Map of The Gambia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: 740 km with Senegal

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: not specific
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Natural resources: fish

Land use: 16% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 9% meadows and pastures; 20% forest and woodland; 55% other; includes 3% irrigated

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa


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Population: 799,437 (July 1989), growth rate 2.5% (1989)

Nationality: noun--Gambian(s; adjective--Gambian

Ethnic groups: 99% African (42% Mandinka, 18% Fula, 16% Wolof, 10% Jola, 9% Serahuli, 4% other; 1% non-Gambian

Languages: English (official; Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Religions: 90% Muslim, 9% Christian, 1% indigenous beliefs

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 48 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 23 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1988)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 172 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 39 years male, 44 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 12%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia

Government type: republic; on 1 February 1982, The Gambia and Senegal formed a loose confederation named Senegambia that calls for the eventual integration of their armed forces and economic cooperation

Capital: Banjul

Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Dependent areas

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK; Senegambian confederation agreement formally signed with Senegal on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982)

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Constitution: 24 April 1970

Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 21

Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government--President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970; Vice President Bakary Bunja DARBO (since 12 May 1982)

Legislative branch: Army, paramilitary Gendarmerie

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: AfBD, APC, Commonwealth, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, IRC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH; Chancery at Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20,005; telephone (202) 842-1356 or 842-1359; US--Ambassador Herbert E. HOROWITZ; Embassy at Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul (mailing address is P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul; telephone Serrekunda Õ220å 92,856 or 92,858, 91,970, 91,971

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income of $180. About two-thirds of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contributes about 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity--processing peanuts, fish, and hides--accounts for less than 10% of GDP. The Gambia imports about one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (over 75% of total value).

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, maize, palm kernels, cotton

Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Industrial production growth rate: 10% (FY87)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $66 million; expenditures $75 million, including capital expenditures of $22 million (FY87)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $70.1 million (f.o.b., FY87)
Commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
Partners: Ghana 49%, Europe 27%, Japan 12%, US 1% (1986)

Imports: $117.5 million (c.i.f., FY87)
Commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Partners: Europe 55% (EC 39%, other 16%), Asia 20%, US 11%, Senegal 4% (1986)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $354 million (December 1988)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1--6.8166 (January 1989), 6.6934 (1988), 7.0671 (1987), 6.8306 (1986), 3.8565 (1985)


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Electricity access

Electricity production

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: NA

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: 400 km

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs