1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western

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

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:

Area

total area: 11,300 sq km land area: 10,000 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

Birth rate

46.39 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Budget

revenues: $94 million expenditures: $80 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)

Capital

Banjul

Climate

tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Coastline

80 km

Constitution

24 April 1970

Currency

1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut

Death rate

15.64 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Digraph

GA

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 785-1399, 1379, or 1425

Economic aid

recipient: 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

capacity: 30,000 kW production: 65 million kWh consumption per capita: 75 kWh (1991)

Environment

current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last thirty years international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Ethnic divisions

African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1%

Exchange rates

dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.440 (November 1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988)

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government: President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Saihou SABALLY (since NA); election last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the House of Representatives

Exports

$164 million (f.o.b., FY92 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.)

FAX

(202) 785-1430

(220) 92475

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Flag

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Highways

total: 3,083 km paved: 431 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 501 km; unimproved earth 2,151 km

House of Representatives

elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - PPP 58.1%, seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6

Imports

$214 million (f.o.b., FY92 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)

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)

Industrial production

growth rate 6.7% (year NA); accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)

Industries

peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Infant mortality rate

123.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (FY 92 est.)

Inland waterways

400 km

International disputes

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Irrigated land

120 sq km (1989 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

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)

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%

Languages

English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Legal system

based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 50.08 years male: 47.83 years female: 52.39 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 27% male: 39% female: 16%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely surrounded by Senegal

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 207,754; fit for military service 105,100

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

Member of

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Merchant marine

1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,194 GRT/19,394 DWT

Names

conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $740 million (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$800 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

4.5% (FY92 est)

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Natural resources

fish

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

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 roughly $800. 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. A sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade policy, has fostered a respectable 4% rate of growth in recent years. Re-export trade constitutes one-third of economic activity; however, border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993 led to a 50% decline in re-export trade, reducing government revenues in turn. Devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made Senegalese goods more competitive, and is likely to prompt a relaxation of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in re-exports.

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

Population

959,300 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

3.08% (1994 est.)

Ports

Banjul

Religions

Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Telecommunications

adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Total fertility rate

6.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Unemployment rate

NA%

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971