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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.
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Geography :: GAMBIA, THE
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Africa
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,120 sq km
water: 1,180 sq km
country comparison to the world:
167slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
total: 749 km
border countries (1): Senegal 749 km
80 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
agricultural land: 56.1%
arable land 41%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 14.6%
forest: 43.9%
other: 0% (2011 est.)
50 sq km (2011)
8 cu km (2011)
total: 0.09 cu km/yr (41%/21%/39%)
per capita: 65.77 cu m/yr (2005)
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
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
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country in Africa
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People and Society :: GAMBIA, THE
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noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
1,967,709 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1490-14 years: 38.31% (male 378,449/female 375,417)
15-24 years: 20.81% (male 202,218/female 207,194)
25-54 years: 33.45% (male 322,250/female 335,860)
55-64 years: 4.08% (male 38,717/female 41,532)
65 years and over: 3.36% (male 30,886/female 35,186) (2015 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 94.2%
youth dependency ratio: 89.7%
elderly dependency ratio: 4.5%
potential support ratio: 22.3% (2015 est.)
total: 20.5 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 20.8 years (2015 est.)
2.16% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
4330.86 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
397.15 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
125-2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
170urban population: 59.6% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
BANJUL (capital) 504,000 (2015)
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 (2015 est.)
total: 63.9 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 58.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
18total population: 64.6 years
male: 62.27 years
female: 67 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1773.73 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
429% (2013)
6% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world:
1440.11 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 94.2% of population
rural: 84.4% of population
total: 90.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5.8% of population
rural: 15.6% of population
total: 9.8% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 61.5% of population
rural: 55% of population
total: 58.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 38.5% of population
rural: 45% of population
total: 41.1% of population (2015 est.)
1.82% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2820,300 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
77900 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
68degree 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)
9.1% (2014)
country comparison to the world:
13817.4% (2010)
country comparison to the world:
384.1% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world:
109definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 55.5%
male: 63.9%
female: 47.6% (2015 est.)
total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2010)
total number: 103,389
percentage: 25% (2006 est.)
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Government :: GAMBIA, THE
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conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
republic
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
previous 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)
mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
birthright citizenship: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
18 years of age; universal
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 in 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%
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 43, NRP 1, independent 4
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
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya JAMMEH]
National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat BAH]
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
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Sheikh Amar 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
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Richard T. YONEOKA (since August 2014); note - Ambassador George Staples serves as Charge d'Affaires, but is an adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky
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
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
lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white
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"
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Economy :: GAMBIA, THE
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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 20% of the country’s GDP. 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 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 tourist destinations in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. Tourism normally brings in about one-fifth of GDP, but suffered in 2014 from tourists’ fears of Ebolavirus in neighboring West African countries. The Gambia's re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports and China was its largest trade partner for both exports and imports in 2013. In 2012 the IMF renewed an extended credit facility of $28.3 million for three years. 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 Gambia's debt interest payments are projected to consume about 31% of government revenue in 2015. Relations with international donors have been tarnished by the country’s human rights record on homosexuality and human trafficking, perceptions of graft, and a declaration by the president in 2014 that the country would stop using English as the national language.
$3.082 billion (2014 est.)
$3.089 billion (2013 est.)
$2.948 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
180$825 million (2014 est.)
-0.2% (2014 est.)
4.8% (2013 est.)
5.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
15$1,600 (2014 est.)
$1,600 (2013 est.)
$1,500 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
21010.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
9.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
19.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
160household consumption: 92.4%
government consumption: 8.6%
investment in fixed capital: 23.8%
investment in inventories: 0.3%
exports of goods and services: 28%
imports of goods and services: -53.1%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 22.8%
industry: 11.8%
services: 65.5% (2014 est.)
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (manioc, tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
0.3% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
166777,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world:
151agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
NA%
48.4% (2010 est.)
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
50.2 (1998)
country comparison to the world:
20revenues: $177.6 million
expenditures: $242.6 million (2014 est.)
19.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
171-7.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
192calendar year
6.3% (2014 est.)
5.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1889% (31 December 2009)
11% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world:
2933.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
28% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
3$217.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$215.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
177$534.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$511.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
178$416.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$398.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
172$NA
-$105 million (2014 est.)
-$165.1 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
85$107.4 million (2014 est.)
$104.6 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
190peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
China 34.4%, India 32.9%, UK 8.2%, France 4.4% (2014)
$353.1 million (2014 est.)
$355.8 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
193foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
China 31.3%, Brazil 8.6%, India 7.9%, Senegal 7.2% (2014)
$227.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$210.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
159$583.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$547.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
172dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
39.98 (2014 est.)
36.57 (2013 est.)
32.08 (2012 est.)
29.4615 (2011 est.)
28.012 (2010 est.)
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Energy :: GAMBIA, THE
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235 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
182218.6 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1860 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1420 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
14962,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
183100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
130% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
920% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1710% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1760 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1760 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1160 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1880 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1360 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1463,100 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
18041.62 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1213,159 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1670 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1340 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1460 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1000 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1960 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
141472,200 Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
183
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Communications :: GAMBIA, THE
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total subscriptions: 55,800
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
158total: 2.3 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
146general 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)
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)
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
1 (government-owned) (1997)
.gm
total: 274,000
percent of population: 14.2% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
147
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Transportation :: GAMBIA, THE
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1 (2013)
country comparison to the world:
218total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
total: 3,740 km
paved: 711 km
unpaved: 3,029 km (2011)
country comparison to the world:
160390 km (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)
country comparison to the world:
88total: 4
by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:
130major seaport(s): Banjul
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Military :: GAMBIA, THE
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Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2010)
18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)
males age 16-49: 423,306
females age 16-49: 438,641 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 315,176
females age 16-49: 347,017 (2010 est.)
male: 20,508
female: 20,853 (2010 est.)
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Transnational Issues :: GAMBIA, THE
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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 (country of origin): 11,036 (Senegal) (2014)
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; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging; 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 are identified 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 did not report prosecuting or convicting any trafficking offenders in 2013, did not formally identify trafficking victims, and did not indicate whether victims received any government-supported services; 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 (2014)