Gambia, The

Gambia, The

Introduction

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 2006.

Geography

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 11,295 sq km
country comparison to the world: 167 land:10,000 sq km
water:1,295 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries

total: 740 km
border countries: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
highest point:unnamed elevation 53 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops:0.44%
other:71.68% (2005)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

8 cu km (1982)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.03cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita:20cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

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

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

Geography – note

almost an enclave of Senegal

smallest country on the continent of Africa

People and Society

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% (2003 census)

Languages

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

Religions

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

Population

1,797,860 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Age structure

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.)

Median age

total: 19.4 years
male:19.2 years
female:19.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.396% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Birth rate

34.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Death rate

7.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Net migration rate

-2.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

BANJUL (capital) 436,000 (2009)

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:0.98 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

400 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37

Infant mortality rate

total: 71.67 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 20 male:77.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female:65.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.51 years
country comparison to the world: 174 male:61.23 years
female:65.86 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.23 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Health expenditures

10.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 27

Physicians density

0.038 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 181

Hospital bed density

1.13 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 139

Drinking water source

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

Sanitation facility access

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

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

18,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.8% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 52

Education expenditures

2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 154

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: 9 years
male:9 years
female:9 years (2008)

Government

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

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

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
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits)

election last held on 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results:Yahya JAMMEH reelected president

percent of vote – Yahya JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats

48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president

members to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 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 [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
other:special needs group advocates

teachers and principals

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela WHITE
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

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

National symbol(s)

lion

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”

Economy

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.494 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170 $3.304 billion (2009 est.)
$3.098 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.067 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59 6.7% (2009 est.)
6.3% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$1,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191 $1,900 (2009 est.)
$1,800 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 28.3%
industry:15.3%
services:56.4% (2010 est.)

Labor force

777,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 147

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 75%
industry:19%
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)
country comparison to the world: 24

Investment (gross fixed)

26.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

Budget

revenues: $182.1 million
expenditures:$203.5 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 4.6% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 25 11% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

28% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8 27% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$212.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175 $207.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$468.2 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174 $434.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$355.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174 $280.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

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

8.9%
country comparison to the world: 34 note:although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2010 est.)

Electricity – production

220 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity – consumption

204.6 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Oil – consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Oil – exports

42 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Oil – imports

2,807 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Current account balance

-$111 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76 -$97.1 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$104.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188 $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)

Imports

$336.4 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191 $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)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$201.6 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165 $224.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$572 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161 $520.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

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

Transportation

Airports

1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:218

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
over 3,047 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 3,742 km
country comparison to the world: 159 paved:723 km
unpaved:3,019 km (2004)

Waterways

390 km (on River Gambia

small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 89

Merchant marine

total: 5
country comparison to the world: 129 by type:passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Banjul

Military

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service

no conscription (2010)

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 expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138

Transnational Issues

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

Trafficking in persons

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)