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Gambia(Gambia)
Is a independent political entity in the continent of Africa.
Its center lies at a latitude of 13.5 and longitude of -15.5.
Gambia also goes by the names, An Ghaimbia, Gaambi, Gam-bi-a, Gam-bi-a (Gambia), Gambi, Gambia, Gambia - The Gambia, Gambie, Gambija, Gambio, Gambiya, Gambiyaen, Gambiyän, Gambië, Gambja, Gambía, Ganbia, Gàmbia, Gámbia, Gâmbia, Găm-bi-a, Găm-bi
The prodominant languages spoken are bm (Bambara) en-GM (English) wo (Wolof) and its currency is the Dalasi (GMD),
Gambia currently has a population of 1593300 (estimate).
Gambia's neighbouring countries are, Senegal, .
Browse Gambia using the A-Z place listings
Regions within Gambia
Largest Cities within Gambia
Travel Advice Summary from British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
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Information from the CIA world factbook
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
Geographic location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:
Africa
Enclosed Area:
total: 11,295 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166
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 location 53 m
Natural resources:
fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum
Land use allocation:
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
8 cu km (1982)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards/threats:
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Current environmental issues/problems:
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 ::Gambia, The
Population:
1,782,893 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Population age structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 390,806/female 387,172)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 473,478/female 481,315)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 25,071/female 25,051) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.1 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.668% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Birth rate:
37.87 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Death rate:
11.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Net migration rate:
0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.33 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 29
male: 73.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.35 years
country comparison to the world: 193
male: 53.43 years
female: 57.34 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
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)
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)
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
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: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 166 Government ::Gambia, The
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:
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 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 6.0%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 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 (the ruling party) [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; 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:
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, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
Economy ::Gambia, The
Economy - overview:
The Gambia has no confirmed 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 Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.277 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$2.15 billion (2007 est.)
$2.023 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$810 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
6.3% (2007 est.)
6.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,300 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
$1,300 (2007 est.)
$1,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33.3%
industry: 7.6%
services: 59% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
777,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 143
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: 23
Investment (gross fixed):
28% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Budget:
revenues: $155.6 million
expenditures: $167.3 million (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
5.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
10% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 8
27.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$186.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$180.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$169.9 million (31 December 2007)
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:
0.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - production:
160 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - consumption:
148.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - exports:
41.62 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - imports:
2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Current account balance:
-$127 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
-$80.3 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$85 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
$91.4 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:
India 30.5%, Japan 25.6%, Belgium 6.3%, China 5.5%, UK 5.3%, Spain 4.1% (2008)
Imports:
$299 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
$262.9 million (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:
China 20.6%, Senegal 12.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.7%, Brazil 7.7%, Netherlands 5% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$140 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$142.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$628.8 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Exchange rates:
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 22.75 (2008 est.), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005), 30.03 (2004)
Communications ::Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
48,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 164
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.166 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 138
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity reached 70 telephones per 100 persons in 2008
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (government-owned) (1997)
Internet country code:
.gm
Internet hosts:
895 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
Internet users:
114,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 148 Transportation ::Gambia, The
Airports:
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 232
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,742 km
country comparison to the world: 158
paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
Waterways:
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
Merchant marine:
total: 5
country comparison to the world: 133
by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Banjul
Military ::Gambia, The
Military branches:
Office of the Chief of Defense: Gambian National Army (National Guard, GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 379,668
females age 16-49: 384,438 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 238,454
females age 16-49: 253,680 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 20,238
female: 20,167 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 163 Transnational Issues ::Gambia, The
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 trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls, and to a lesser extent boys, are trafficked for sexual exploitation - in particular to meet the demand for European sex tourism - and for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked within the country for forced begging and street vending; Gambian women and children may be trafficked to Europe through trafficking schemes disguised as migrant smuggling
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, The Gambia is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking; The Gambia failed to report any trafficking arrests, prosecutions, or convictions in 2007, and the government demonstrated weak victim protection efforts during the reporting period (2008)
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