The Gambia

republic under multiparty democratic ruleIndependence 18 February 1965 (from UK

The Gambia as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalBanjul
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely
1994

Every edition of The Gambia

Populationas each edition published it
959,300 people July 1994 est. · 848,147 in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.08% 1994 est. · 3.07% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 17.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 49.61 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.29 children per woman 1994 est. · 6.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
123.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 140 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$800 1993 est. · $325 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.5% 3% in 1993

Geography

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

25 fields
Land boundaries
740km
total · Senegal 740 km
Irrigated land
120sq km
(1989 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

11,300 sq km

land area

10,000 sq km

comparative area

slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

contiguous zone

18 nm

continental shelf

not specified

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

arable land

16%

permanent crops

0%

meadows and pastures

9%

forest and woodland

20%

other

55%

current issues

  • deforestation;
  • desertification;
  • water-borne diseases prevalent

natural hazards

rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last thirty years

international agreements

  • party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Note

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

People

22 fields
Population
959,300
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 3.08% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
46.39Death
15.64Net migration
0

Religions

Muslim 90%Christian 9%indigenous beliefs 1%
Labor force
400,000
(1986 est.)
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

123.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

50.08 years

male

47.83 years

female

52.39 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)

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

total population

27%

male

39%

female

16%

by occupation

agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%

note

55% population of working age (1983)

Government

Republic under multiparty democratic rule

28 fields

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, Western

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Constitution

24 April 1970

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

chief of state and head of government

  • President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970);
  • Vice President Saihou SABALLY (since NA);
  • election last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997);
  • results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0%

cabinet

Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the House of Representatives

House of Representatives

elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - PPP 58.1%, seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

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

Member of

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH

chancery

Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone

(202) 785-1399, 1379, or 1425

FAX

(202) 785-1430

chief of mission

Ambassador Arlene RENDER

embassy

Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, 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.

25 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$800
(1993 est.)
Real growth rate
4.5%
(FY92 est)industrial production growth: growth rate 6.7% (year NA); accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
External debt
$336million
(December 1990 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 roughly $800. 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. A sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade policy, has fostered a respectable 4% rate of growth in recent years.

Re-export trade constitutes one-third of economic activity; however, border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993 led to a 50% decline in re-export trade, reducing government revenues in turn. Devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made Senegalese goods more competitive, and is likely to prompt a relaxation of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in re-exports.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $740 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$94 million

expenditures

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

Exports

$164 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.)

commodities

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

partners

Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)

Imports

$214 million (f.o.b., FY92 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)

capacity

30,000 kW

production

65 million kWh

consumption per capita

75 kWh (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

recipient

  • 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 butut

Exchange rates

dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.440 (November 1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

13 fields

total

3,083 km

paved

431 km

unpaved

gravel, crushed stone 501 km; unimproved earth 2,151 km

Ports

Banjul

Merchant marine

1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,194 GRT/19,394 DWT

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 15-49 207,754; fit for military service 105,100

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Note

The war between Israel and Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to a 1979 peace treaty with Egypt. The Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.

Central Intelligence Agency. “The Gambia.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gambia/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →