1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

13 28 N, 16 34 W -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

land area

10,000 sq km

total area

11,300 sq km

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

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

natural hazards

rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geographic note

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

International disputes

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Irrigated land

120 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border country

Senegal 740 km

total

740 km

Land use

arable land

16%

forest and woodland

20%

meadows and pastures

9%

other

55%

permanent crops

0%

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

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

highest point

unnamed location 53 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 46% (male 276,782; female 275,683) 15-64 years: 51% (male 307,405; female 312,736) 65 years and over: 3% (male 17,278; female 15,100) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

44.44 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

13.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

55.24 years (1996 est.)

male

50.74 years

total population

52.96 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

24.9%

male

52.8%

total population

38.6%

Nationality

adjective

Gambian

noun

Gambian(s)

Net migration rate

4.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

1,204,984 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

3.55% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

all ages

1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

6.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Banjul

Constitution

24 April 1970; suspended July 1994

Data code

GA

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Tombong SAIDY

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1399, 1379, 1425

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet normally is appointed by the president from members of the House of Representatives (present cabinet appointed by Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council)

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); last popular election 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 had been scheduled for April 1997)

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

[220] 392475

Flag

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

House of Representatives

last popular election held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held NA April 1997); results - PPP won 58.1% of votes; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6

note

following the military coup on 22 July 1994, all elective offices were dissolved; in April 1996, the military government announced that voter registrations would begin in May and democratic elections would be held in October 1996

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)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

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

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of The Gambia

conventional short form

The Gambia

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Political parties and leaders

the following political parties were active on 22 July 1994, after which time political activity was

banned by the military government

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 of government

republic under multiparty democratic rule note:: nominally a republic, The Gambia has had a military government since 22 July 1994; the military authority has promised to return control to a democratically-elected government in July 1996

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Gerald A. SCOTT

embassy

Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul

mailing address

P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul

telephone

[220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971

Agriculture

peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishing resources not fully exploited

Budget

expenditures

$90 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)

revenues

$91.4 million

Currency

1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic 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. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. A sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade policy, had fostered a respectable 4% annual rate of growth in 1990-93. Reexport trade normally 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, in response to the military's takeover in July 1994, cuts in foreign trade and a decline in tourism have undermined economic growth.

Electricity

capacity

30,000 kW

consumption per capita

64 kWh (1993)

production

70 million kWh

Exchange rates

dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.555 (August 1996), 9.576 (1994), 9.129 (1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991)

Exports

$35 million (f.o.b., 1994 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

$386 million (1993 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

27%

industry

15%

services

58% (1993)

GDP per capita

$1,100 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2% (1995 est.)

Imports

$209 million (f.o.b., 1994 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

NA%

Industries

processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (1994)

Labor force

400,000 (1986 est.)

by occupation

agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Army, Navy, National Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 3.8% of GDP (FY93/94)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

267,188

males fit for military service

134,611 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

180,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire

international

microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

11,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

NA Defense

Airports

total

1

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

764 km

total

2,386 km

unpaved

1,622 km (1990 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Banjul

Railways

0 km

Waterways

400 km