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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0

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; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 201,026; fit for military service 101,642 (1993 est.)

Note [time series]

The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, and the Golan Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David accords and reaffirmed by President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties. Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. In the US view, the term West Bank describes all of the area west of the Jordan River under Jordanian administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. With respect to negotiations envisaged in the framework agreement, however, it is US policy that a distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank because of the city's special status and circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the final status of Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the rest of the West Bank.

Economy

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; other principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited

Budget [time series]

revenues $94 million; expenditures $80 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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 (1970-89), $535 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million

Electricity [time series]

30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

dalasi (D) per US$1 - 8.673 (October 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987)

Exports [time series]

$133 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.) 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

Imports [time series]

$174 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment partners: Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 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]

12% (1992 est.)

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

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $292 million (1991 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$325 (1991 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

3% (1991)

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 $325. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 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%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 11,300 km2 land area: 10,000 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

80 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

deforestation

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Irrigated land [time series]

120 km2 (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 740 km, Senegal 740 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 16% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 20% other: 55%

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely surrounded by Senegal

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Banjul

Constitution [time series]

24 April 1970

Digraph [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH chancery: Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 842-1356 or 842-1359

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

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 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%

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 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

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Saihou SABALLY (since NA)

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

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; Gambian People's Party (GPP), Hassan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER embassy: Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971 FAX: (220) 92475

People

Birth rate [time series]

46.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

16.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

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]

126.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 49.61 years male: 47.41 years female: 51.87 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 27% male: 39% female: 16%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

930,249 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.07% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Gambia, The