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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gm

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

568 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

25,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

38,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

100,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Budget [time series]

revenues: $44.85 million expenditures: $59.94 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1 million (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

dalasi (GMD)

Current account balance [time series]

$-16.4 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$476 million (2001 est.)

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

$45.4 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Gambia has no significant 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 government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons saw substantially lower prices and sales. 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

83.99 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

90.31 million kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

dalasi per US dollar - 27.306 (2003), 27.306 (2003), 19.918 (2002), 15.687 (2001), 12.788 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$114.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports

Exports - partners [time series]

India 21.4%, Thailand 15.1%, UK 13.7%, France 12.9%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 7.5% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$2.799 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 26.8% industry: 14.5% services: 58.7% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.)

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

6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$180.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners [time series]

China 23.7%, Senegal 11.6%, Brazil 5.9%, UK 5.5%, Netherlands 4.5%, US 4.4% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

25.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

400,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

1,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$113.1 million (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [time series]

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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 [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 74.5% (2001)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)

Natural resources [time series]

fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum

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*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Capital [time series]

Banjul

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971 FAX: [220] 392475

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

Executive branch [time series]

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; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he 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 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held October 2006) election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%

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)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held February 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

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

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC - the ruling party [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; 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 [Sidia JATTA] note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent elections.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 309,279 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 188,117 (2005 est.)

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

Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Presidential Guard, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$1 million (2004)

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

0.3% (2004)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44.5% (male 356,079/female 352,894) 15-64 years: 52.8% (male 416,809/female 424,429) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,111/female 20,934) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

39.86 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

6,800 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 72.02 deaths/1,000 live births male: 78.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.75 years male: 51.91 years female: 55.64 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 47.8% female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Median age [time series]

total: 17.59 years male: 17.45 years female: 17.74 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate [time series]

1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

1,593,256 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.93% (2005 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.38 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,976 GRT/10,978 DWT by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Switzerland 1) (2005)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Banjul

Waterways [time series]

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2004)

Gambia, The