Edition 2003 — The Gambia

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.9% (male 338,497; female 335,503) 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 390,150; female 396,763) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 20,836; female 19,301) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Airports

1 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m: 1 (2002) Military Gambia, The
total: 1

Area

land: 10,000 sq km
total: 11,300 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 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Geography Gambia, The

Birth rate

40.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

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

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

Currency

dalasi (GMD)

Currency code

GMD

Death rate

12.35 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$476 million (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Lena Manga Sagnia SECK

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. 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 substantially lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism in 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

79.36 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

85.33 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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%

Exchange rates

dalasi per US dollar - NA (2002), 15.69 (2001), 12.79 (2000), 11.4 (1999), 10.64 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 he was Chairman of the Junta); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held NA October 2006)
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he Chairman of the Junta); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$138 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports

Exports - partners

France 21.9%, UK 19.1%, Malaysia 11.8%, Italy 11.1%, Germany 7.3%, Belgium 6.3%, South Africa 4.2% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430; [220] 392475
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Gambia, The

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.582 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 33%
industry: 13%
services: 54% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.7% (2001 est.)

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Highways

paved: 956 km
total: 2,700 km
unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

400 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,400 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$225 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 21.8%, Senegal 8.9%, Brazil 7.8%, UK 6.5%, Netherlands 5.4%, India 4.9%, Belgium 4.5%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2002)

Independence

18 February 1965 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female: 68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 81.67 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 74.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.gm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2001)

Internet users

5,000 (2001) Transportation Gambia, The

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

400,000

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries: Senegal 740 km
total: 740 km

Land use

arable land: 19.5%
other: 80% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5%

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 National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held NA January 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 56.44 years (2003 est.)
male: 52.39 years
total population: 54.38 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 32.8% (2003 est.) Government Gambia, The
male: 47.8%
total population: 40.1%

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

Median age

female: 17.6 years (2002)
male: 17.3 years
total: 17.4 years

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.2 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.3% (FY02) Transnational Issues Gambia, The

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 338,800 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 170,904 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Nationality

adjective: Gambian
noun: Gambian(s)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

fish

Net migration rate

1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]
note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

1,501,050 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

3.03% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors