View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1999 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

180,000 (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire international: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

11,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (government owned) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishery resources not fully exploited

Budget [time series]

revenues: $88.6 million expenditures: $98.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$426 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$45.4 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources 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 the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and hurt the reexport trade. The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in tourism after its decline in response to the military's takeover in July 1994. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid and on responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

70 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

70 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

dalasi (D) per US$1--10.947 (December 1998), 10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996), 9.546 (1995), 9.576 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$120 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, UK, US, Indonesia (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July--30 June

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

purchasing power parity--$1.3 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 23% industry: 13% services: 64% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

3.8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$207 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly less 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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

150 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 28% other: 45% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years

Natural resources [time series]

fish

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 note: it has been reported but not verified that the name of the MacCarthy Island division has been changed to Central River

Capital [time series]

Banjul

Constitution [time series]

24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador George W. HALEY embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Crispin GREY-JOHNSON chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October 1996); 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); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the president elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH elected president; percent of vote--Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Independence [time series]

18 February 1965 (from UK); note--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

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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 National Assembly; 49 seats (45 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; all for five-year terms) elections: last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--APRC 33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

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

Alliance for Patriotic Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS note--in August 1996 the government banned the following from participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army (includes marine unit), National Police, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$1.2 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2% (FY96/97)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 296,976 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 149,670 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 305,839; female 304,905) 15-64 years: 52% (male 341,947; female 348,163) 65 years and over: 2% (male 18,706; female 16,760) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

42.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

75.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 54.39 years male: 52.02 years female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.6% male: 52.8% female: 24.9% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate [time series]

3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

1,336,320 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.35% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Banjul

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

400 km

Gambia, The