Languages of the Gambia

In The Gambia, Mandinka is spoken as a first language by 38% of the population, Pulaar by 21%, Wolof by 18%, Soninke by 9 percent, Jola by 4.5 percent, Serer by 2.4 percent, Manjak and Bainouk by 1.6 percent each, Portuguese Creole by 1 percent, and English by 0.5 percent. Smaller numbers speak several other languages. Gambian Sign Language is used by the deaf. English is the main language for official purposes and education.