Africa :: Gambia, The
page last updated on May 12, 2010
Flag of Gambia, The
Location of Gambia, The
 
Map of Gambia, The
Introduction ::Gambia, The
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.
Geography ::Gambia, The
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
13 28 N, 16 34 W
total: 11,295 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,295 sq km
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
80 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
Current Weather
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
20 sq km (2003)
8 cu km (1982)
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
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
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
People ::Gambia, The
1,824,158 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 397,864/female 394,103)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 486,140/female 493,868)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 25,773/female 26,410) (2010 est.)
total: 18 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18.2 years (2010 est.)
2.528% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
37.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
12.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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 (2010 est.)
total: 67.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 23
male: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
total population: 54.07 years
country comparison to the world: 201
male: 52.32 years
female: 55.86 years (2010 est.)
4.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
0.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
8,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
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)
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 166
Government ::Gambia, The
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
republic
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
18 years of age; universal
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); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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 A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6%
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
Supreme Court
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]
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
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, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Embrima J. KUJABI
chancery: Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
chief of mission: Ambassador Barry L. WELLS
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
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
Economy ::Gambia, The
The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas. 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.
$2.471 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$2.365 billion (2008 est.)
$2.233 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
$734.5 million (2009 est.)
4.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
5.9% (2008 est.)
6.3% (2007 est.)
$1,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
$1,400 (2008 est.)
$1,300 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
agriculture: 33.5%
industry: 8.5%
services: 58% (2009 est.)
777,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 146
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
NA%
NA%
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
50.2 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 24
27.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
revenues: $129.1 million
expenditures: $153.6 million (2009 est.)
6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
4.5% (2008 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 40
10% (31 December 2007)
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 7
27.92% (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2008)
$186.7 million (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2008)
$180.4 million (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2008)
$169.9 million (31 December 2007)
$NA
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
14.9%
country comparison to the world: 1
note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2009 est.)
160 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
148.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
2,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
42 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
-$88 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
-$127 million (2008 est.)
$77 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
$85 million (2008 est.)
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
India 36.7%, Japan 23%, Belgium 5.7%, China 5%, UK 4.8% (2008)
$239 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
$299 million (2008 est.)
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
China 21.6%, Senegal 12.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.7%, Brazil 6%, Netherlands 5.3% (2008)
$123 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$140 million (31 December 2008 est.)
$628.8 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 27 (2009), 22.75 (2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005)
Communications ::Gambia, The
48,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 164
1.166 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 140
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, reached 70 per 100 persons in 2008
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) (2008)
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
1 (government-owned) (1997)
.gm
895 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
114,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 148
Transportation ::Gambia, The
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 232
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
total: 3,742 km
country comparison to the world: 159
paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
total: 5
country comparison to the world: 133
by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)
Banjul
Military ::Gambia, The
Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (National Guard, GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2010)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
males age 16-49: 402,073
females age 16-49: 406,100 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 238,006
females age 16-49: 248,065 (2010 est.)
male: 20,858
female: 20,762 (2010 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Transnational Issues ::Gambia, The
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 (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)