The Federal Republic of Germany has had diplomatic relations with the Gambia since it gained independence in 1965. What was once a relatively close relationship cooled off increasingly from 1994 to 2016 under the autocratic regime of President Yahya Jammeh. Since his election defeat in December 2016 and the ensuing return to democracy under the newly elected Gambian President, Adama Barrow, relations between the two countries are intensifying once again. Germany opened an Embassy in Banjul, the capital of the Gambia, in May 2023.

Germany is for example supporting the Gambia in its efforts to set up democratic institutions, strengthen the labour market, combat youth unemployment and reform the security sector.

Trade between Germany and the Gambia is at a low level. Alongside tourism, remittances from Gambians living in Germany play a major role in bilateral economic relations.