2001 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.22% (male 320,458; female 317,647) 15-64 years: 52.13% (male 364,900; female 370,717) 65 years and over: 2.65% (male 19,660; female 17,823) (2001 est.)

Area

total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Background

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, have completed a nominal return to civilian rule. Gambia, The Geography

Birth rate

41.76 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Capital

Banjul

Climate

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

Coastline

80 km

Constitution

24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997

Country name

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

Death rate

12.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa Gambia, The People

Government type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.95% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,400 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (1999 est.)

Independence

18 February 1965 (from UK)

Infant mortality rate

77.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Irrigated land

150 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Land use

arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 28% other: 45% (1993 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 53.59 years male: 51.65 years female: 55.58 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47.5% male: 58.4% female: 37.1% (2001 est.) Gambia, The Government

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Natural hazards

drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)

Natural resources

fish

Net migration rate

2.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

1,411,205 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

3.14% (2001 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia river flanked by some low hills

Total fertility rate

5.68 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.) Gambia, The Military

Budget

revenues: $90.5 million expenditures: $80.9 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1 million (2001 est.)

Currency

dalasi (GMD)

Currency code

GMD

Debt - external

$440 million (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John P. BOJANG chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

$45.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, instability of the Gambian dalasi, and the stable political situation in Senegal have drawn some of the reexport trade away from Banjul. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons have seen significantly lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism from 1999 to 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemployment rates are extremely high. Shortrun economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice, and on expected growth in the construction sector.

Electricity - consumption

69.8 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

75 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

dalasi per US dollar - 15.000 (January 2001), 12.729 (3d quarter 1999), 11.395 (1999), 10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996)

Exports

$125.8 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports - partners

Benelux 59%, Japan 20%, UK 7%, Spain 2% (1999)

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

[220] 392475

Fiscal year

calendar year Gambia, The Communications

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 21% industry: 12% services: 67% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$202.5 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China (including Hong Kong) 49%, UK 15%, Netherlands 11.6%, Brazil 10%, Senegal 10% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2000 est.)

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, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.gm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2001)

Internet users

5,000 (2001) Gambia, The Transportation

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

400,000

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (49 seats; 45 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be held NA January 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - APRC 33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Military branches

Army (includes marine unit), National Police, Presidential Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.6 million (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY96/97) Gambia, The Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 316,873 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 159,764 (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE] note: in August 1996 the government banned the following from participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party or PPP [former President Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile)], and two opposition parties - the National Convention Party or NCP [former Vice President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP [Hassan Musa CAMARA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Ports and harbors

Banjul

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2000)

Radios

196,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available 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 - main lines in use

31,900 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5,624 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Televisions

5,000 (2000)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

400 km