View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1994 CSV Excel Print All Years

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]

total: 3,083 km paved: 431 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 501 km; unimproved earth 2,151 km

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

400 km

Merchant marine [time series]

1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,194 GRT/19,394 DWT

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]

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 207,754; fit for military service 105,100

Note [time series]

The war between Israel and Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to a 1979 peace treaty with Egypt. The Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.

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 butut

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: 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]

capacity: 30,000 kW production: 65 million kWh consumption per capita: 75 kWh (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.440 (November 1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988)

Exports [time series]

$164 million (f.o.b., FY92 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]

$214 million (f.o.b., FY92 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% (year NA); 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]

5% (FY 92 est.)

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

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $740 million (1993 est.)

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

$800 (1993 est.)

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

4.5% (FY92 est)

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 roughly $800. 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. A sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade policy, has fostered a respectable 4% rate of growth in recent years. Re-export trade constitutes one-third of economic activity; however, border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993 led to a 50% decline in re-export trade, reducing government revenues in turn. Devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made Senegalese goods more competitive, and is likely to prompt a relaxation of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in re-exports.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 11,300 sq km land area: 10,000 sq km 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]

current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last thirty years international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Irrigated land [time series]

120 sq km (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, Western

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 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 785-1399, 1379, or 1425

Executive branch [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); election last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the House of Representatives

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

(202) 785-1430

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

(220) 92475

Flag [time series]

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

Legislative branch (House of Representatives) [time series]

elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - PPP 58.1%, seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6

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

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

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, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), 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: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971

People

Birth rate [time series]

46.39 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

15.64 deaths/1,000 population (1994 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]

123.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 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: 50.08 years male: 47.83 years female: 52.39 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) 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 (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

959,300 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.08% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Gambia, The