Military logistics, equipment maintenance, and modernization are dependent on foreign aid and ECOWAS training missions.
Security Role Focused Exclusively on Domestic and Regional Stability
- The GAF lacks any structure for external combat, force projection, or strategic deterrence.

Conclusion

Gambia maintains a small but disciplined military force, optimized for internal stability, border security, and regional peacekeeping contributions. While its conventional military capacity is extremely limited, the Gambia Armed Forces have made progress in post-authoritarian reforms, professionalization, and regional integration. Its MPR ranking reflects low warfighting capability, balanced by a stabilizing internal role and constructive engagement with international partners.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Active Military Personnel: 2,500
Reserve Personnel: 1,000
Paramilitary Forces: 2,000 (Police Intervention Unit and National Intelligence Agency)
Army Personnel: 1,800
Navy Personnel: 400
Air Force Personnel: 300

Ground Forces

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 0
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 20+ (light APCs)
Artillery Pieces (Towed & Self-Propelled): 10+
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0

Air Force

Combat Aircraft: 0
Attack Helicopters: 0
Transport Aircraft: 2+
Training Aircraft: 2+

Aircraft Breakdown:

Small fixed-wing aircraft and rotary-wing assets for training and internal operations
No advanced aviation or air combat capacity

Naval Forces

Warships: 4+
Submarines: 0
Frigates/Corvettes: 0
Patrol Boats: 4+

Naval Vessel Breakdown:

Coastal patrol boats used for fisheries enforcement and anti-smuggling operations
Maritime support often provided by EU and Senegalese cooperation

Missile Capabilities

Gambia does not operate missile systems of any kind. Its defense capacity is limited to light weapons, small arms, and vehicle-based infantry support.

Strategic Partnerships

Gambia cooperates with ECOWAS, the United Nations, and European security forces for peacekeeping, civil-military reform, and maritime security. Military support from Senegal plays a key role in regional stability. The EU and Turkey have provided training assistance and infrastructure development to modernize the GAF post-dictatorship.

Military History & Combat Experience

The GAF has no record of external warfare but has played central roles in internal security, political transitions, and regional deployments:

Military Coups and Political Interventions (1981–1994):
In 1981, a failed coup attempt led to intervention by Senegalese forces, prompting the creation of the Senegambia Confederation (1982–1989). The confederation collapsed over disagreements, leading to growing GAF autonomy.
In 1994, Yahya Jammeh, then a young army lieutenant, seized power in a bloodless coup, ushering in two decades of military-dominated rule.
Military under Yahya Jammeh (1994–2016):
The GAF functioned as a regime protection force, with political loyalty prioritized over professionalism. Units were involved in internal repression, purges, and politically motivated arrests, drawing international concern.
Democratic Transition and ECOWAS Stabilization (2017):
Following Jammeh’s refusal to accept electoral defeat, ECOWAS deployed troops to ensure the peaceful transition of power to President Adama Barrow. Since then, Gambia has embraced security sector reform, supported by UN, EU, and regional stakeholders.
Peacekeeping and Training Deployments:
GAF personnel have participated in ECOWAS deployments to Liberia, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau, gaining exposure to regional interoperability and civilian protection mandates.

While Gambia’s military lacks combat experience in interstate war, it has been at the epicenter of domestic political transformation, playing a pivotal role in stabilization, democratization, and peacekeeping integration across West Africa.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

Population: ~2.9 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~1.1 million
Geographic Area: 11,295 km²
Land Boundaries: 749 km
Bordering Countries: Senegal
Coastline: 80 km (Atlantic Ocean)
Climate: Tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November), cooler dry season (November to May)
Terrain: Floodplain of the Gambia River; low hills inland
Natural Resources: Fish, titanium, tin, zircon, silica sand, arable land
Proven Oil Reserves: Offshore potential under exploration; no commercial production
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None

Economic Indicators

Defense Budget (2025): ~$45 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.7%
GDP (PPP): ~$6.2 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$2,100
External Debt: ~$1.3 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Increased post-2017 transition, focused on restructuring and internal security

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Internal stability, border control, peacekeeping contributions
Military Industry Base: None
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Very limited
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) organized into Army, Navy, and Republican Guards
Missile Inventory Highlights: None; small arms and light vehicle-mounted weapons
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Low to moderate; ~60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~5,000

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: National Intelligence Agency (NIA) under civilian control since 2017 reforms
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: ECOWAS, Senegal, Nigeria, international donors
Airports (Total): ~4
Major Military Airports: Banjul International Airport (dual-use)

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

Merchant Marine Fleet: Small
Major Ports: Banjul
Naval Infrastructure: Gambia Navy focused on riverine and coastal patrols
Naval Replenishment Capability: Minimal

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

Railway Network: None
Roadways: ~3,740 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: Fully dependent on petroleum imports
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Minimal

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

Domestic Defense Production: None
Military Installations (Domestic): Fajara, Yundum, Farafenni
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), Turkish military advisors
Defense Alliances: ECOWAS Standby Force, African Union, bilateral cooperation with Turkey
Strategic Airlift Capability: None
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Extremely low