1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Coastline
80 km
Comparative area
slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Contiguous zone
18 nm
Continental shelf
not specific
Disputes
short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Environment
deforestation
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Land area
10,000 km2
Land boundaries
740 km; Senegal 740 km
Land use
arable land 16%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 9%; forest and woodland 20%; other 55%; includes irrigated 3%
Natural resources
fish
Note
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
11,300 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
47 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
17 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%); non-Gambian 1%
Infant mortality rate
129 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
400,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%; 55% population of working age (1983)
Languages
English (official); Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Life expectancy at birth
47 years male, 51 years female (1992)
Literacy
27% (male 39%, female 16%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Nationality
noun - Gambian(s); adjective - Gambian
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
25-30% of wage labor force
Population
902,089 (July 1992), growth rate 3.1% (1992)
Religions
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Total fertility rate
6.4 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Capital
Banjul
Chief of State and Head of Government
President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Bakary Bunja DARBO (since 12 May 1982)
Constitution
24 April 1970
Diplomatic representation
Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH; Chancery at Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005; telephone (202) 842-1356 or 842-1359 US: Ambassador Arlene RENDER; Embassy at Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul (mailing address is P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul); telephone Serrekunda [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971
Executive branch
president, vice president, Cabinet
Flag
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
House of Representatives
last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held by March 1992); results - PPP 56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 31, NCP 5
Independence
18 February 1965 (from UK); The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982) that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Representatives
Long-form name
Republic of The Gambia
Member of
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Political parties and leaders
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; Gambian People's Party (GPP), Hassan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH
President
last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 13.7%
Suffrage
universal at age 21
Type
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; the other principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock - cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited
Budget
revenues $79 million; expenditures $84 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY90)
Currency
dalasi (plural - dalasi); 1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million
Electricity
30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
dalasi (D) per US$1 - 8.790 (March 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987)
Exports
$116 million (f.o.b., FY90) commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1, other 5% (1989)
External debt
$336 million (December 1990 est.)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
GDP
exchange rate conversion - $207 million, per capita $235; real growth rate 3% (FY91 est.)
Imports
$147 million (f.o.b., FY90) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment partners: Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR/EE 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)
Industrial production
growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
Industries
peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.0% (FY91)
Overview
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income of about $230. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing peanuts, fish, and hides - accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m
Civil air
4 major transport aircraft
Highways
3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways
400 km
Ports
Banjul
Telecommunications
adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Branches
Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - more than $1 million, 0.7% of GDP (1989) \
Manpower availability
males 15-49, 194,480; 98,271 fit for military service