2015 Edition

Background

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation 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 JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential election in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH was elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.

Area

land

10,120 sq km

total

11,300 sq km

water

1,180 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

65.77 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.09 cu km/yr (41%/21%/39%)

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country in Africa

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries

border countries (1)

Senegal 749 km

total

749 km

Land use

arable land 41%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 14.6%

agricultural land

56.1%

forest

43.9%

other

0% (2011 est.)

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

38.31% (male 378,449/female 375,417)

15-24 years

20.81% (male 202,218/female 207,194)

25-54 years

33.45% (male 322,250/female 335,860)

55-64 years

4.08% (male 38,717/female 41,532)

65 years and over

3.36% (male 30,886/female 35,186) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

30.86 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

25% (2006 est.)

total number

103,389

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

17.4% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

9% (2013)

Death rate

7.15 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.5%

potential support ratio

22.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

94.2%

youth dependency ratio

89.7%

Drinking water source

urban: 94.2% of population

rural: 84.4% of population

total: 90.2% of population

urban: 5.8% of population

rural: 15.6% of population

total: 9.8% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.82% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

900 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,300 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

58.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

69.33 deaths/1,000 live births

total

63.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

67 years (2015 est.)

male

62.27 years

total population

64.6 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

47.6% (2015 est.)

male

63.9%

total population

55.5%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

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 and dengue fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

BANJUL (capital) 504,000 (2015)

Median age

female

20.8 years (2015 est.)

male

20.2 years

total

20.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Gambian

noun

Gambian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.1% (2014)

Physicians density

0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

1,967,709 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.16% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 61.5% of population

rural: 55% of population

total: 58.9% of population

urban: 38.5% of population

rural: 45% of population

total: 41.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2010)

male

9 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.98 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.96 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.88 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.73 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

59.6% of total population (2015)

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

previous 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of The Gambia

conventional short form

The Gambia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Richard T. YONEOKA (since August 2014); note - Ambassador George Staples serves as Charge d'Affaires, but is an adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky

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

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Sheikh Amar FAYE (since 3 August 2015)

FAX

[1] (202) 342-0240

telephone

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

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

election results

Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 71.5%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 17.4%, Hamat BAH (NRP) 11.1%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016)

head of government

President Yahya 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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, 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 (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 other justices; court sessions held with 5 justices)

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement age

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - APRC 51.8%, independent 38.8%, NRP 9.4%; seats by party - APRC 43, independent 4, NRP 1

elections

last held on 29 March 2012 (next to be held in 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE

name

"For The Gambia, Our Homeland"

note

adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya 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 BAH]

People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH]

People's Progressive Party or PPP [Omar JALLOW]

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 (manioc, tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Budget

expenditures

$242.6 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$177.6 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009)

11% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

33.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

28% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$105 million (2014 est.)

-$165.1 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$583.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$547.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.2 (1998)

Economy - overview

The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base. It relies heavily on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. Remittance inflows to The Gambia amount to about 20% of the country’s GDP. The government has invested strongly in the agriculture sector because three-quarters of the population depends on the sector for its livelihood and agriculture provides for about one-fifth of GDP. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated. 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 tourist destinations in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. Tourism normally brings in about one-fifth of GDP, but suffered in 2014 from tourists’ fears of Ebolavirus in neighboring West African countries. The Gambia's re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports and China was its largest trade partner for both exports and imports in 2013. In 2012 the IMF renewed an extended credit facility of $28.3 million for three years. Unemployment and underemployment 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. International donors and lenders continue to be concerned about the quality of fiscal management. The Gambia's debt interest payments are projected to consume about 31% of government revenue in 2015. Relations with international donors have been tarnished by the country’s human rights record on homosexuality and human trafficking, perceptions of graft, and a declaration by the president in 2014 that the country would stop using English as the national language.

Exchange rates

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -

39.98 (2014 est.)

36.57 (2013 est.)

32.08 (2012 est.)

29.4615 (2011 est.)

28.012 (2010 est.)

Exports

$107.4 million (2014 est.)

$104.6 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports - partners

China 34.4%, India 32.9%, UK 8.2%, France 4.4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

28%

government consumption

8.6%

household consumption

92.4%

imports of goods and services

-53.1%

investment in fixed capital

23.8%

investment in inventories

0.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

22.8%

industry

11.8%

services

65.5% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,600 (2014 est.)

$1,600 (2013 est.)

$1,500 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-0.2% (2014 est.)

4.8% (2013 est.)

5.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$825 million (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.082 billion (2014 est.)

$3.089 billion (2013 est.)

$2.948 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

10.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

9.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

19.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

36.9% (2003)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$353.1 million (2014 est.)

$355.8 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 31.3%, Brazil 8.6%, India 7.9%, Senegal 7.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.3% (2014 est.)

5.7% (2013 est.)

Labor force

777,100 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

75%

industry

19%

services

6% (1996)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

48.4% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$227.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$210.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$534.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$511.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$416.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$398.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$217.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$215.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

472,200 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

213.9 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

62,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

230 million kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

3,350 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

42 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,434 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

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; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2007)

Internet country code

.gm

Internet users

percent of population

14.2% (2014 est.)

total

274,000

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, is roughly 80 per 100 persons

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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

55,800

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (2014 est.)

total

2.3 million

Television broadcast stations

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)

total

4

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Banjul

Roadways

paved

711 km

total

3,740 km

unpaved

3,029 km (2011)

Waterways

390 km (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

438,641 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

423,306

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

347,017 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

315,176

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

20,853 (2010 est.)

male

20,508

Military branches

Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)

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)

11,036 (Senegal) (2014)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

The Gambia is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Gambian women, girls, and, to a lesser extent, boys are exploited for prostitution and domestic servitude; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging; women, girls, and boys from West African countries are trafficked to The Gambia for sexual exploitation, particularly catering to European tourists seeking sex with children; some Gambian trafficking victims are identified in neighboring West African countries

tier rating

Tier 3 – The Gambia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not report prosecuting or convicting any trafficking offenders in 2013, did not formally identify trafficking victims, and did not indicate whether victims received any government-supported services; a government program continued to provide resources and financial support to 12 Koranic schools on the condition that their students were not forced to beg (2014)