Gambia, The

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios

180,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

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

11,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (government owned) (1997)

Televisions

NA

Agriculture--products

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

Budget

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

Currency

1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut

Debt--external

$426 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$45.4 million (1995)

Economy--overview

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

70 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

70 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source

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

Exchange rates

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

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

Exports--commodities

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

Exports--partners

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

Fiscal year

1 July--30 June

GDP

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

GDP--composition by sector

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

GDP--per capita

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

GDP--real growth rate

3.8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

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

Imports--commodities

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

Imports--partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (1998 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force--by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

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

Climate

tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Coastline

80 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment--current issues

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment--international agreements

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

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography--note

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

Irrigated land

150 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Land use

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

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Administrative divisions

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

Banjul

Constitution

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

Country name

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

Data code

GA

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

Executive branch

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 description

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

Government type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Independence

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

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

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Political parties and leaders

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

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

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

Military expenditures--dollar figure

$1.2 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

2% (FY96/97)

Military manpower--availability

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

Military manpower--fit for military service

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

Age structure

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

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

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

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate

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

Population

1,336,320 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate

3.35% (1999 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

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

5.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes--international

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

Airports

1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

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

Highways

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

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Banjul

Railways

0 km

Waterways

400 km