Chapter 6. Nationality, Ethnicity and Religion
CHAPTER 6: NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY AND RELIGION
This chapter presents information collected on nationality, ethnicity
and religion. During the census, individuals were asked about their
nationality — Gambian or non-Gambian. Non-Gambians were
further questioned about their country of origin. Gambians were
asked about their place of birth, place of residence, previous
residence, ethnicity and religion.
The following pages present information on the proportion of
population that are Gambians and the distribution of the 5 main
ethnic groups. The chapter concludes by presenting information on
non-Gambians, migrants and religious affiliation.
60
CHAPTER 6: NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY AND RELIGION
Population of Gambians in 2003
Proportion of Gambians
by LGA in 2003
Ninety-one percent of all those enumerated in the
census reported to be Gambian nationals. The
percentage of Gambians was over 90% in all
districts except in Banjul, Foni Bintang Karanai,
Foni Kansala and Kanifing Municipality.
92
93 94 96 97 96
Ba
nju
l
Ka
nif
ing
Br
ika
Ma
ma
ns
ak
on
ko
Ke
rew
an
Ku
nta
Ja
ur
nja
nb
ure
h
Ba
ss
e
76
85
0
15
30
4
Kilometers
60
Ethnicity of Gambians in 2003
Wollof
14%
Jola/
Karoninka
11%
Sarahule
8%
Percentage of the population that are Gambians
National total = 91%
Serere
3%
Creole/Aku Marabu
1%
greater 95%
Manjago 2%
90 - 95
Fula /Tukulorr
Lorobo 22%
Bambarang 1%
85 - 90
Other Gambians
2%
Mandinka/Jahanka
36%
less than 85%
Population data: The Gambia Population and Housing Census 2003
District boundary data: The Gambia 50000 dataset. Department
of State for Local Government and Lands, 2001.
61
CHAPTER 6: NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY AND RELIGION
Distribution of Mandinka/Jahanke
population in 2003
62.1
Thirty-six percent of Gambians reported to be
Mandinka/Jahanke. Brikama has the largest population
of Mandinka/Jahanke, constituting 33% of the national
total. Mansakonko had the highest concentration with
Mandinka/Jahanke constituting 62% of the LGA
population. Thirty-six percent of all Mandinka/Jahanke
live in Banjul, Kanifing Municipality and Kombo
North.
Distribution of Mandinka/
Jahanke in 2003
0
15
Percentage of Gambians that are
Mandinka/Jahanka by LGA
41.0
se
Ka
nif
ing
Br
ika
ma
Ma
ns
ak
on
ko
Ke
rew
an
Ku
nta
ur
Ja
nja
nb
ure
h
Ba
nju
l
Mansakonko
12%
31.2
26.6
4
Kilometers
60
30
35.6
25.3
25.4
Ba
s
33.6
Percentage of Gambians that are
Mandinka / Jahanke in 2003 by district
National total = 36%
greater than 66%
Brikama
42%
50 - 66
Kerewan 17%
36 - 50
20 - 36
Kuntaur 5%
less than 20%
Basse 16%
Janjanbureh
8%
Population data: The Gambia Population and Housing Census 2003
District boundary data: The Gambia 50000 dataset. Department
of State for Local Government and Lands, 2001.
62
CHAPTER 6: NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY AND RELIGION
Percentage of Gambians that are
Fula, Tukulor/Lorobo in 2003
Distribution of Fula, Tukulor/
Lorobo in 2003
39.5
Twenty-two percent of Gambians reported to be
Fula, Tukulor/Lorobo although there was no
distinction between the three sub-groups. Brikama
has the largest population of the group, 22% of the
national total, followed by Basse (15%). Districts
with high concentration of Fula/Tukulor include
Nianija (73%) followed by Niamina West (63%)
and Niamina Dankunku (62%).
0
27.4
26.9
20.0
15
Kilometers
60
30
e
Ba
ss
reh
r
tau
nja
nb
u
Ja
Ku
n
an
Ke
rew
sa
k
on
ko
16.5
Br
ika
ma
in g
14.1
Ka
n if
Ba
n ju
l
14.8
Ma
n
Distribution of Fula,
Tukulor/Lorobo in 2003
40.8
4
Mansakonko 8%
Percentage of Gambians that are
Fula/Tukulor in 2003 by district
National total = 22%
Kerewan 12%
Brikama
26%
greater than 50%
33 - 50
22 - 33
15 - 22
Kuntaur 11%
less than 15%
Population data: The Gambia Population and Housing Census 2003
District boundary data: The Gambia 50000 dataset. Department
of State for Local Government and Lands, 2001.
Basse 21%
Kanifing 14%
63
CHAPTER 6: NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY AND RELIGION
Percentage of Gambians that
are Wolof in 2003
Distribution of Wolof in 2003
32.4
Fifteen percent of Gambians reported to be
Wolof in 2003. Of these 28% live in Kerewan
primarily, in Upper Baddibu and Lower Niumi
districts, 23% in Kanifing Municipality and
17% in Brikama. Highest concentrations of
Wolof are Kuntaur (32%), Kerewan (29.7%)
and Banjul (28.3%).
23.1
15.3
8.6
0
15
Kerewan
36%
Percentage of Gambians that are Wolof in 2003
* National total = 15%
greater than 30%
15 - 30
5 - 15*
Kuntaur
19%
Brikama
24%
2.5 - 5.0
less than 2.5%
Basse
1%
Population data: The Gambia Population and Housing Census 2003
District boundary data: The Gambia 50000 dataset. Department
of State for Local Government and Lands, 2001.
Janjanbureh
18%
64
e
Ba
ss
Ku
nta
ur
Ja
nja
nb
ure
h
0.4
4
Kilometers
60
30
Br
ika
ma
Ma
ns
ak
on
ko
Ke
re w
an
ing
Ka
nif
Ba
nju
l
3.5
Distribution of Wolof in 2003
Mansakonko
2%
29.7
28.3
CHAPTER 6: NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY AND RELIGION
Distribution of Jola/Karoninka
in 2003
Percentage of Gambians that are
Jola/Karoninka by LGA
23.3
Eleven percent of Gambians reported to be Jola /
Karoninka although there was no distinction between
the two sub-groups. Ninety-seven percent of Jola/
Karoninka resides in Brikama and Kanifing. Districts
with high concentration are Foni Bintang Karanai
and Foni Kansala with Jola/Karoninka comprising
49% and 65% of their total population respectively.
Distribution of Jola/Karonika
in 2003
0
15
30
18.8
6.8
Kilometers
60
0.3
0.8 0.3
4
Population of Gambians that are Jola/Karoninka
in 2003. *National total = 11%
Brikama 59%
50%
25 - 50
11 - 25
5 - 11*
less than 5%
Mansakonko 0.75%
Kanifing
37%
0.9
Ba
nju
l
Ka
nif
ing
Br
ika
ma
Ma
ns
ak
on
ko
Ke
rew
an
Ku
nta
ur
Ja
nja
nb
ure
h
Ba
ss
e
1.6
Kerewan 1%
Kuntaur 0.17%
Population data: The Gambia Population and Housing Census 2003
District boundary data: The Gambia 50000 dataset. Department
of State for Local Government and Lands, 2001.
Janjanbureh 0.6%
Basse 0.33%
Banjul 1.3%
65
CHAPTER 6: NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY AND RELIGION
Percentage of Gambians that are
Sarahule in 2003 by LGA
0
15
Ba
sse
Ja
nta
ur
nja
nb
ure
h
0.3
4
Kilometers
60
30
0.7
an
ko
ns
ak
Ma
Distribution of Sarahule in 2003
39.2
6.5
3.3
1.5
Ku
5.8
Ba
nju
l
Ka
nif
ing
Bri
ka
ma
4.1
on
Eight percent of Gambians reported to be Sarahule
in 2003. Over two-thirds of Sarahule (67.8%) reside
in Basse followed by Janjanbureh (6.5%). Kantora
district has the highest concentration of Sarahule
(59%) to the district population.
Ke
re w
Distribution of Sarahule
population in 2003
Janjanbureh 6.6%
Kuntaur 0.2%
Percentage of Gambians that are
Sarahule in 2003 by district
* National total = 8%
Kerewan 1%
Basse
67.8%
Mansakonko 2.2%
greater than 50%
Brikama 5.3%
25 - 50
8 - 25
2.5 - 8*
Kanifing 15.7%
less than 2.5%
Banjul 1.1%
66
Population data: The Gambia Population and Housing Census 2003
District boundary data: The Gambia 50000 dataset. Department
of State for Local Government and Lands, 2001.