The Gambia

Republic of The Gambia

republic under multiparty democratic ruleIndependence 18 February 1965 (from UK

The Gambia as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBanjul
Area11,300 km2
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely
1993

Every edition of The Gambia

Populationas each edition published it
930,249 people July 1993 est. · 848,147 in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.07% 1993 est. · 2.09% in 2025
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 17.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
49.61 years 1993 est. · 68.4 yrs in 2025
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.35 children per woman 1993 est. · 6.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
126.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 140 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$325 1991 est. · $3,000 in 2025
GDP real growth% a year
3% 1991 · 5.7% in 2025

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely | surrounded by Senegal

14 fields

Land useshare of 11,300 km2

arable land 16%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 9%forest and woodland 20%other 55%irrigated 120 km2 (1989 est.)
Area
11,300km2
land area: 10,000 km2comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Coastline
80km
contiguous zone: 18 nmcontinental shelf: not specifiedexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Land boundaries
740km
total · Senegal 740 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely surrounded by Senegal

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite

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

Environment

deforestation

Note

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

People

14 fields
Population
930,249
(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 3.07% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth
46.85Death
16.1Net migration
0

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years49.61
47.41 · 51.87
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy27%
39% · 16%
MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Religions

Muslim 90%Christian 9%indigenous beliefs 1%
Labor force
400,000
(1986 est.)by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%note: 55% population of working age (1983)

Infant mortality rate

126.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Gambian(s)
adjective:
Gambian

Ethnic divisions

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

Languages

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

Government

Republic under multiparty democratic rule

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

56.6%
PPP 56.6%NCP 27.6%GPP 14.7%PDOIS 1%

Names

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

Type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital

Banjul

Administrative divisions

5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank,, Upper River,

Independence

18 February 1965 (from UK; 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)

Constitution

24 April 1970

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Political parties and leaders

  • People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general;
  • National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA;
  • Gambian People's Party (GPP), Hassan Musa CAMARA;
  • United Party (UP), leader NA;
  • People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA;
  • People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Elections

House of Representatives:
  • last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held by March 1992);
  • results - PPP 56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%;
  • seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 31, NCP 5
President:
  • last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992);
  • results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 13.7%

Executive branch

president, vice president, Cabinet

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Representatives

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Saihou SABALLY (since NA)

Member of

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH
chancery:
Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
(202) 842-1356 or 842-1359

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:
Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy:
Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul
mailing address:
P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone:
[220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971
FAX:
(220) 92475

Flag

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

Economy

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a | limited agricultural base.

18 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$325
(1991 est.)
Real growth rate
3%
(1991)industrial production growth: growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
External debt
$336million
(December 1990 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$94 millionExpenditures
$80 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)

Overview

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income of about $325. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing peanuts, fish, and hides - accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry.

The Gambia imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $292 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$133 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)

commodities:
peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
partners:
Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)

Imports

$174 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)

commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
partners:
Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)

Electricity

30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Agriculture

  • accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population;
  • imports one-third of food requirements;
  • major export crop is peanuts;
  • other principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels;
  • livestock - cattle, sheep, goats;
  • forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited

Economic aid

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535 million;
  • Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million

Currency

1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs

Exchange rates

dalasi (D) per US$1 - 8.673 (October 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

5 fields

Networkskm

Highways
3,083Inland waterways
400
Highways: ; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km unimproved earth

Highways

3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km unimproved earth

Ports

Banjul

Airports

total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0

Telecommunications

  • adequate network of radio relay and wire;
  • 3,500 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police

4 fields

Branches

Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 201,026; fit for military service 101,642 (1993 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

Note

The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, and the Golan Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David accords and reaffirmed by President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties.

Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. In the US view, the term West Bank describes all of the area west of the Jordan River under Jordanian administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

With respect to negotiations envisaged in the framework agreement, however, it is US policy that a distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank because of the city's special status and circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the final status of Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the rest of the West Bank.

Central Intelligence Agency. “The Gambia.” The World Factbook 1993. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gambia/1993.

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