The Gambia Economic Update : Learning Without Earning - Women’s Educational Gains and Labor Market Constraints in The Gambia

Overview & Synopsis

The Gambia’s economic growth accelerated in 2025, driven by increased activity in all sectors, robust private consumption and tourism earnings. The overall balance of payments improved in 2025, driven by robust remittances and tourism. In 2025, monetary policy remained relatively tight to address inflationary pressures. A lower fiscal deficit in 2025 supported by stronger revenue mobilization and unusually high grants helped lower public debt. While extreme poverty declined in 2025, significant disparities and inequalities persist. The Gambia presents a striking paradox: women and girls now outperform men at the primary and lower secondary levels, and the gender gap in upper-secondary attainment is narrowing - yet this educational progress has not translated into commensurate gains in the labor market. Closing the gaps requires a place-sensitive, lifecycle approach that addresses both structural constraints and immediate market frictions.