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.

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

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

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

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

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

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

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

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

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

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

1,840,454 (July 2012 est.)

33.41 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

BANJUL (capital) 436,000 (2009)

360 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

4.1 children born/woman (2012 est.)

0.038 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

1.13 beds/1,000 population (2009)

urban: 68% of population

rural: 65% of population

total: 67% of population

urban: 32% of population

rural: 35% of population

total: 33% of population

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

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

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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)

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

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 (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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 and the sector provides for about one-quarter 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 markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In 2012, however, sluggish tourism led to a decline in GDP. Tourism brings in about one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture also took a hit in 2012 due to unfavorable weather patterns. The Gambia's re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports. 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. International donors and lenders continue to be concerned about the quality of fiscal management and The Gambia's debt burden.

$3.495 billion (2012 est.)

$3.553 billion (2011 est.)

$3.441 billion (2010 est.)

$940 million (2012 est.)

26.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

22% of GDP (2012 est.)

-5.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

9% (31 December 2009)

11% (31 December 2008)

26.5% (31 December 2012 est.)

28% (31 December 2011 est.)

$224.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$220.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$512.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$487.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$400 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$380.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

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

-$155.5 million (2012 est.)

-$119.1 million (2011 est.)

$103.3 million (2012 est.)

$104.2 million (2011 est.)

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

China 37.5%, India 27.3%, France 9.3%, UK 5.6% (2011)

$354.1 million (2012 est.)

$328.4 million (2011 est.)

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

China 27.9%, Brazil 9.6%, Senegal 8.3%, India 6.3% (2011)

$225.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$223.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$545.8 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$530.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -

240 million kWh (2009 est.)

223.2 million kWh (2009 est.)

53,000 kW (2009 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

3,181 bbl/day (2011 est.)

41.62 bbl/day (2008 est.)

2,913 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

291,000 Mt (2010 est.)

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)

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

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

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

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