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 A. J. J. 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 2006.

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N 16 34 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 11,295 km²
Rank: 166
Land: 10,000 km²
Water: 1295 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
Territorial sea: 12 nm
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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location 53 m

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

Land use
Arable land: 27.88%
Permanent crops: 0.44%
Other: 71.68% (2005)

Irrigated land: 20 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 8 km³ (1982)

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

Population: 1,782,893 (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 148
Growth rate: 2.668% (2009 est.)
Growth rate rank: 26
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Gambian
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%

Age structure
0-14 years: 43.6%
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 473,478/female 481,315)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 25,071/female 25,051) (2009 est.)

Median age
Total: 17.9 years
Male: 17.8 years
Female: 18.1 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.668% (2009 est.)
Rank: 26

Birth rate: 37.87 births/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 26

Death rate: 11.49 deaths/1000 population (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 43

Net migration rate: 0.3 migrant(s)/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 68

Urbanization
Urban population: 57% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 67.33 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 29
Male: 73.56 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 60.91 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 55.35 years
Rank: 193
Male: 53.43 years
Female: 57.34 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Rank: 29

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 55
People living with hivaids: 8,200 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 111
Deaths: 600 (2003 est.)
Deaths rank: 81

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
Animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Education expenditures: 2% of GDP (2004)
Rank: 166

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 40.1%
Male: 47.8%
Female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 7 years
Male: 7 years
Female: 7 years (2004)

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
Conventional short form: The Gambia

Government type: republic

Capital
Name: Banjul
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

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 18 February (1965)

Constitution: approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997

Legal system: based on a composite of English common law Islamic 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 ; note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta; 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)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
Election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3% Ousainou DARBOE 26.6% Halifa SALLAH 6.0%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote 5 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47 UDP 4 NADD 1 independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC (the ruling party) [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador
In the us chancery: Suite 600 1424 K Street NW Washington DC 20,005
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379 1399 1425
In the us fax: [1] (202) 785-1430
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Barry L. WELLS
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

Economy overview: The Gambia has no confirmed mineral or natural resource deposits 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 a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing key parastatals no plans have been made public that would indicate that the government intends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid on responsible government economic management on continued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors and on expected growth in the construction sector.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 180
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 66

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 202
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 33.3%
Industry: 7.6%
Services: 59% (2008 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0.3% (2008 est.)
Rank: 130

Labor force: 777,100 (2007)
Rank: 143
By occupation agriculture: 75%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 6% (1996)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2%
Highest 10: 36.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index: 50.2 (1998)
Rank: 23

Budget
Revenues: $155.6 million
Expenditures: $167.3 million (2008 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5.1% (2007 est.)
Rank: 77

Central bank discount rate: 10% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 41

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 27.92% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 8

Stock of domestic credit:

Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA

Current account balance: -$80.3 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 80

Exports: $91.4 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 195
Commodities: peanut products fish cotton lint palm kernels re-exports
Partners: India 30.5% Japan 25.6% Belgium 6.3% China 5.5% UK 5.3% Spain 4.1% (2008)

Imports: $262.9 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 194
Commodities: foodstuffs manufactures fuel machinery and transport equipment
Partners: China 20.6% Senegal 12.1% Cote d'Ivoire 8.7% Brazil 7.7% Netherlands 5% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $142.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 147

Debt external: $628.8 million (2003 est.)
Rank: 161

Exchange rates: dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 22.75 (2008 est.) 27.79 (2007) 28.066 (2006) 28.575 (2005) 30.03 (2004)

Electricity
Production: 160 million kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 180
Consumption: 148.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 182
Exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 107
Consumption: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 182
Exports: 0 m³ (2008)
Exports rank: 176
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 179
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2009 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 177

Telephones
Main lines in use: 48,900 (2008)
Main lines in use rank: 164
Mobile cellular: 1.166 million (2008)
Mobile cellular rank: 138

Telephone system
General assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007
Domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity reached 70 telephones per 100 persons in 2008
International: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Internet
Country code: .gm
Hosts: 895 (2009)
Hosts rank: 162
Users: 114,200 (2008)
Users rank: 148

Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 163

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Airports: 1 (2009)
Rank: 232
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2009)

Roadways
Total: 3,742 km
Rank: 158
Paved: 723 km
Unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)

Waterways: 390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2008)
Rank: 89

Merchant marine
Total: 5
Rank: 133
By type: passenger/cargo 4 petroleum tanker 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals: Banjul

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
Refugees: 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)