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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gm

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

895 (2009) country comparison to the world: 162

Internet users [time series]

114,200 (2008) country comparison to the world: 148

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; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007 domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity reached 70 telephones per 100 persons in 2008 international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

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

48,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 164

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.166 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 138

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: $155.6 million expenditures: $167.3 million (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 41 10% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 8 27.92% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

-$127 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 -$80.3 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$628.8 million (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

50.2 (1998) country comparison to the world: 23

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Gambia has no confirmed 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 Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. 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]

148.8 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

160 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Exchange rates [time series]

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 22.75 (2008 est.), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005), 30.03 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$85 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 $91.4 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

India 30.5%, Japan 25.6%, Belgium 6.3%, China 5.5%, UK 5.3%, Spain 4.1% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$810 million (2008 est.)

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

$2.277 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $2.15 billion (2007 est.) $2.023 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 33.3% industry: 7.6% services: 59% (2008 est.)

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

$1,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 202 $1,300 (2007 est.) $1,200 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

5.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 6.3% (2007 est.) 6.5% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$299 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 $262.9 million (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners [time series]

China 20.6%, Senegal 12.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.7%, Brazil 7.7%, Netherlands 5% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 5.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

28% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Labor force [time series]

777,100 (2007) country comparison to the world: 143

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6% (1996)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Oil - consumption [time series]

2,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Oil - exports [time series]

41.62 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Oil - imports [time series]

2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$140 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 $142.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $169.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $186.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $180.4 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 11,295 sq km country comparison to the world: 166 land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,295 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%) per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 27.88% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 71.68% (2005)

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 exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm continental shelf: extent not specified

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

8 cu km (1982)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Banjul geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 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 Barry L. WELLS embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170 FAX: [220] 439-2475

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425 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); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6.0%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 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]; Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; 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 [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

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

National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 379,668 females age 16-49: 384,438 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 238,454 females age 16-49: 253,680 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 20,238 female: 20,167 (2009 est.)

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

Office of the Chief of Defense: Gambian National Army (National Guard, GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2009)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 163

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43.6% (male 390,806/female 387,172) 15-64 years: 53.6% (male 473,478/female 481,315) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 25,071/female 25,051) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.87 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Death rate [time series]

11.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 166

Ethnic groups [time series]

African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

600 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

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

8,200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 67.33 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 29 male: 73.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 60.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 55.35 years country comparison to the world: 193 male: 53.43 years female: 57.34 years (2009 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: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 17.9 years male: 17.8 years female: 18.1 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Population [time series]

1,782,893 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Population growth rate [time series]

2.668% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Religions [time series]

Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 7 years male: 7 years female: 7 years (2004)

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 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.04 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 57% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls, and to a lesser extent boys, are trafficked for sexual exploitation - in particular to meet the demand for European sex tourism - and for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked within the country for forced begging and street vending; Gambian women and children may be trafficked to Europe through trafficking schemes disguised as migrant smuggling tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, The Gambia is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking; The Gambia failed to report any trafficking arrests, prosecutions, or convictions in 2007, and the government demonstrated weak victim protection efforts during the reporting period (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 232

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 5 country comparison to the world: 133 by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Banjul

Roadways [time series]

total: 3,742 km country comparison to the world: 158 paved: 723 km unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)

Waterways [time series]

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2008) country comparison to the world: 89

Gambia, The