Business Bank Credit Access Statistics in Gambia (2026)
8.8% of firms in the Gambia had a bank loan or line of credit in 2023, World Bank World Development Indicators data show. Down from 10.6% in 2018 to 8.8% in 2023 (−1.8 percentage points). Gambia ranks #39 of 45 economies in Sub-Saharan Africa on this measure, and #135 of 145 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2023)
- 8.8% (2023)
- Business Bank Credit Access in the Gambia as of 2023, the most recent observation in World Bank World Development Indicators data.
- Change since 2018
- −1.8 pp (2023)
- Down from 10.6% in 2018 to 8.8% in 2023 (−1.8 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2006)
- 16.6% (2006)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Down from 16.6% in 2006 to 8.8% in 2023.
- Peak value (2006)
- 16.6% (2006)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2023 value is 8.8%.
- Rank in Sub-Saharan Africa
- #39 of 45 (2023)
- The Gambia ranks 39 of 45 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #135 of 145 (2023)
- The Gambia ranks 135 of 145 countries with data globally.
- Sub-Saharan Africa average
- 23% (2023)
- The Gambia (8.8%) is below the average of 23% across the 45 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data.
- Firms using banks to finance working capital (% of firms) (2023)
- 15% (2023)
- Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
- Firms using banks to finance investment (% of firms) (2023)
- 18.3% (2023)
- Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
- Internet use in the Gambia (2024)
- 49.5% (2024)
- 49.5% of the population in the Gambia used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 2.8 million (2024)
- The Gambia had a population of 2.8 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2006–2023
| Year | % of firms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8.8% | −1.8 pp |
| 2018 | 10.6% | −6.0 pp |
| 2006 | 16.6% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of firms in the Gambia had a bank loan or line of credit?
8.8% of firms in the Gambia had a bank loan or line of credit in 2023, according to World Bank World Development Indicators data.
How has business bank credit access in the Gambia changed over time?
World Bank World Development Indicators data show a decline from 16.6% in 2006 to 8.8% in 2023.
How does the Gambia compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The Gambia ranks 39 of 45 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with data, with 8.8% versus a regional average of 23% (latest values per country).
Where does the Gambia rank globally on business bank credit access?
The Gambia ranks 135 of 145 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank World Development Indicators value for each country.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator
IC.FRM.BNKL.ZS, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .