Gambia, The

Broadcast media

state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 15 privately owned radio stations; 6 community 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 (2015)

Internet country code

.gm

Internet users

total: 337,000 | percent of population: 17.1% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Telephone system

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 130 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 completed in 2011 and launched in 2012; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 45,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 2.586 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $210.1 million | expenditures: $281.7 million (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009) | 11% (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 34

Commercial bank prime lending rate

30.8% (31 December 2015 est.) | 28.5% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4

Current account balance

-$136 million (2015 est.) | -$90 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Debt - external

g: $502.5 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $500.1 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.2 (1998) | country comparison to the world: 20

Economy - overview

The government has invested strongly in the agriculture sector because three-quarters of the population depends on the sector for its livelihood and agriculture provides for another 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 re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports and China has been its largest trade partner for both exports and imports for several years. | The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base. It relies heavily on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. Remittance inflows to The Gambia amount to about one-fifth of the country’s GDP. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger tourist destinations in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. Tourism normally brings in about 20% of GDP, but suffered in 2014 from tourists’ fears of Ebola virus in neighboring West African countries. Unemployment and underemployment 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. The IMF provided $10.8 million in emergency financial assistance to The Gambia in April 2015 to shore up the country’s finances. Relations with international donors have been tarnished by the country’s human rights record.

Exchange rates

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - | 41.89 (2015 est.) | 41.733 (2014 est.) | 41.733 (2013 est.) | 32.08 (2012 est.) | 29.4615 (2011 est.)

Exports

$113.2 million (2015 est.) | $121.5 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Exports - commodities

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports - partners

China 47.6%, India 27.2%, France 5.9%, UK 4.9% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$893 million (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.261 billion (2015 est.) | $3.124 billion (2014 est.) | $3.131 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 182

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 81.7% | government consumption: 8.8% | investment in fixed capital: 19.4% | investment in inventories: -1.6% | exports of goods and services: 26.3% | imports of goods and services: -34.6% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 21.6% | industry: 15.8% | services: 62.6% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,600 (2015 est.) | $1,600 (2014 est.) | $1,700 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 212

GDP - real growth rate

4.4% (2015 est.) | -0.2% (2014 est.) | 4.8% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Gross national saving

4% of GDP (2015 est.) | 6.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | 11.8% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$365.1 million (2015 est.) | $339 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

China 34.2%, Brazil 8.1%, Senegal 6.9%, India 5.7%, Netherlands 4.8% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.9% (2015 est.) | 5.9% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Labor force

777,100 (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

48.4% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$83.8 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $159.3 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Stock of broad money

$534.7 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $511.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181

Stock of domestic credit

$466.7 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $421 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Stock of narrow money

$275.4 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $231.5 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Taxes and other revenues

23.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

500,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - consumption

300 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Electricity - installed generating capacity

91,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - production

300 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity access

population without electricity: 1,200,000 | electrification - total population: 36% | electrification - urban areas: 60% | electrification - rural areas: 2% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 142

Refined petroleum products - consumption

3,500 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181

Refined petroleum products - exports

41.62 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,552 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Area

total: 11,300 sq km | land: 10,120 sq km | water: 1,180 sq km | country comparison to the world: 167

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

mean elevation: 34 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Geography - note

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country in Africa

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 749 km | border countries (1): Senegal 749 km

Land use

agricultural land: 56.1% | arable land 41%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 14.6% | forest: 43.9% | other: 0% (2011 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

previous 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; amended several times, last in 2010 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia | conventional short form: The Gambia | etymology: named for the Gambia River that flows through the heart of the country

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador C. Patricia ALSUP (since 11 January 2016) | embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul | mailing address: P.M.B. 19, Banjul | telephone: [220] 439-2856 | FAX: [220] 439-2475

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Omar FAYE (since 3 August 2015) | chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Georgetown Plaza, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007 | telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425 [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425 | FAX: [1] (202) 342-0240

Executive branch

chief of state: President Yahya JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); 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 | elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 November 2011 (next to be held on 1 December 2016) | election results: Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 71.5%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 17.4%, Hamat BAH (NRP) 11.1%

Flag description

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

presidential republic

Independence

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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

highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 other justices; 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

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

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 appointed by the president; members serve 5-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%, NRP 9.4%, independent 38.8%; seats by party - APRC 42, NRP 2, independent 4

National anthem

name: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland" | lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE | note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya JAMMEH] | Gambia Moral Congress or GMC [Mai FATTY] | Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ] | National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat BAH] | National Convention Party or NCP [Ebrima Janko SANYANG] | People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH] | People's Progressive Party or PPP [Omar JALLOW] | United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations or TANGO | Female Lawyers Association of Gambia or FLAG | Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices or GAMCOTRAP | Gambia Press Union or GPU | 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

18 years of age; universal

Background

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation 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 election in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH was elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011. A presidential election is scheduled for December 2016.

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.88% (male 382,215/female 379,029) | 15-24 years: 20.64% (male 204,979/female 209,866) | 25-54 years: 33.92% (male 333,875/female 347,779) | 55-64 years: 4.14% (male 39,978/female 43,177) | 65 years and over: 3.42% (male 32,011/female 36,739) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

30.1 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Child labor - children ages 5-14

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.4% (2013) | country comparison to the world: 38

Contraceptive prevalence rate

9% (2013)

Death rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Demographic profile

The Gambia’s youthful age structure – almost 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – is likely to persist because the country’s total fertility rate remains strong at nearly 4 children per woman. The overall literacy rate is around 55%, and is significantly lower for women than for men. At least 70% of the populace are farmers who are reliant on rain-fed agriculture and cannot afford improved seeds and fertilizers. Crop failures caused by droughts between 2011 and 2013 have increased poverty, food shortages, and malnutrition. | The Gambia is a source country for migrants and a transit and destination country for migrants and refugees. Since the 1980s, economic deterioration, drought, and high unemployment, especially among youths, have driven both domestic migration (largely urban) and migration abroad (legal and illegal). Emigrants are largely skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, and provide a significant amount of remittances. The top receiving countries for Gambian emigrants are Spain, the US, Nigeria, Senegal, and the UK. While the Gambia and Spain do not share historic, cultural, or trade ties, rural Gambians have migrated to Spain in large numbers because of its proximity and the availability of jobs in its underground economy (this flow slowed following the onset of Spain’s late 2007 economic crisis). | The Gambia’s role as a host country to refugees is a result of wars in several of its neighboring West African countries. Since 2006, refugees from the Casamance conflict in Senegal have replaced their pattern of flight and return with permanent settlement in The Gambia, often moving in with relatives along the Senegal-Gambia border. The strain of providing for about 7,400 Casamance refugees has increased poverty among Gambian villagers.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 94.2% | youth dependency ratio: 89.7% | elderly dependency ratio: 4.5% | potential support ratio: 22.3% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 94.2% of population | rural: 84.4% of population | total: 90.2% of population | urban: 5.8% of population | rural: 15.6% of population | total: 9.8% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 109

Ethnic groups

Mandinka/Jahanka 33.8%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo 22.1%, Wollof 12.2%, Jola/Karoninka 10.9%, Serahuleh 7%, Serere 3.2%, Manjago 2.1%, Bambara 1%, Creole/Aku Marabout 0.8%, other 0.9%, non-Gambian 5.2%, no answer 0.7% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.82% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,000 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,500 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Health expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 144

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 62 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 67.4 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 56.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.9 years | male: 62.5 years | female: 67.3 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 55.5% | male: 63.9% | female: 47.6% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

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 (2016)

Major urban areas - population

BANJUL (capital) 504,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

706 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29

Median age

total: 20.7 years | male: 20.4 years | female: 21 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.9 | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013 est.)

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s) | adjective: Gambian

Net migration rate

-2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 138

Physicians density

0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

2,009,648 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Population growth rate

2.11% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Religions

Muslim 95.7%, Christian 4.2%, none 0.1%, no answer 0.1% (2013 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 61.5% of population | rural: 55% of population | total: 58.9% of population | urban: 38.5% of population | rural: 45% of population | total: 41.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years | male: 9 years | female: 9 years (2010)

Sex ratio

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: 0.93 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.63 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Urbanization

urban population: 59.6% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

refugees (country of origin): 7,392 (Senegal) (2015)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: The Gambia is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Gambian women, girls, 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 commercial sexual exploitation, particularly by European sex tourists; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging; some Gambian children have been identified as victims of forced labor in neighboring West African countries | tier rating: Tier 3 – The Gambia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government demonstrated minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, investigating one trafficking case but not prosecuting or convicting any offenders in 2014; authorities did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any government employees complicit in trafficking, although corruption was a serious problem; the government identified and repatriated 19 Gambian girls subjected to domestic servitude in Lebanon but did not identify or provide protective services to any trafficking victims in The Gambia; a government program continued to provide resources and financial support to 12 Koranic schools on the condition that their students were not forced to beg (2015)

Airports

1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 218

Airports - with paved runways

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C5 (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 4 | by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 130

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Banjul

Roadways

total: 3,740 km | paved: 711 km | unpaved: 3,029 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 160

Waterways

390 km (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 88