Fact-Check: Are Mandinkas Still The Gambia’s Largest Ethnic Group?

**Fact‑Check: Mandinkas Remain Gambia’s Largest Ethnic Group, Though Their Share Has Declined**

*Banjul, Gambia* – A recent fact‑check published by the Malagen Fact‑Checking Initiative examined claims that the Mandinka ethnic group has been overtaken as the most populous community in The Gambia. The analysis confirms that the Mandinka continue to be the country’s largest ethnic group, but their proportion of the national population has been gradually decreasing over recent decades.

According to data from the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS), the Mandinka have historically held the majority share of the population. However, successive census reports indicate a steady decline in their relative percentage. Despite this downward trend, the most recent census figures still place the Mandinka at the top of the ethnic composition hierarchy, ahead of other groups such as the Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahule.

The fact‑check was prompted by circulating social‑media posts suggesting that the Mandinka had lost their status as the largest ethnic group. The Malagen team reviewed the official GBoS census data and found no evidence to support the claim of an overtaking. While the exact percentages were not disclosed in the summary, the trend of a shrinking share was acknowledged, and the conclusion emphasized that the Mandinka remain the most numerous ethnic community in The Gambia.

No new census data beyond the latest GBoS release were cited, and the fact‑check did not identify any alternative sources that contradict the official statistics. Consequently, the assertion that the Mandinka have been surpassed by another ethnic group is deemed inaccurate.

The Malagen Fact‑Checking Initiative advises readers to rely on official statistical releases for demographic information and to be cautious of unverified claims circulating online.

Article and image source: malagen.org