Gambia, The

Internet country code

.gm

Internet hosts

568 (2004)

Internet users

25,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

38,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

100,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $44.85 million expenditures: $59.94 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code)

dalasi (GMD)

Current account balance

$-16.4 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$476 million (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$45.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The Gambia has no significant 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 government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons saw substantially lower prices and sales. 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.

Electricity - consumption

83.99 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

90.31 million kWh (2002)

Exchange rates

dalasi per US dollar - 27.306 (2003), 27.306 (2003), 19.918 (2002), 15.687 (2001), 12.788 (2000)

Exports

$114.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports

Exports - partners

India 21.4%, Thailand 15.1%, UK 13.7%, France 12.9%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 7.5% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.799 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 26.8% industry: 14.5% services: 58.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$180.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 23.7%, Senegal 11.6%, Brazil 5.9%, UK 5.5%, Netherlands 4.5%, US 4.4% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force

400,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%

Oil - consumption

1,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$113.1 million (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA (2002 est.)

Area

total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 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

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Land use

arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 74.5% (2001)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Banjul

Constitution

24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished January 1997

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971 FAX: [220] 392475

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

Executive branch

chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. 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 head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he 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 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held October 2006) election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%

Flag description

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

Government type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Independence

18 February 1965 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held February 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC - the ruling party [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; 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 [Sidia JATTA] note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent elections.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 309,279 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 188,117 (2005 est.)

Military branches

Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Presidential Guard, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.3% (2004)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.5% (male 356,079/female 352,894) 15-64 years: 52.8% (male 416,809/female 424,429) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,111/female 20,934) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

39.86 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

11.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,800 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 72.02 deaths/1,000 live births male: 78.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 53.75 years male: 51.91 years female: 55.64 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 47.8% female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Median age

total: 17.59 years male: 17.45 years female: 17.74 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate

1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

1,593,256 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

2.93% (2005 est.)

Religions

Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.38 children born/woman (2005 est.)

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

Airports

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)

Merchant marine

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,976 GRT/10,978 DWT by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Switzerland 1) (2005)

Ports and harbors

Banjul

Waterways

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2004)