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.

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map reference: Africa

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

Irrigated land: 150 km² (1993 est.)

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

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%

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.)

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.)

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

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.)

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.)

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

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

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

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

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 description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

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 growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)

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

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%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $88.6 million
Expenditures: $98.2 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (FY96/97 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

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

Debt external: $419 million (1994 est.)

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

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

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)

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

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

Railways: 0 km

Waterways: 400 km

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite