Statistical information The Gambia 1993

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. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely surrounded by Senegal
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: total: 11,300 km²
Land boundaries: total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Contiguous zone: 18 nm
Continental shelf: not specified
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: 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 useArable land: 16%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 9%
Forest and woodland: 20%
Other: 55%
Irrigated land: 120 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 930,249 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 3.07% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Gambian(s)
Adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 46.85 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 16.1 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation
Current issues note:almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of
Africa
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 126.3 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthMale: 47.41 years
Female: 51.87 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 27%
Male: 39%
Female: 16%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
Conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
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 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 systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH
In the us chancery: Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,005
In the us telephone: (202) 842-1356 or 842-1359
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER
From the us embassy: Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul
From the us mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
From the us telephone: 220 92,856 or 92,858, 91,970, 91,971
From the us fax: (220) 92,475
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 $325. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 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 one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3% (1991)
Real gdp per capita: $325 (1991 est.)
Gross 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; other principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited
Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 75.0%
By occupation industry commerce and services: 18.9%
By occupation government:6.1%
55%populationofworkingage(1983)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $94 million; expenditures $80 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)
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., FY91 est.)
Commodoties: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
Partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
Imports: $174 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Partners: Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange ratestop of pageElectricityProduction: 30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1
Usable: 1
With permanentsurface runways: 1
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 0
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 400 km
Merchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs