Present-day Gambia belongs to the Empire of Ghana and since the 10th century to Songhai. In the 13th century is is incorporated into Mali. Portugal establishes a colony at the river Gambia in 1455. It is claimed by England in 1588, but no settlement is founded. In 1651 Courland founds a colony. This lasts until 1661 (with a short Dutch interruption in 1659/1660), when it is occupied by England. Courland cedes the colony de jure in 1664. Courland seizes the colony in 1651, but in 1664 an English colony is founded. In the eighteenth century France and Britain dispute the area and it is occupied by both powers consequently.

From 1766 an official colony of Senegambia is established. From 1779 until 1783 it is part of French Senegal, but in 1783 British rule is restored. Between 1821 and 1843 Gambia belongs to Sierra Leone and in 1843 Gambia becomes a crown colony. In 1857 France cedes its last settlement in the area (Albreda) to the British. Between 1866 and 1888 the colony is again part of Sierra Leone. In 1889 Britain agrees with France to established the present boundaries and Gambia became a British crown colony, divided since 1901 for administrative purposes into the colony (city of Banjul and the surrounding area) and the protectorate (remainder of the territory). Gambia receives its own executive and legislative councils in 1901 and gradually progresses toward self-government. After World War II, the pace of constitutional reform quickens. The first chief minister is Pierre Sarr N'Jie of the United Party (UP) since 1961, succeeded in 1962 as prime minister by David Jawara (later known as Dawda Kairaba Jawara) of the People's Progressive Party (PPP). Following general elections in 1962, full internal self-government is granted in 1963.

Gambia becomes an independent monarchy in 1965 and the Republic of The Gambia in 1970. When Gambia becomes a republic, Jawara is its first president. Gambia is a presidential democratic republic. He is re-elected five times. The relative stability of the Jawara era is first broken by a violent, unsuccessful coup attempt in 1981. The coup is led by Kukoi Samba Sanyang. After a week of violence which left several hundred dead, Jawara appeals to Senegal for help. Senegalese troops defeat the rebel force. This leads in 1982 to the formation of the Senegambia Confederation, which is dissolved in 1989.

In 1994 the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) seizes power in a coup d'etat, deposing the government of Dawda Jawara. Yahya Jammeh becomes head of state. The AFPRC announces a transition plan for return to democratic civilian government. Yahya Jammeh wins as a candidate of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) the presidential elections of 1996, which are not deemed free and fair. His party wins the 1997 parliamentary elections. In 2001 presidential elections are held, which are deemed free, fair, and transparent, albeit with some shortcomings, by foreign observers. Jammeh and his APRC are re-elected. The main opposition party is the centrist United Democratic Party (UDP) of Ousainou Darboe. The parliamentary elections of 2002 are boycotted by the UDP.