Qibla direction in the Gambia
The Qibla in the Gambia lies towards the east. Depending on the city the angle from true north ranges from 72.9° in Gunjur to 73.2° in Farafenni, and the Kaaba is between 5,776 km and 6,044 km away. The table gives the exact bearing for 22 cities.
Stand facing true north, then turn clockwise by the angle of your city. A phone compass shows magnetic north, which in the Gambia can differ from true north by a few degrees; our Qibla finder corrects this automatically when your phone reports true heading.
Why the Qibla changes across the country
Between the cities in the table the Qibla angle varies by 0.3°. Farato is the closest to the Kaaba (5,776 km) and Tanji the farthest (6,044 km). The farther apart two cities are, the more their bearings to Makkah diverge, which is why the angle of the capital, 73.1°, should not be used everywhere.
Inside a mosque, the mihrab already shows the Qibla. Elsewhere, a compass app, the position of the sun or our Qibla finder can be used; scholars agree that facing the general direction is enough when the exact angle cannot be known.
Qibla in the Gambia: questions
What is the Qibla direction in Banjul?
73.1° from true north, towards the east, 6,019 km from the Kaaba.
Which city in the Gambia is closest to Makkah?
Farato, 5,776 km from the Kaaba, among the 22 cities listed.
Does a phone compass show the right Qibla?
Only if it is calibrated and corrected for magnetic declination. Turn the phone in a figure 8 and keep it away from metal; our Qibla finder uses the true heading when the phone provides it.
| City | Qibla | Direction | Distance to Makkah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abuko | 73.1° | east | 6,029 km |
| Bakau | 73.1° | east | 6,029 km |
| Banjul | 73.1° | east | 6,019 km |
| Basse Santa Su | 73.1° | east | 5,779 km |
| Brikama | 73.0° | east | 6,032 km |
| Brufut | 73.1° | east | 6,039 km |
| Busumbala | 73.0° | east | 6,034 km |
| Farafenni | 73.2° | east | 5,914 km |
| Farato | 73.1° | east | 5,776 km |
| Gunjur | 72.9° | east | 6,043 km |
| Janjanbureh | 73.2° | east | 5,828 km |
| Kerewan | 73.2° | east | 5,967 km |
| Kunkujang | 73.1° | east | 6,031 km |
| Lamin | 73.0° | east | 6,007 km |
| Mansa Konko | 73.1° | east | 5,911 km |
| Nema Kunku | 73.0° | east | 5,954 km |
| Sanyang | 73.0° | east | 6,044 km |
| Serrekunda | 73.1° | east | 6,030 km |
| Sinchu Alagi | 73.1° | east | 6,032 km |
| Soma | 73.1° | east | 5,912 km |
| Sukuta | 73.1° | east | 6,034 km |
| Tanji | 73.0° | east | 6,044 km |