Introduction

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 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

Location: |  |
`Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`13 28 N, 16 34 W`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 11,295 sq km country comparison to the world: 166 land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,295 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly less than twice the size of Delaware`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km`
Coastline: |  |
`80 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm continental shelf: extent not specified`
Climate: |  |
`tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)`
Terrain: |  |
`flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 27.88% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 71.68% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`20 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`8 cu km (1982)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%) per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)`
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`
Geography - note: |  |
`almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa`

People

Population: |  |
`1,797,860 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 148`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 40% (male 360,732/female 358,440) 15-64 years: 56.9% (male 501,946/female 520,826) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 26,645/female 29,271) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 19.4 years male: 19.2 years female: 19.7 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`2.396% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 32`
Birth rate: |  |
`34.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 32`
Death rate: |  |
`7.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 113`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-2.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 171`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 58% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`BANJUL (capital) 436,000 (2009)`
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 (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 71.67 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 19 male: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 63.51 years country comparison to the world: 175 male: 61.23 years female: 65.86 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`4.23 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 37`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`18,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72`
Major infectious diseases: |  |
`degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 86% of population total: 92% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 14% of population total: 8% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 68% of population rural: 65% of population total: 67% of population unimproved: urban: 32% of population rural: 35% of population total: 33% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)`
Religions: |  |
`Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%`
Languages: |  |
`English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 47.8% female: 32.8% (2003 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 9 years male: 9 years female: 9 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`2% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 155`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
Capital: |  |
`name: Banjul geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western`
Independence: |  |
`18 February 1965 (from the UK)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 18 February (1965)`
Constitution: |  |
`approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Yahya 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 JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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)
election results: Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6%
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 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`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court`
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`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM chancery: Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cindy GREGG embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170 FAX: [220] 439-2475`
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`
National anthem: |  |
`name: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland" 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"`

Economy

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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$3.494 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $3.304 billion (2009 est.) $3.098 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$1.067 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`5.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 6.7% (2009 est.) 6.3% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$1,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 $1,900 (2009 est.) $1,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 30.1% industry: 16.3% services: 53.6% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`777,100 (2007) country comparison to the world: 146`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6% (1996)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`NA%`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`50.2 (1998) country comparison to the world: 22`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`28% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $183.9 million expenditures: $202.5 million (2010 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`5.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 4.6% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`9% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 37 11% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`27% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 27.92% (31 December 2007)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$222.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $210.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$453.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $438.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$293.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $283.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats`
Industries: |  |
`processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`8.9% country comparison to the world: 26 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.)`
Electricity - production: |  |
`160 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`148.8 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187`
Oil - exports: |  |
`41.62 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 134`
Oil - imports: |  |
`2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-90 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $-81 million (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$107 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193 $95 million (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels`
Exports - partners: |  |
`India 42.06%, France 15.34%, UK 9.03%, China 7.38%, Hong Kong 4.55%, Belgium 3.97% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$306 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 $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)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$203 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $224 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$530 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $489 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 28.5193 (2010) 26.6444 (2009) 22.75 (2008) 27.79 (2007) 28.066 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`49,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 163`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`1.433 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 140`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons in 2009
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)
`

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) country comparison to the world: 162`
Internet users: |  |
`130,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 150`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 216`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 3,742 km country comparison to the world: 159 paved: 723 km unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)`
Waterways: |  |
`390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2010) country comparison to the world: 89`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 5 country comparison to the world: 129 by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Banjul`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2010)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 423,306 females age 16-49: 438,641 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 315,176 females age 16-49: 347,017 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 20,508 female: 20,853 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`0.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 139`

Transnational Issues

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 MAY 26, 2011