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 recently emerged from its isolation to accept a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council during 1998-99.

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: 1,336,320 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 3.35% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: 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%

Age structure
0-14 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.)

Population 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.)

Environment
Current 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

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: 1.12 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 75.33 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 54.39 years
Male: 52.02 years
Female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.83 children born/woman (1999 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
Note: it has been reported but not verified that the name of the MacCarthy Island division has been changed to Central River

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 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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief 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

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, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In 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

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 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 growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,000 (1998 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 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%

Population below poverty line: 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: $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)

Debt external: $426 million (1995 est.)

Exchange 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)

Electricity
Production: 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)

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: $1.2 million (FY96/97)
Percent of gdp: 2% (FY96/97)

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Waterways: 400 km

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite