Africa :: Gambia, The
page last updated on August 3, 2010
Flag of Gambia, The
 
Map of Gambia, The
Introduction ::Gambia, The
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.
Geography ::Gambia, The
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:
Current Weather
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 location 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 ::Gambia, The
Population:
1,824,158 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 397,864/female 394,103)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 486,140/female 493,868)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 25,773/female 26,410) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.528% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Birth rate:
37.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Death rate:
12.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 23
male: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.07 years
country comparison to the world: 201
male: 52.32 years
female: 55.86 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
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)
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: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 166
Government ::Gambia, The
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:
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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 A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. 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:
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, 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Embrima J. KUJABI
chancery: Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
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
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
Economy ::Gambia, The
Economy - overview:
The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.471 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$2.365 billion (2008 est.)
$2.233 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$734.5 million (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
5.9% (2008 est.)
6.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
$1,400 (2008 est.)
$1,300 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.4%
industry: 14.3%
services: 55.3% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
777,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 147
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: 24
Investment (gross fixed):
27.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Budget:
revenues: $176.9 million
expenditures: $189.4 million (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
4.5% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 44
10% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 7
27.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$192.9 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 147
$186.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$176.2 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
$180.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$169.9 million (31 December 2007)
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:
3.8%
country comparison to the world: 33
note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2009 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: 194
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Oil - exports:
42 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Oil - imports:
2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Current account balance:
-$114 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
-$118 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$86 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
$87 million (2008 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)
Imports:
$285 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
$309 million (2008 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:
$178 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$116.5 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$628.8 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Exchange rates:
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 27 (2009), 22.75 (2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005)
Communications ::Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
48,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 164
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.166 million (2008)
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, reached 70 per 100 persons in 2008
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) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (government-owned) (1997)
Internet country code:
.gm
Internet hosts:
895 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
Internet users:
114,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 148
Transportation ::Gambia, The
Airports:
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 229
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
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) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
Merchant marine:
total: 5
country comparison to the world: 132
by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Banjul
Military ::Gambia, The
Military branches:
Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (National Guard, 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: 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:
male: 20,858
female: 20,762 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
Transnational Issues ::Gambia, The
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)

Source: The World Factbook (CIA)