1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 11,300 km2 land area: 10,000 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Coastline
80 km
Environment
deforestation
International disputes
short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Irrigated land
120 km2 (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
Land use
arable land: 16% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 20% other: 55%
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely surrounded by Senegal
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
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
People and Society
Birth rate
46.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
16.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1%
Infant mortality rate
126.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
400,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1% note: 55% population of working age (1983)
Languages
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 49.61 years male: 47.41 years female: 51.87 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 27% male: 39% female: 16%
Nationality
noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
930,249 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
3.07% (1993 est.)
Religions
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Total fertility rate
6.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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 Saihou SABALLY (since NA)
Constitution
24 April 1970
Digraph
GA
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH
Executive branch
president, vice president, Cabinet
FAX
(220) 92475
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 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
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
Names
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia
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
21 years of age; universal
Type
republic under multiparty democratic rule
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER embassy: Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971
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; other principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited
Budget
revenues $94 million; expenditures $80 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)
Currency
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 - 8.673 (October 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987)
Exports
$133 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.) 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
Imports
$174 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment partners: Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 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)
12% (1992 est.)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $292 million (1991 est.)
National product per capita
$325 (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate
3% (1991)
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 $325. 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
total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
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 - $NA, NA% of GDP
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 201,026; fit for military service 101,642 (1993 est.)