World Facts Index
 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.
Geography of The Gambia
|
Location:
|
Western Africa, bordering
the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal |
|
Coordinates:
|
13 28 N, 16 34 W |
|
Area:
|
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly less than twice
the size of Delaware |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km |
|
Coastline:
|
80 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
contiguous zone: 18
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM |
|
Climate:
|
tropical; hot, rainy season
(June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May) |
|
Terrain:
|
flood plain of the Gambia
River flanked by some low hills |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
fish |
|
Natural hazards:
|
drought (rainfall has
dropped by 30% in the last 30 years) |
|
Environment current issues:
|
deforestation;
desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent |
|
Geography - note:
|
almost an enclave of
Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
|
Population of The Gambia
|
Population:
|
1,735,464 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 365,157/female 361,821)
15-64 years: 53% (male 431,627/female 438,159)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,889/female 21,911) |
|
Median age:
|
17.7 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
2.84% |
|
Infant mortality:
|
71.58 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 54.14 years
male: 52.3 years
female: 56.03 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
5.3 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof
16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% |
|
Religions:
|
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous
beliefs 1% |
|
Languages:
|
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula,
other indigenous vernaculars |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia |
|
Government type:
|
republic under multiparty democratic rule |
|
Capital:
|
Banjul |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central
River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western |
|
Independence:
|
18 February 1965 (from UK) |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 18 February (1965) |
|
Constitution:
|
24 April 1970; suspended July 1994;
rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished January 1997 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on a composite of English common law,
Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
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). |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by
popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court |
Economy
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.
|
GDP:
|
$2.061 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
5.5% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$1,900 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 30.8%
industry: 14.2%
services: 54.9% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
8.8% |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and
services 19%, government 6% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $46.63 million
expenditures: $62.66 million |
|
Industries:
|
processing peanuts, fish, and hides;
tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing |
|
Agriculture:
|
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn,
sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats |
|
Exports:
|
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm
kernels, re-exports |
|
Export partners:
|
India 37.7%, UK 18.8%, Malaysia 6.6%, France 5.6%, Belgium
5.3% |
|
Imports:
|
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery
and transport equipment |
|
Import partners:
|
China 20.3%, Senegal 11.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 8%, Brazil 6%,
US 5%, UK 4.9% |
|
Currency:
|
dalasi (GMD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |