Statistical information The Gambia 1997The%20Gambia

Map of The Gambia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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The Gambia in the World
The Gambia in the World

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The Gambia - Introduction 1997
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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. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997 have completed a nominal return to civilian rule.


The Gambia - Geography 1997
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Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map referenceAfrica

Area
Total: 11,300 km²
Land: 10,000 km²
Water: 1,300 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries
Total: 740 km
Border countries: (1) Senegal 740 km

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 18 nm
Continental shelf: not specified
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
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
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Natural resources: fish
Land use

Land use
Arable land: 18%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 9%
Forests and woodland: 28%
Other: 45% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 150 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years

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


The Gambia - People 1997
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Population: 1,248,085 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 3.48% (1997 est.)

Nationality
Noun: 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 profile
Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 46% (male 286,422; female 285,379)
15-64 years: 51% (male 318,699; female 324,264)
65 years and over: 3% (male 17,723; female 15,598) (July 1997 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 3.48% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 43.86 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 13.29 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.23 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 78.8 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 53.43 years
Male: 51.16 years
Female: 55.76 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.98 children born/woman (1997 est.)

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
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 38.6%
Male: 52.8%
Female: 24.9% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


The Gambia - Government 1997
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Country name
Conventional 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 areas

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK; note - 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; suspended July 1994; rewritten and published in March 1996; approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; rewritten and reestablished in January 1997

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: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October 1996); Vice President Isaton 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 Isaton Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the president
Elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
Election results: percent of vote - President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousinou DARBOE 35.8%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly; 49 seats (45 elected, 4 appointed by the president)
Elections: last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be held NA)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Malamin K. JUWARA
In the us chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,005
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399, 1379, 1425
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald Wesley SCOTT
From the us embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
From the us mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
From the us telephone: [220] 392,856, 392,858, 391,970, 391,971
From the us FAX: [220] 392,475

Flag descriptionflag of The%20Gambia: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


The Gambia - Economy 1997
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Economy overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources 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 the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and hurt the reexport trade. The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in tourism in 1996 after its decline in response to the military's takeover in July 1994. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid and on government willingness to reduce intervention in market processes.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1995 est.)

Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 27%
Industry: 15%
Services: 58% (1993 est.)

Agriculture products: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishing resources not fully exploited

Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force
Total: 400,000 (1986 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 75.0%
By occupation industry commerce and services: 18.9%
By occupation government: 6.1%
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: $88.6 million
Expenditures: $98.2 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (FY96/97 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

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
Total value: $127 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Commodities: peanuts and peanut products 70%, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
Partners: Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, UK, Indonesia

Imports
Total value: $201 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Partners: China, Cote d'Ivoire, France, UK, Germany

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $419 million (1994 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.875 (November 1996), 9.546 (1995), 9.576 (1994), 9.129 (1993), 8.888 (1992)


The Gambia - Energy 1997
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Electricity
Capacity: 30,000 kW (1995)
Production: 65 million kWh (1991)
Consumption per capita: 74 kWh (1991 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


The Gambia - Communication 1997
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Telephones: 11,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system
Domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire
International: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


The Gambia - Military 1997
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $14 million (FY93/94)
Percent of gdp: 3.8% (FY93/94)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


The Gambia - Transportation 1997
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways: 400 km

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


The Gambia - Transnational issues 1997
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Disputes international: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs


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