Airports [time series]

1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m

Civil air [time series]

2 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km unimproved earth

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

400 km

Ports [time series]

Banjul

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, paramilitary Gendarmerie, National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, 0.7% of GDP (1988)

Manpower availability [time series]

males 15-49, 188,393; 95,133 fit for military service

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; the principal crops--millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock--cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited

Budget [time series]

revenues $79 million; expenditures $84 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY90)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

dalasi (plural--dalasi); 1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs

Economic aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $492 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $39 million

Electricity [time series]

29,000 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

dalasi (D) per US$1--7.610 (January 1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987), 6.9380 (1986), 3.8939 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$116 million (f.o.b., FY90); commodities--peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels; partners--Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1% other 5% (1989)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$336 million (December 1990 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July-30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$195 million, per capita $230; real growth rate 6.0% (FY90 est.)

Imports [time series]

$147 million (f.o.b., FY90); commodities--foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment; partners--Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR/EE 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)

Industries [time series]

peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.0% (FY91)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income of about $230. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contributes 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity--processing peanuts, fish, and hides--accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

80 km Contiguous zone: 18 nm; Continental shelf: not specific; Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

deforestation

Land boundaries (Land boundary) [time series]

740 km with Senegal

Land use [time series]

arable land 16%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 9%; forest and woodland 20%; other 55%; includes irrigated 3%

Natural resources [time series]

fish

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Area (Total area) [time series]

11,300 km2; land area: 10,000 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Banjul

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

no Communist party

Constitution [time series]

24 April 1970

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH; Chancery at Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20005; telephone (202) 842-1356 or 842-1359; US--Ambassador Arlene RENDER; Embassy at Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul (mailing address is P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul); telephone Serrekunda [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971

Executive branch [time series]

president, vice president, Cabinet

Flag [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Independence [time series]

18 February 1965 (from UK); The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982) that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court Chief of State and Head of Government--President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Bakary Bunja DARBO (since 12 May 1982) People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; Gambian People's Party (GPP), Assan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP); People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS)

Legal system [time series]

based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Representatives

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Republic of The Gambia

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 21 President--last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results--Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 13.7%; House of Representatives--last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held by March 1992); results--PPP 56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%; seats--(43 total, 36 elected) PPP 31, NCP 5

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Birth rate [time series]

48 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate [time series]

17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

138 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force [time series]

400,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%; 55% population of working age (1983)

Languages (Language) [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

47 years male, 51 years female (1991)

Literacy [time series]

27% (male 39%, female 16%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun--Gambian(s); adjective--Gambian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor [time series]

25-30% of wage labor force

Population [time series]

874,553 (July 1991), growth rate 3.1% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.5 children born/woman (1991)

Gambia, The