The Gambia is a Muslim majority country, with Muslims constituting 96.4% of the population, some 3.5% are Christian, and 0.1% practice other religions (including African Traditional Religions).

Legal regulations Articles 17, 25, 32, 33, and 212 of the Constitution guarantee and protects the freedom of religion.

Article 60 of the constitution prohibits forming political parties that are formed on a religious basis.

Government meetings and events typically commence with two prayers, one Islamic and one Christian. The government often invites senior officials of both religious groups to open major government events with prayers.

The government does not require religious groups to register. Faith-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) must meet the same registration and licensing requirements as other NGOs.US State Dept 2022 report

Freedom of religion

In the Senegambia region, the Serer people have faced ethnic and religious persecution for almost a millennia for practicing Serer spirituality (A ƭat Roog). The persecution of Serers dates back to the 11th century. In recent years, they are the object of scorn and prejudice.Abbey, M T Rosalie Akouele, "Customary Law and Slavery in West Africa", Trafford Publishing (2011), pp. 481–482, Godfrey, Mwakikagile, "Ethnic Diversity and Integration in The Gambia: The Land, The People and The Culture," (2010), p. 241, ISBN 9987-9322-2-3 The Tanzanian historian and author, Godfrey Mwakikagile, in his book Ethnic Diversity and Integration in The Gambia: The Land, The People and The Culture (2010), writes: "Today, the Serer retain much of their old culture, customs and traditions. In fact, it's not uncommon to hear how Serer culture has survived through the centuries in spite of all the forces which tried to destroy it."

Despite resisting Islamization for several centuries, most of the Serers had converted to Islam by the 20th century in a process that is ongoing.Olson, James Stuart, "The Peoples of Africa: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary." Greenwood (1996). p. 516. Some still follow ultra-orthodox Serer spirituality (A ƭat Roog) or the Christian faith. In the Serer religious and agricultural calendar, the day of worship and libations to the Serer pangool (ancestral spirits), and prohibition of all cultural activities corresponds to Thursdays in the Gregorian calendar, and the day of rest is on Mondays.Verbatim: "le Maître/Seigneur de la créature" Thaiw, Issa Laye, "La religiosité des Seereer, avant et pendant leur islamisation", in Éthiopiques, no. 54, volume 7, 2e semestre 1991. Since independence, none of the consecutive Senegalese or Gambian governments have made allowances for citizens who practice Traditional African religions like the Serer religion to practice their faith on Mondays and Thursdays.

In 2023 the country was scored 2 out of 4 for religious freedom; it was noted that non-Sunni Muslim groups experience discrimination.Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-03

Islam According to the CIA World Factbook, Muslims constitute 96.4 percent of the population. The vast majority are Sunnis influenced by Sufism. The main Sufi orders represented are Tijaniyah and Qadiriyah. Sufi orders pray together at common mosques.International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Gambia. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. A small percentage of Muslims, predominantly immigrants from South Asia, do not ascribe to any traditional Islamic school of thought.

Islam and state The Supreme Islamic Council is an independent body that advises the government on religious issues. Although not represented on the council, the government provides the council with substantial funding. The country's president serves as the minister of religious affairs and maintains a formal relationship with the council.

The constitution establishes Qadi courts, with Muslim judges trained in the Islamic legal tradition, in specific areas that the chief justice determines. The Qadi courts are located in each of the country's seven regions and apply sharia law. Their jurisdiction applies only to marriage, divorce, custody over children, and inheritance questions for Muslims.

Non-Qadi district tribunals, which deal with issues under the customary and traditional law, apply sharia, if relevant when presiding over cases involving Muslims. A five-member Qadi panel has purview over appeals regarding decisions of the Qadi courts and non-Qadi district tribunals relating to sharia.

Ahmadiyya Among the immigrants from South Asia there are also followers of the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect. In 2022, there was an estimated 50,000 Ahmadiyyas Muslims in the country.

Christianity

A significant minority, estimated 3.5% of the population, is Christian. The Christian community, situated mostly in the west and south of the country, is predominantly Roman Catholic. In 2007 there were also several Protestant groups including Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and various small evangelical denominations.

Traditional African religions and syncretism

Less than 1% practice traditional African religion. In some areas, Islam and Christianity are syncretized with traditional African religions, such as the Serer religion.US 2004 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, pp. 48-49. Compiled by State Dept. (U.S.). Published by Government Printing Office, 2005. The Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 12, p. 262. Grolier Incorporated, 2000. The dwindling number of followers of Traditional African religions is in part, due to the persecution of traditional African religions in many parts of Africa–such as the persecution of Serers for following their religion, culture and way of life.

Hinduism In 2022 there was a small group of Hindus among the South Asian community.

According to ARDA, Gambia had 0.02% Hindus in 2020.

Regulation of interfaith marriage Intermarriage between Muslims and Christians is common.

The Serer people who are an ethnoreligious group"Charisma and Ethnicity in Political Context: A Case Study in the Establishment of a Senegalese Religious Clientele", Leonardo A. Villalón, Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 63, No. 1 (1993), p. 95, Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International African InstituteVillalón, Leonardo A., Islamic Society and State Power in Senegal: Disciples and Citizens in Fatick, p. 62, Cambridge University Press (2006), and nation,Bulletin de la Société de géographie, Volume 26. Société de Géographie (1855), pp. 35-36. (retrieved 7 March 2025).Maury, Alfred, Rapports à la Soc. de géogr, Volume 1. (1855). p. 25 (retrieved 7 March 2025)Marty, Paul, L'Islám en Mauritanie et au Sénégal. E. Leroux (1916), p. 49 and one of the oldest inhabitants of the Senegambia region forbids interfaith, interethnic and interracial marriages, and often marry amongst themselves for Serer religious and cultural reasons―especially those who practice Serer spirituality (A ƭat Roog). There are also Serers who marry into the other Senegambian ethnic groups and faiths, but most often, they are not practicing Serers or have converted to the Abrahamic religions. In Serer tradition, banishment and disinheritance are some of the possible punishments for marrying out. The Serer-Noon (a subgroup within the Serer ethnic group) in particular, adhere strongly to these teachings.Ndiaye, Ousmane Sémou, "Diversité et unicité Sérères: L'Exemple Le de la Région de Thiès", [in] Ethiopiques n°54, revue semestrielle, de culture négro-africaine, Nouvelle série volume 7., 2e semestre (1991)

Other beliefs There is a small number of followers of the Eckankar and Baháʼí Faiths in the country.

Religion and ethnicity

+Religion by ethnicity in The GambiaEthnicityIslamChristianityAnimismMandinkaFulaniWolofJolaSoninkeSererManjagoBambaraAkuOther GambianTotal Gambians:Francophone West African Migrants:Anglophone West African Migrants:Bissau-Guinean Migrants:Other African Migrants:Non-African Migrants:Total Population of The Gambia:

Faith practices outside codified Islam Female genital mutilation Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a practice that is prevalent in many African countries and has sparked various debates around religion and tradition/culture. FGM as a rite of passage is practiced heavily in the Gambia; about 75% of the population indulges in it, mainly affecting young girls before they reach 18. It is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. This is a pre-Islamic practice, but many use the Qu'ran to justify it, stating that Allah has vindicated it. Nevertheless, out of the eight ethnic groups, seven engage in the practice. It is a practice that is believed to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized it as a violation of the human rights of young girls and women. In 2015 former President Jammeh banned FGM, ordering anyone who was caught performing would be sentenced to jail; however, there is no law stating that it has been officially banned.

In Serer religion and culture, only Serer boys undergo circumcision through the Ndut initiation rite. Serer females go through their own initiation rite called the ndom or njam in Serer ― which is the tattooing of the gums, but FGM is forbidden in Serer religion and culture.Niang, Cheikh Ibrahima, Boiro, Hamadou, "Social Construction of Male Circumcision in West Africa, A Case Study of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau", [in] Reproductive Health Matters (2007)R.P. Gravrand, Henri, Le Ndut dans « L'héritage spirituel sereer : valuer traditionnelle d'hier, d'aujourd'hui et de demain » [in] Éthiopiques n° 31)

Animism

Although Islam is a monotheistic religion, many ethnic tribes in the Gambia are practitioners of animism and have faith in other gods. The practice of wearing Jujus around the waist is a common feature among ethnic groups. Jujus are charms that are believed to have magical or supernatural powers. Many wear them as protection or good luck charms against any evil. Gambian wrestlers, soccer players, artists, and people in various professions are known for wearing Juju waistbands. The Juju waistbands are mostly Qur'anic inscriptions prescribed by Marabouts enclosed in leather pouches; in the Mandinka language, they are called Safou. Marabouts can be Islamic teachers, fortune tellers, shamans, or spiritual guides. People seek advice from them to obtain any form of good fortune and luck. The local herbalists/marabout make these Juju waistbands to protect people from evil and improve their status.