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  Gambia, The  
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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Gambia, The



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Gambia, The Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
80 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
8 cu km (1982)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
   People    Gambia, The Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,735,464 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.724% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
38.36 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 54.95 years
male: 53.06 years
female: 56.9 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,800 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
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):
Definition Field Listing
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% of GDP (2004)
   Government    Gambia, The Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
18 February 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
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
FAX: [220] 439-2475
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
   Economy    Gambia, The Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.061 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$653 million (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1,200 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 32.8%
industry: 8.7%
services: 58.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
400,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 37% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
50.2 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $181.1 million
expenditures: $163.4 million (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$186.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$180.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$169.9 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-2.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
200.2 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
143.6 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,082 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
41.62 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,123 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$71 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$88 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
India 37.7%, China 17.5%, UK 8.7%, France 5.1%, Belgium 4.2% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$271 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
China 23.7%, Senegal 11.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.3%, Brazil 8%, Netherlands 5.2% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$142.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$628.8 million (2003 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
dalasi (GMD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005), 30.03 (2004), 27.306 (2003)
   Communications    Gambia, The Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
76,400 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
795,900 (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (government-owned) (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.gm
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
320 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
100,200 (2007)
   Transportation    Gambia, The Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3,742 km
paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2006)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5
by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Banjul
   Military    Gambia, The Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Office of the Chief of Defense: Gambian National Army (National Guard, GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 379,668
females age 16-49: 384,438 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 230,202
females age 16-49: 244,480 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 19,650
female: 19,582 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.5% of GDP (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Gambia, The Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
Definition Field Listing
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


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