2008 Edition

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.

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

Climate

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

Coastline

80 km

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%) per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Land use

arable land: 27.88% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 71.68% (2005)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm continental shelf: extent not specified

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

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Total renewable water resources

8 cu km (1982)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.9% (male 382,385/female 378,853) 15-64 years: 53.4% (male 459,315/female 466,689) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,303/female 23,919) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

38.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

2% of GDP (2004)

Ethnic groups

African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)

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.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 68.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 75.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 54.95 years male: 53.06 years female: 56.9 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)

Median age

total: 17.9 years male: 17.7 years female: 18 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate

0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

1,735,464 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

2.724% (2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years male: 7 years female: 7 years (2004)

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: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Banjul geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Barry L. WELLS 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

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul Rahman COLE chancery: Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379

Executive branch

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 head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president 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) 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%

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

[220] 439-2475

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

18 February 1965 (from UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC (the ruling party) [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; 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

National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $181.1 million expenditures: $163.4 million (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

27.92% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

dalasi (GMD)

Currency code

GMD

Current account balance

-$71 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$628.8 million (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.2 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$58.15 million (2005)

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

143.6 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

200.2 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

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

Exchange rates

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005), 30.03 (2004), 27.306 (2003)

Exports

$88 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

India 37.7%, China 17.5%, UK 8.7%, France 5.1%, Belgium 4.2% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 32.8% industry: 8.7% services: 58.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$653 million (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.061 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 37% (1998)

Imports

$271 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 23.7%, Senegal 11.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.3%, Brazil 8%, Netherlands 5.2% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.3% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

400,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6% (1996)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,082 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

41.62 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

2,123 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$142.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$169.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$186.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$180.4 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet country code

.gm

Internet hosts

320 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2001)

Internet users

100,200 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios

196,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available; two mobile-cellular service providers domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity reached 50 telephones per 100 persons in 2007 international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

76,400 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

795,900 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Televisions

5,000 (2000)

Airports

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 5 by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals

Banjul

Roadways

total: 3,742 km paved: 723 km unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)

Waterways

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 379,668 females age 16-49: 384,438 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 230,202 females age 16-49: 244,480 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 19,650 female: 19,582 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

0.5% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Office of the Chief of Defense

Gambian National Army (National Guard, GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2008)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls, and to a lesser extent boys, are trafficked for sexual exploitation - in particular to meet the demand for European sex tourism - and for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked within the country for forced begging and street vending; Gambian women and children may be trafficked to Europe through trafficking schemes disguised as migrant smuggling tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, The Gambia is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking; The Gambia failed to report any trafficking arrests, prosecutions, or convictions in 2007, and the government demonstrated weak victim protection efforts during the reporting period (2008) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008