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Background:
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The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a
short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989.
In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A
military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political
activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed
by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to
civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and
legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH,
the leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent
elections. |
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 28 N, 16 34 W |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
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Land boundaries:
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total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
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Coastline:
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80 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season
(November to May) |
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Terrain:
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flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
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Natural resources:
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fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay,
petroleum |
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Land use:
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arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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20 sq km (2003 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of
Africa |
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Population:
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1,735,464 (July 2008 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 43.9% (male 382,385/female 378,853)
15-64 years: 53.4% (male 459,315/female 466,689)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,303/female 23,919) (2008 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 17.9 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18 years (2008 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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2.724% (2008 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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38.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Death rate:
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11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.0025 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 68.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 75.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 54.95 years
male: 53.06 years
female: 56.9 years (2008 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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5.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.2% (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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6,800 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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600 (2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo
hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
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Nationality:
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noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
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Ethnic groups:
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African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%,
other 4%), non-African 1% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
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Languages:
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English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Banjul |
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Administrative divisions:
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5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North
Bank, Upper River, Western |
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Independence:
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18 February 1965 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
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Constitution:
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24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national
referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997 |
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Legal system:
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based on a composite of English common law,
Islamic law, and customary
law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October
1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 he was Chairman of the Junta); Vice
President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he Chairman of the Junta);
Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held October 2006)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president;
percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, five
appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
- APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, Independent 1 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alliance for Patriotic
Reorientation and
Construction or APRC (the
ruling party) [Yahya A. J.
J. JAMMEH]; Gambia People's
Democratic Party or GPDP
[Henry GOMEZ]; National
Alliance for Democracy and
Development or NADD [Halifa
SALLAH]; National Convention
Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA];
National Reconciliation
Party or NRP [Hamat N. K.
BAH]; People's Democratic
Organization for
Independence and Socialism
or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA];
United Democratic Party or
UDP [Ousainou DARBOE] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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National Environment Agency
or NEA; West African Peace
Building Network-Gambian
Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA;
Youth Employment Network
Gambia or YENGambia
other: special needs
group advocates; teachers
and principals
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM,
OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Dodou Bammy JAGNE
chancery: Suite 905,
1156 15th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202)
785-1379
FAX: [1] (202)
785-1430
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Barry L. WELLS
embassy: Kairaba
Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P.
M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220]
439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
FAX: [220] 439-2475
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and
green |
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Economy - overview:
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The Gambia has no
confirmed mineral or natural
resource deposits and has a
limited agricultural base.
About 75% of the population
depends on crops and
livestock for its
livelihood. Small-scale
manufacturing activity
features the processing of
peanuts, fish, and hides.
Reexport trade normally
constitutes a major segment
of economic activity, but a
1999 government-imposed
preshipment inspection plan,
and instability of the
Gambian dalasi (currency)
have drawn some of the
reexport trade away from The
Gambia. The Gambia's natural
beauty and proximity to
Europe has made it one of
the larger markets for
tourism in West Africa. The
government's 1998 seizure of
the private peanut firm
Alimenta eliminated the
largest purchaser of Gambian
groundnuts. Despite an
announced program to begin
privatizing key parastatals,
no plans have been made
public that would indicate
that the government intends
to follow through on its
promises. Unemployment and
underemployment rates remain
extremely high; short-run
economic progress depends on
sustained bilateral and
multilateral aid, on
responsible government
economic management, on
continued technical
assistance from the IMF and
bilateral donors, and on
expected growth in the
construction sector. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$2.106 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$653 million (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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7% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2005 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 32.8%
industry: 8.7%
services: 58.5% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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400,000 (1996) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 75%,
industry 19%,
services
6% (1996) |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%:1.8%
highest 10%:37% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5% (2007 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $181.1 million
expenditures:
$163.4 million (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm
kernels; cattle, sheep, goats |
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Industries:
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processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural
machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-2.3% (2007 est)
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Electricity - production:
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145 million kWh (2005)
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Electricity - consumption:
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134.9 million kWh (2005)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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2,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2005)
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Oil - imports:
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0 bbl/day(2005) |
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Current account balance:
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$-70 million (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$93 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Exports - partners:
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India 36.5%, UK 9%, France
4.9%, China 15%, Belgium 4%,
Indonesia 7.8% (2006) |
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Imports:
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$271 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - partners:
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China 24.3%, Senegal 11.5%, Brazil
6.7%, Netherlands 5.2%,
(2006) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$142.8 million (2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$628.8 million (2003 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$59.8 million (2003)
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Currency (code):
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dalasi (GMD) |
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Exchange rates:
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dalasi per US dollar -
27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006),
28.575 (2005), 30.03 (2004),
27.306 (2003) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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52,900 (2006) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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795,900 (2007) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
adequate; a packet switched
data network is available;
two mobile-cellular service
providers
domestic: adequate
network of microwave radio
relay and open-wire;
combined fixed-line and
mobile-cellular teledensity
approaching 30 telephones
per 100 persons
international:
country code - 220;
microwave radio relay links
to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean) (1997) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2008)
ukg-update |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (government-owned) (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.gm |
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Internet hosts:
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6 (2007) |
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Internet users:
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58,000 (2005) |
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Airports:
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1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2005 est.)
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Roadways:
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total: 3,742 km
paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
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Waterways:
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390 km (on
River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2004) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 5 ships
(1000 GRT or over) 32,064
GRT/9,751 DWT
by type:
passenger/cargo 4, petroleum
tanker 1 (2008) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Banjul |
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Military branches:
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Office of the Chief of
Defense: Gambian National
Army (National Guard, GNA),
Gambian Navy (GN) (2008) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49:
379,668
females age 16-49:
384,438 (2008 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49:
230,202
females age 16-49:
244,480 (2008 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$1 million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.3% (2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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attempts to stem
refugees, cross-border
raids, arms smuggling, and
other illegal activities by
separatists from southern
Senegal's Casamance region,
as well as from conflicts in
other west African states
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This page was last updated on 08 September 2008
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