Map of The Gambia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996 followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997 completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.


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Location: Western Africa bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N 16 34 W

Map reference

Area
Rank: 167
Land: 10,000 km²
Water: 1295 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries
Border countries: (1) Senegal 749 km

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 18 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: extent not specified

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 highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m

Natural resources: fish clay silica sand titanium (rutile and ilmenite) tin zircon

Land use
Permanent crops: 0.44%
Other: 59.73% (2011)

Irrigated land: 50 km² (2011)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 8 km³ (2011)

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

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


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Population: 1,925,527 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 150
Growth rate: 2.23% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 43
Below poverty line: 48.4% (2010 est.)

Nationality
Adjective: Gambian

Ethnic groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42% Fula 18% Wolof 16% Jola 10% Serahuli 9% other 4%) non-African 1% (2003 census)

Languages: English (official) Mandinka Wolof Fula other indigenous vernaculars

Religions: Muslim 90% Christian 8% indigenous beliefs 2%

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 21% (male 199,306/female 204,324)
25-54 years: 33% (male 310,901/female 324,227)
55-64 years: 4% (male 37,506/female 39,958)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 29,793/female 33,671) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 88.4 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 %
Potential support ratio: 22 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 19.9 years
Female: 20.5 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.23% (2014 est.)
Rank: 43

Birth rate: 31.75 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 37

Death rate: 7.26 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 124

Net migration rate: -2.23 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 170

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 3.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: BANJUL (capital) 506,000 (2011)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 18
Male: 71.21 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 60.11 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 176
Male: 62.04 years
Female: 66.74 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.85 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 41

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 13.3% (2010)

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.11 physicians/1000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density: 1.1 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.3% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 35
People living with hivaids: 14,300 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 92
Deaths: 500 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 95

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
Animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 7.9% (2008)
Rank: 138

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15.8% (2006)
Rank: 45

Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 109

Literacy
Total population: 51.1%
Male: 60.9%
Female: 41.9% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: The Gambia

Government type: republic

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 13 27 N 16 34 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 18 February (1965)

Constitution: previous 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996 approved by referendum 8 August 1996 effective 16 January 1997; amended several times last in 2009 (2009)

Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law Islamic law and customary law

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
Election results: Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH 71.5% Ousainou DARBOE 17.4% Hamat BAH 11.1%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held on 29 March 2012 (next to be held in 2017)
Election results: percent of vote by party - APRC 51.8% independents 38.8% NRP 9.4%; seats by party - APRC 43 independents 4 NRP 1

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials a presidential appointee and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement age
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU ECOWAS FAO G-77 IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA MINUSMA NAM OIC OPCW UN UNAMID UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNMIL UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: Suite 240 Georgetown Plaza 2,233 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379 1399 1425
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 342-0240
From the us embassy: Kairaba Avenue Fajara Banjul
From the us mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19 Banjul
From the us telephone: [220] 439-2,856 437-6,169 437-6,170
From the us FAX: [220] 439-2,475

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top) blue with white edges and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah blue represents the Gambia River and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

National symbols: lion

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE

National heritage


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Economy overview: The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood and the sector provides for about one-fifth of GDP. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land: is cultivated. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts fish and hides. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In 2012 however sluggish tourism led to a decline in GDP. Tourism brings in about one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture also took a hit in 2012 due to unfavorable weather patterns. The Gambia's re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high. Economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid on responsible government economic management and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. International donors and lenders continue to be concerned about the quality of fiscal management and The Gambia's debt burden.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 177

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 30

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 195

Gross national saving:
Rank: 102

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 10.9%
Investment in fixed capital: 19.1%
Investment in inventories: 0%
Exports of goods and services: 28%
Imports of goods and services: -47.3%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 12.6%
Services: 67.7% (2013 est.)

Agriculture products: rice millet sorghum peanuts corn sesame cassava (manioc tapioca) palm kernels; cattle sheep goats

Industries: peanuts fish hides tourism beverages agricultural machinery assembly woodworking metalworking clothing

Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2013 est.)
Rank: 87

Labor force: 777,100 (2007)
Rank: 150
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 6% (1996)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 48.4% (2010 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 36.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index: 50.2 (1998)
Rank: 20

Budget
Expenditures: $265.1 million (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 143

Taxes and other revenues: 25.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 118

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.6% (2012 est.)
Rank: 174

Central bank discount rate: 11% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 23

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 28% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 8

Stock of narrow money: $217.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 177

Stock of broad money: $494.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 177

Stock of domestic credit: $386.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 170

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance: -$152.5 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 81

Exports: $111.8 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 190
Commodities: peanut products fish cotton lint palm kernels
Partners: China 57.1% India 18.6% France 4.6% UK 4% (2012)

Imports: $365.8 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 193
Commodities: foodstuffs manufactures fuel machinery and transport equipment
Partners: China 27.6% Senegal 8.5% Brazil 8.1% UK 6.4% India 6.1% Indonesia 4.1% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $236.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 158

Debt external: $481.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 174

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 230 million kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 180
Consumption: 213.9 million kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 185
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 139
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 147
Installed generating capacity: 62,000 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 182
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 13
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 91
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 170
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 174

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 172
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 116
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 188
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 135

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 146
Products consumption: 3,181 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 178
Products exports: 42 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 121
Products imports: 3,434 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 167

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 134
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 148
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 103
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 195
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 141

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 425,600 Mt (2011 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 64,200 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 159
Mobile cellular: 1.526 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 151

Telephone system
Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers is roughly 80 per 100 persons
International: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; a landing station for the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) undersea fiber-optic cable is scheduled for completion in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Broadcast media: state-owned single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 4 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2007)

Internet
Country code: .gm
Hosts: 656 (2012)
Hosts rank: 179
Users: 130,100 (2009)
Users rank: 150

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 216
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Rank: 159
Paved: 711 km
Unpaved: 3,029 km (2011)

Waterways: 390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)
Rank: 89

Merchant marine
Rank: 132
By type: passenger/cargo 3 petroleum tanker 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: attempts to stem refugees cross-border raids arms smuggling and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region as well as from conflicts in other west African states

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs