2010 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

land

10,000 sq km

total

11,295 sq km

water

1,295 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

highest point

unnamed elevation 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

20 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)

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

border countries

Senegal 740 km

total

740 km

Land use

arable land

27.88%

other

71.68% (2005)

permanent crops

0.44%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

18 nm

continental shelf

extent not specified

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

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: 43.6% (male 389,877/female 386,218) 15-64 years: 53.5% (male 472,216/female 479,595) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,985/female 25,190) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

37.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

12.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 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

0.9% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,200 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

73.52 deaths/1,000 live births

total

67.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

55.86 years (2010 est.)

male

52.32 years

total population

54.07 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

32.8% (2003 est.)

male

47.8%

total population

40.1%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Median age

female

18.2 years (2010 est.)

male

17.9 years

total

18 years

Nationality

adjective

Gambian

noun

Gambian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

1,824,158 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.528% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

7 years (2004)

male

7 years

total

9 years

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: 0.98 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

57% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

13 27 N, 16 34 W

name

Banjul

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cindy GREGG

embassy

Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul

FAX

[220] 439-2475

mailing address

P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul

telephone

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

telephone

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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%

elections

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

head of government

President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

Government type

republic

Independence

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

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, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, 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; members to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1

elections

last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

name

"For The Gambia, Our Homeland"

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

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 [Halifa SALLAH]; 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

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009) 11% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

27% (31 December 2009 est.) 27.92% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$90 million (2010 est.) -$81 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$530 million (31 December 2010 est.) $489 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.2 (1998)

Economy - overview

The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In the past few years, The Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high; economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. The quality of fiscal management, however, is weak. The government has promised to raise civil service wages over the next two years and the deficit is projected to worsen.

Electricity - consumption

148.8 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

160 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 28.5193 (2010), 26.67 (2009), 22.75 (2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006)

Exports

$107 million (2010 est.) $95 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

India 42.06%, France 15.34%, UK 9.03%, China 7.38%, Hong Kong 4.55%, Belgium 3.97% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

30.1%

industry

16.3%

services

53.6% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,900 (2010 est.) $1,800 (2009 est.) $1,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2010 est.) 5.6% (2009 est.) 6.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.04 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.406 billion (2010 est.) $3.244 billion (2009 est.) $3.073 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)

Imports

$306 million (2010 est.) $280 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 20.45%, Senegal 11.97%, Brazil 8.48%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.71%, Netherlands 4.68%, US 4.49% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

8.9% note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2010 est.) 4.6% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

28% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

777,100 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

75%

industry

19%

services

6% (1996)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

42 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$203 million (31 December 2010 est.) $224 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$453.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) $438.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$293.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) $283.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$222.9 million (31 December 2010 est) $210.2 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Broadcast media

state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 4 privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; foreign cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2007)

Internet country code

.gm

Internet hosts

1,453 (2010)

Internet users

130,100 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007

international

country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; a landing station for the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) undersea fiber-optic cable is scheduled for completion in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

49,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.433 million (2009)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)

total

5

Ports and terminals

Banjul

Roadways

paved

723 km

total

3,742 km

unpaved

3,019 km (2004)

Waterways

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 402,073 females age 16-49: 406,100 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 238,006 females age 16-49: 248,065 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

20,762 (2010 est.)

male

20,858

Military branches

Office of the Chief of Defense Staff

Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2010)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

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) page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================