1995 Edition

Area

total area: 11,300 sq km land area: 10,000 sq km 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

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

International disputes

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Irrigated land

120 sq km (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 and Senegal

Map references

Africa

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 47% (female 231,636; male 231,053) 15-64 years: 51% (female 257,329; male 244,947) 65 years and over: 2% (female 11,850; male 12,458) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate

45.97 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate

15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

120.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force

400,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 50.55 years male: 48.25 years female: 52.92 years (1995 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population

989,273 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate

3.08% (1995 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

6.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Banjul

Constitution

24 April 1970

Digraph

GA

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aminatta DIBBA chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399, 1379, 1425

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since the military coup of 22 July 1994); Vice Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Edward SINGHATEH (since March 1995); election last held on 29 April 1992; results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0% (prior to the 22 July 1994 coup, next election was scheduled for April 1997) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the House of Representatives (present cabinet appointed by Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council)

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

[220] 392475

Flag

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

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

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

Member of

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, 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 (in exile), secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA (in exile); 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

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew J. WINTER embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971

Agriculture

accounts for 30% of GDP; one-third of food requirements is imported; 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: $89 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (FY92/93 est.)

Currency

1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut

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: 70 million kWh consumption per capita: 64 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates

dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.565 (January 1995), 9.576 (1994), 9.129 (1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990)

Exports

$81 million (f.o.b., FY92/93 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

$286 million (FY92/93 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Imports

$154 million (f.o.b., FY92/93 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%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.5% (1993)

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$1,050 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Overview

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. 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, had fostered a respectable 4% rate of growth in recent years. Reexport trade constitutes one-third of economic activity; however, border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993 led to a halving of reexport trade, reducing government revenues in turn. The 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made Senegalese goods more competitive and apparently prompted a relaxation of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in reexports. But overwhelming these developments were the devastating effects of the military's takeover in July 1994. By October, traffic at the Port of Banjul had fallen precipitously as importers nervously scaled back their activities with the commencement of the anticorruption drive by the new regime. Concerned with the growing potential for serious unrest after a countercoup attempt was bloodily put down by the regime, the United Kingdom and the EU in November issued a travelers advisory for The Gambia, which brought a halt to tourism almost immediately. The Gambia faces additional problems in 1995 if, as is likely, economic sanctions by Western governments remain in effect in response to indications that the military regime intends to stay in power far longer than expected by the donors.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Radio

broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telephone system

3,500 telephones; telephone density - 4 telephones/1,000 persons local: NA intercity: adequate network of radio relay and wire international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Television

broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA

Airports

total: 1 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1

Highways

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

Inland waterways

400 km

Merchant marine

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

Ports

Banjul

Railroads

0 km

Branches

Army, Navy, National Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 3.8% of GDP (FY93/94) ________________________________________________________________________ GAZA STRIP Note--The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 214,680; males fit for military service 108,659 (1995 est.)