Statistical information The Gambia 1999

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. 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 recently emerged from its isolation to accept a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council during 1998-99.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 11,300 km²
Land: 10,000 km²
Water: 1,300 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundariesTotal: 740 km
Border countries: (1) Senegal 740 kmCoastline: 80 km
Maritime claimsContiguous 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources: fish
Land useArable land: 18%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 9%
Forests and woodland: 28%
Other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 150 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years
GeographyNote: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
top of pagePopulation: 1,336,320 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 3.35% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Gambian(s)
Adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 46% (male 305,839; female 304,905)
15-64 years: 52% (male 341,947; female 348,163)
65 years and over: 2% (male 18,706; female 16,760) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.35% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 42.76 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.57 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.34 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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: 1.12 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 75.33 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 54.39 years
Male: 52.02 years
Female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.83 children born/woman (1999 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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: 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 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
Note: it has been reported but not verified that the name of the MacCarthy Island division has been changed to Central River
Dependent areasIndependence: 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 approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October 1996); 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); 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: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH elected president; percent of vote_Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly; 49 seats (45 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; all for five-year terms)
Elections: last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
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 leadersInternational 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, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Crispin GREY-JOHNSON
In the us chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,005
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador George W. HALEY
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 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. 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 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 responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,000 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 23%
Industry: 13%
Services: 64% (1997 est.)
Agriculture products: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishery 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: NA
By occupation agriculture: 75%
By occupation industry commerce and services: 19%
By occupation government: 6%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $88.6 million
Expenditures: $98.2 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (FY96/97 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: $120 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
Partners: Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, UK, US, Indonesia (1997)
Imports: $207 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Partners: Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $426 million (1995 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1_10.947 (December 1998), 10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996), 9.546 (1995), 9.576 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 70 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 70 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 11,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone systemDomestic: 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 mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $1.2 million (FY96/97)
Percent of gdp: 2% (FY96/97)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterways: 400 km
Merchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs