2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.3% (male 365,157/female 361,821) 15-64 years: 53% (male 431,627/female 438,159) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,889/female 21,911) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2006)

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. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006. Geography Gambia, The

Birth rate

39.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$155.1 million; including capital expenditures of $4.1 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$112.7 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

12 28 N, 16 39 W

name

Banjul

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 January 1997

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of The Gambia

conventional short form

The Gambia

Currency (code)

dalasi (GMD)

Currency code

GMD

Current account balance

$-54.61 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$628.8 million (2003 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III

embassy

Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul

mailing address

P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul

telephone

[220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador Dodou Bammy JAGNE

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1379

Disputes - international

attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states

Economic aid - recipient

$59.8 million (2003)

Economy - overview

The Gambia has no confirmed mineral or natural resource deposits 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 Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing key parastatals, no plans have been made public that would indicate that the government intends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, on continued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth in the construction sector.

Electricity - consumption

134.9 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

145 million kWh (2004)

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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

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 - 30 (2006), 30.38 (2005), 30.03 (2004), 27.306 (2004), 19.918 (2003), 15.687 (2002), 15.687 (2001)

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 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6.0%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

head of government

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)

Exports

$130.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

India 29.6%, Kenya 28.4%, UK 13.3%, Indonesia 6.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

[220] 439-2475

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

30.5%

industry

13.9%

services

55.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$461.2 million (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.25 billion (2006 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,800 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$212.2 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 21.5%, Senegal 11.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.5%, Brazil 5.6%, US 5.3%, UK 5.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)

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

64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

78.06 deaths/1,000 live births

total

71.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.gm

Internet hosts

14 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2001)

Internet users

49,000 (2005) Transportation Gambia, The

Investment (gross fixed)

20.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

400,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

75%

industry

19%

services

6%

Land boundaries

border countries

Senegal 740 km

total

740 km

Land use

arable land

27.88%

other

71.68% (2005)

permanent crops

0.44%

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, 5 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 25 January 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

56.03 years (2006 est.)

male

52.3 years

total population

54.14 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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis (2007)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

316,214 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

311,025

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

194,551 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

183,057

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

17.8 years (2006 est.)

male

17.6 years

total

17.7 years

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2006)

total

5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 32,064 GRT/9,751 DWT

Military branches

Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Presidential Guard, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.55 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.4% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Gambia, The

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Nationality

adjective

Gambian

noun

Gambian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum

Net migration rate

1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; 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]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

1,641,564 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

2.84% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Banjul Military Gambia, The

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios

196,000 (1997)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2006) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$88.11 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

723 km

total

3,742 km

unpaved

3,019 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire

general assessment

adequate; a packet switched data network is available

international

country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

44,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

247,500 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Televisions

5,000 (2000)

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Total fertility rate

5.3 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2004)