2011 Edition

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.

Area

11,295 sq km 10,000 sq km 1,295 sq km

total

11,295 sq km

water

1,295 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Climate

tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Coastline

80 km

Elevation extremes

Atlantic Ocean 0 m unnamed elevation 53 m

highest point

unnamed elevation 53 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected 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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%) 20 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

20 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

740 km Senegal 740 km

border countries

Senegal 740 km

total

740 km

Land use

27.88% 0.44% 71.68% (2005)

arable land

27.88%

other

71.68% (2005)

permanent crops

0.44%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 18 nm 200 nm extent not specified

contiguous zone

18 nm

continental shelf

extent not specified

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Total renewable water resources

8 cu km (1982)

Age structure

40% (male 360,732/female 358,440) 56.9% (male 501,946/female 520,826) 3.1% (male 26,645/female 29,271) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

40% (male 360,732/female 358,440)

15-64 years

56.9% (male 501,946/female 520,826)

65 years and over

3.1% (male 26,645/female 29,271) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

34.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.8% (2006)

Death rate

7.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 96% of population rural: 86% of population total: 92% of population urban: 4% of population rural: 14% of population total: 8% of population (2008)

rural

14% of population

total

8% of population (2008)

urban

4% of population

Education expenditures

2% of GDP (2004)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

10.1% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

18,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.13 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

71.67 deaths/1,000 live births 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births 65.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

65.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

71.67 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Life expectancy at birth

63.51 years 61.23 years 65.86 years (2011 est.)

female

65.86 years (2011 est.)

total population

63.51 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 40.1% 47.8% 32.8% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

32.8% (2003 est.)

male

47.8%

total population

40.1%

Major cities - population

BANJUL (capital) 436,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis rabies (2009)

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Maternal mortality rate

400 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

19.4 years 19.2 years 19.7 years (2011 est.)

female

19.7 years (2011 est.)

male

19.2 years

total

19.4 years

Nationality

Gambian(s) Gambian

adjective

Gambian

noun

Gambian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.038 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

1,797,860 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.396% (2011 est.)

Religions

Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 68% of population rural: 65% of population total: 67% of population urban: 32% of population rural: 35% of population total: 33% of population (2008)

rural

35% of population

total

33% of population (2008)

urban

32% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 9 years 9 years (2008)

female

9 years (2008)

male

9 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.98 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.23 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

58% of total population (2010) 3.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

58% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Banjul 13 27 N, 16 34 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

13 27 N, 16 34 W

name

Banjul

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

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

Country name

Republic of The Gambia The Gambia

conventional long form

Republic of The Gambia

conventional short form

The Gambia

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Pamela WHITE Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170 [220] 439-2475

chief of mission

Ambassador Pamela WHITE

embassy

Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul

FAX

[220] 439-2475

mailing address

P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul

telephone

[220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425 [1] (202) 785-1430

chancery

Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1430

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425

Executive branch

President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); 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 President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997) Cabinet appointed by the president 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) Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH 71.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 17.4%, Hamat BAH 11.1%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); 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

election results

Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH 71.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 17.4%, Hamat BAH 11.1%

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)

head of government

President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)

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

Government type

republic

Independence

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law

Legislative branch

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

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1

elections

last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

"For The Gambia, Our Homeland" Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

lyrics/music

Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE

name

"For The Gambia, Our Homeland"

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia special needs group advocates; teachers and principals

other

special needs group advocates; teachers and principals

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$182.1 million $203.5 million (2010 est.)

expenditures

$203.5 million (2010 est.)

revenues

$182.1 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009) 11% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

28% (31 December 2010 est.) 27% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$111 million (2010 est.) -$97.1 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$572 million (31 December 2010 est.) $520.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.2 (1998)

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. 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 the past few years, The Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly. 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. The quality of fiscal management, however, is weak. The government has promised to raise civil service wages over the next two years and the deficit is projected to worsen.

Electricity - consumption

204.6 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

220 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 28.5193 (2010) 26.6444 (2009) 22.75 (2008) 27.79 (2007) 28.066 (2006)

Exports

$104.3 million (2010 est.) $94.8 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports - partners

India 40.8%, China 15.6%, France 11.9%, UK 6.6%, US 4.5% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

28.3% 15.3% 56.4% (2010 est.)

agriculture

28.3%

industry

15.3%

services

56.4% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,900 (2010 est.) $1,900 (2009 est.) $1,800 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.7% (2010 est.) 6.7% (2009 est.) 6.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.067 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.494 billion (2010 est.) $3.304 billion (2009 est.) $3.098 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2% 36.9% (2003)

highest 10%

36.9% (2003)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$336.4 million (2010 est.) $297.3 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 22.3%, Senegal 10.7%, Brazil 9.7%, Cote dIvoire 5.4%, India 5.2%, Netherlands 4.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

8.9% although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2010 est.) 4.6% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

777,100 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

75% 19% 6% (1996)

agriculture

75%

industry

19%

services

6% (1996)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

42 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

2,807 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$201.6 million (31 December 2010 est.) $224.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$468.2 million (31 December 2010 est.) $434.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$355.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) $280.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$212.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) $207.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

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; foreign cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2007)

Internet country code

.gm

Internet hosts

1,453 (2010)

Internet users

130,100 (2009)

Telephone system

adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007 combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons in 2009 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) (2009)

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007

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) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

48,800 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.478 million (2010)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

over 3,047 m

1 (2010)

total

1

Merchant marine

passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)

total

5

Ports and terminals

Banjul

Roadways

3,742 km 723 km 3,019 km (2004)

total

3,742 km

unpaved

3,019 km (2004)

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

423,306 438,641 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

438,641 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

423,306

Manpower fit for military service

315,176 347,017 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

347,017 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

315,176

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

20,508 20,853 (2010 est.)

female

20,853 (2010 est.)

male

20,508

Military branches

Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2011)

Office of the Chief of Defense Staff

Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2011)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

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

5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; within The Gambia, women and girls and, to a lesser extent, boys are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude; women, girls, and boys from West African countries - mainly Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Benin - are recruited for exploitation in the sex trade Tier 2 Watch List - the government did not demonstrate increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year; the Gambian Government failed to use its adequate anti-trafficking legal framework to investigate or prosecute any suspected trafficking cases (2011)

current situation

The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; within The Gambia, women and girls and, to a lesser extent, boys are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude; women, girls, and boys from West African countries - mainly Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Benin - are recruited for exploitation in the sex trade

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - the government did not demonstrate increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year; the Gambian Government failed to use its adequate anti-trafficking legal framework to investigate or prosecute any suspected trafficking cases (2011)