Statistical information The Gambia 1990

The Gambia in the World
top of pageBackground: The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 740 km with Senegal
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 18 nm
Continental shelf: not specific;
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
ElevationNatural resources: fish
Land use: 16% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 9% meadows and pastures; 20% forest and woodland; 55% other; includes 3% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
top of pagePopulation: 848,147 (July 1990), growth rate 3.1% (1990)
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 profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 48 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 18 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 140 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 46 years male, 50 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 25.1%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
Government type: republic
Capital: Banjul
Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Dependent areasIndependence: 18 February 1965 (from UK; The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982) that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989
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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 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: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, 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 representationIn 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 (vacant; Embassy at Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul (mailing address is P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul; telephone Serrekunda p220o 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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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 about $250. About 75% 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. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia imports about 33% of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (over 75% of total value).
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; the principal crops--millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock--cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited
Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 7.3% (FY88)
Labor force:
400,000 (1986 est.), 75.0% agriculture, 18.9%
industry, commerce, and services, 6.1% government; 55% population of working age (1983)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $75 million; expenditures $67 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY89)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $133 million (f.o.b., FY89)
Commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
Partners: Ghana 49%, Europe 27%, Japan 12%, US 1% (1986)
Imports: $105 million (c.i.f., FY89)
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 goldDebt external: $330 million (December 1989 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1--8.3232 (December 1989), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987), 6.9380 (1986), 3.8939 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 29,000 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 400 km
Merchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs