Gambia, The

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

Internet country code

.gm

Internet users

total: 274,000 | percent of population: 14.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007 | domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, is roughly 80 per 100 persons | 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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 55,800 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 2.3 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Television broadcast stations

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $177.6 million | expenditures: $242.6 million (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009) | 11% (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 29

Commercial bank prime lending rate

33.5% (31 December 2014 est.) | 28% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 3

Current account balance

-$105 million (2014 est.) | -$165.1 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Debt - external

$583.9 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $547.4 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.2 (1998) | country comparison to the world: 20

Economy - overview

The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base. It relies heavily on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. Remittance inflows to The Gambia amount to about 20% of the country’s GDP. The government has invested strongly in the agriculture sector because three-quarters of the population depends on the sector for its livelihood and agriculture provides for about one-fifth of GDP. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated. 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 tourist destinations in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. Tourism normally brings in about one-fifth of GDP, but suffered in 2014 from tourists’ fears of Ebolavirus in neighboring West African countries. The Gambia's re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports and China was its largest trade partner for both exports and imports in 2013. In 2012 the IMF renewed an extended credit facility of $28.3 million for three years. Unemployment and underemployment 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. International donors and lenders continue to be concerned about the quality of fiscal management. The Gambia's debt interest payments are projected to consume about 31% of government revenue in 2015. Relations with international donors have been tarnished by the country’s human rights record on homosexuality and human trafficking, perceptions of graft, and a declaration by the president in 2014 that the country would stop using English as the national language.

Exchange rates

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - | 39.98 (2014 est.) | 36.57 (2013 est.) | 32.08 (2012 est.) | 29.4615 (2011 est.) | 28.012 (2010 est.)

Exports

$107.4 million (2014 est.) | $104.6 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Exports - commodities

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports - partners

China 34.4%, India 32.9%, UK 8.2%, France 4.4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$825 million (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.082 billion (2014 est.) | $3.089 billion (2013 est.) | $2.948 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 180

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 92.4% | government consumption: 8.6% | investment in fixed capital: 23.8% | investment in inventories: 0.3% | exports of goods and services: 28% | imports of goods and services: -53.1% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 22.8% | industry: 11.8% | services: 65.5% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,600 (2014 est.) | $1,600 (2013 est.) | $1,500 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 210

GDP - real growth rate

-0.2% (2014 est.) | 4.8% (2013 est.) | 5.6% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Gross national saving

10.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | 9.3% of GDP (2013 est.) | 19.9% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% | highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)

Imports

$353.1 million (2014 est.) | $355.8 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 31.3%, Brazil 8.6%, India 7.9%, Senegal 7.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.3% (2014 est.) | 5.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Labor force

777,100 (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 75% | industry: 19% | services: 6% (1996)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

48.4% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$227.9 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $210.6 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Stock of broad money

$534.7 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $511.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Stock of domestic credit

$416.3 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $398.3 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Stock of narrow money

$217.5 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $215.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Taxes and other revenues

19.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

472,200 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity - consumption

213.9 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - installed generating capacity

62,000 kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity - production

230 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Refined petroleum products - consumption

3,350 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

Refined petroleum products - exports

42 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,434 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Area

total: 11,300 sq km | land: 10,120 sq km | water: 1,180 sq km | country comparison to the world: 167

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 elevation 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, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.09 cu km/yr (41%/21%/39%) | per capita: 65.77 cu m/yr (2005)

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country in Africa

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries

total: 749 km | border countries (1): Senegal 749 km

Land use

agricultural land: 56.1% | arable land 41%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 14.6% | forest: 43.9% | other: 0% (2011 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

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 (2011)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Banjul | geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W | time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Richard T. YONEOKA (since August 2014); note - Ambassador George Staples serves as Charge d'Affaires, but is an adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky | embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul | mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul | telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170 | FAX: [220] 439-2475

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sheikh Amar FAYE (since 3 August 2015) | chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Georgetown Plaza, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007 | telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425 [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425 | FAX: [1] (202) 342-0240

Executive branch

chief of state: President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016) | election results: Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 71.5%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 17.4%, Hamat BAH (NRP) 11.1%

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 other justices; court sessions held with 5 justices) | judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement age | subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 29 March 2012 (next to be held in 2017) | election results: percent of vote by party - APRC 51.8%, independent 38.8%, NRP 9.4%; seats by party - APRC 43, independent 4, NRP 1

National anthem

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya 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 BAH] | People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH] | People's Progressive Party or PPP [Omar JALLOW] | 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 | other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation 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 election in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH was elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 423,306 | females age 16-49: 438,641 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 315,176 | females age 16-49: 347,017 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 20,508 | female: 20,853 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.31% (male 378,449/female 375,417) | 15-24 years: 20.81% (male 202,218/female 207,194) | 25-54 years: 33.45% (male 322,250/female 335,860) | 55-64 years: 4.08% (male 38,717/female 41,532) | 65 years and over: 3.36% (male 30,886/female 35,186) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

30.86 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 103,389 | percentage: 25% (2006 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

17.4% (2010) | country comparison to the world: 38

Contraceptive prevalence rate

9% (2013)

Death rate

7.15 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 94.2% | youth dependency ratio: 89.7% | elderly dependency ratio: 4.5% | potential support ratio: 22.3% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 94.2% of population | rural: 84.4% of population | total: 90.2% of population | urban: 5.8% of population | rural: 15.6% of population | total: 9.8% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 109

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.82% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

HIV/AIDS - deaths

900 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,300 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 144

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 63.9 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 69.33 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 58.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.6 years | male: 62.27 years | female: 67 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 55.5% | male: 63.9% | female: 47.6% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Major urban areas - population

BANJUL (capital) 504,000 (2015)

Median age

total: 20.5 years | male: 20.2 years | female: 20.8 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) | adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate

-2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 138

Physicians density

0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

1,967,709 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Population growth rate

2.16% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 61.5% of population | rural: 55% of population | total: 58.9% of population | urban: 38.5% of population | rural: 45% of population | total: 41.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years | male: 9 years | female: 9 years (2010)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.73 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Urbanization

urban population: 59.6% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 11,036 (Senegal) (2014)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: The Gambia is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Gambian women, girls, and, to a lesser extent, boys are exploited for prostitution and domestic servitude; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging; women, girls, and boys from West African countries are trafficked to The Gambia for sexual exploitation, particularly catering to European tourists seeking sex with children; some Gambian trafficking victims are identified in neighboring West African countries | tier rating: Tier 3 – The Gambia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government did not report prosecuting or convicting any trafficking offenders in 2013, did not formally identify trafficking victims, and did not indicate whether victims received any government-supported services; a government program continued to provide resources and financial support to 12 Koranic schools on the condition that their students were not forced to beg (2014)

Airports

1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 218

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 4 | by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 130

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Banjul

Roadways

total: 3,740 km | paved: 711 km | unpaved: 3,029 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 160

Waterways

390 km (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 88