View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2014 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 4 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.gm

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

656 (2012) country comparison to the world: 179

Internet users [time series]

130,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 150

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007 domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, is roughly 80 per 100 persons international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; a landing station for the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) undersea fiber-optic cable is scheduled for completion in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

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

64,200 (2012) country comparison to the world: 159

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.526 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 151

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $229.6 million expenditures: $265.1 million (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Central bank discount rate [time series]

9% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 23 11% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

30.5% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 28% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$163.7 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 -$152.5 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$517.7 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 $481.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)

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

50.2 (1998) country comparison to the world: 20

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood and the sector provides for about one-fifth of GDP. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In 2012, however, sluggish tourism led to a decline in GDP. Tourism brings in about one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture also took a hit in 2012 due to unfavorable weather patterns. The Gambia's re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high. Economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. International donors and lenders continue to be concerned about the quality of fiscal management and The Gambia's debt burden.

Exchange rates [time series]

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 36.59 (2013 est.) 32.0771 (2012 est.) 28.012 (2010 est.) 26.6444 (2009) 22.75 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$113.2 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 $111.8 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports - partners [time series]

China 57.1%, India 18.6%, France 4.6%, UK 4% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$896 million (2013 est.)

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

$3.678 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $3.456 billion (2012 est.) $3.283 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 89.2% government consumption: 10.9% investment in fixed capital: 19.1% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 28% imports of goods and services: -47.3% (2013 est.)

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

agriculture: 19.7% industry: 12.6% services: 67.7% (2013 est.)

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

$2,000 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 $1,900 (2012 est.) $1,800 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

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

6.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 5.3% (2012 est.) -4.3% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

16.3% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 17.5% of GDP (2012 est.) 23.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$359.7 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 193 $365.8 million (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners [time series]

China 27.6%, Senegal 8.5%, Brazil 8.1%, UK 6.4%, India 6.1%, Indonesia 4.1% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 4.6% (2012 est.)

Labor force [time series]

777,100 (2007) country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

48.4% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$251.2 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 $236.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$479.8 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $494.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$375 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $386.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$207.1 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $217.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

25.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

425,600 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity - consumption [time series]

213.9 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

62,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - production [time series]

230 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

3,181 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

42 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

3,434 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 11,295 sq km country comparison to the world: 167 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 elevation 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: 0.09 cu km/yr (41%/21%/39%) per capita: 65.77 cu m/yr (2005)

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]

50 sq km (2011)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 749 km border countries: Senegal 749 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 39.82% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 59.73% (2011)

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

Terrain [time series]

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Total renewable water resources [time series]

8 cu km (2011)

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]

previous 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael ARIETTI (since 2014) 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); Charge d'Affaires Baboucarr JALLOW (since 25 June 2013) chancery: Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425 FAX: [1] (202) 342-0240

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Yahya 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 chief of state and head of government head of government: President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016) election results: Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH 71.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 17.4%, Hamat BAH 11.1%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 other justices); note - court sessions held with 5 justices judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement age subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 29 March 2012 (next to be held in 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - APRC 51.8%, independents 38.8%, NRP 9.4%; seats by party - APRC 43, independents 4, NRP 1 note: except for the NRP, all opposition parties boycotted the 29 March 2012 legislative elections

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland"

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion

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

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya JAMMEH] (the ruling party) 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 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 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 2011.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 423,306 females age 16-49: 438,641 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 315,176 females age 16-49: 347,017 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 20,508 female: 20,853 (2010 est.)

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

Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2010)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38.7% (male 374,353/female 371,488) 15-24 years: 21% (male 199,306/female 204,324) 25-54 years: 33% (male 310,901/female 324,227) 55-64 years: 4% (male 37,506/female 39,958) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 29,793/female 33,671) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

31.75 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 103,389 percentage: 25 % (2006 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

15.8% (2006) country comparison to the world: 45

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

13.3% (2010)

Death rate [time series]

7.26 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 93 % youth dependency ratio: 88.4 % elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 % potential support ratio: 22 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 94.2% of population rural: 84.4% of population total: 90.1% of population unimproved: urban: 5.8% of population rural: 15.6% of population total: 9.9% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.1% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 109

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]

1.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

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

14,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

4.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 154

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 65.74 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 18 male: 71.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 60.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.36 years country comparison to the world: 176 male: 62.04 years female: 66.74 years (2014 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.1% male: 60.9% female: 41.9% (2011 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 and dengue fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

BANJUL (capital) 506,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

360 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 29

Median age [time series]

total: 20.2 years male: 19.9 years female: 20.5 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

7.9% (2008) country comparison to the world: 138

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population [time series]

1,925,527 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Population growth rate [time series]

2.23% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 64% of population rural: 55% of population total: 60.2% of population unimproved: urban: 36% of population rural: 45% of population total: 39.8% of population (2012 est.)

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

total: 9 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.85 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 57.3% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 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): 9,025 (Senegal) (2013)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Gambian women, children, and, to a lesser extent, boys are exploited for prostitution and domestic servitude; women, girls, and boys from West African countries are trafficked to the Gambia for sexual exploitation, particularly catering to European tourists seeking sex with children; some Gambian trafficking victims have been identified in neighboring West African countries and the UK; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - The Gambia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has sustained its modest anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, opening some investigations but failing to initiate any prosecutions or to formally identify any victims; a government program was launched providing resources and financial support to 12 Koranic schools on the condition that their students are not forced to beg (2013)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2013) country comparison to the world: 216

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 4 country comparison to the world: 132 by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Banjul

Roadways [time series]

total: 3,740 km country comparison to the world: 159 paved: 711 km unpaved: 3,029 km (2011)

Waterways [time series]

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2010) country comparison to the world: 89

Gambia, The