The Gambia

Republic of The Gambia

republic under multiparty democratic ruleIndependence 18 February 1965 (from UK)

The Gambia as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 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

Position13 28 N, 16 34 W

Area11,300 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Populationas each edition published it

1.37 million July 2000 est. · 848,147 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.2% 2000 est. · 3.07% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

53.2 years 2000 est. · 49.61 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.76 children per woman 2000 est. · 6.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

79.29 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 140 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,030 1999 est. · $325 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.2% 1999 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, have completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The Gambia recently emerged from its isolation to accept a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council during 1998-99.

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

18 fields

Land useshare of 11,300 sq km

arable land 18%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 9%forests and woodland 28%other 45% (1993 est.)irrigated 150 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

11,300sq km

land: 10,000 sq kmwater: 1,300 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Coastline

80km

contiguous zone: 18 nmcontinental shelf: not specifiedexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

53m

unnamed locationlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

740km

border countries: Senegal 740 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references

Africa

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

Natural resources

fish

Natural hazards

rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years

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

Geography - note

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

People

15 fields

Population

1,367,124

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 3.2% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

42.28Death

13.21Net migration

2.97

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)53.2

51.29 · 55.16

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)38.6%

52.8% · 24.9%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Muslim 90%Christian 9%indigenous beliefs 1%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 311,293; female 308,570)
15-64 years:: 52% (male 352,765; female 358,258)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 19,099; female 17,139) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population:: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

79.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.76 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Gambian(s)
adjective:: Gambian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Government

Republic under multiparty democratic rule; President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October 1996); President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

55.8%

Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.8%Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%election last held 26 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

National Assembly, 45 seatsone dot, one seat

APRC 33UDP 7NRP 2PDOIS 1independents 2

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital

Banjul

Administrative divisions

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

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Constitution

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

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 for 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 55.8%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (49 seats; 45 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; members serve 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH];
National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH];
People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA];
United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

note: in August 1996 the government banned the following from participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party or PPP [former President Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile)],

and two opposition parties - the National Convention Party or NCP [former Vice President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP [Hassan Musa CAMARA]

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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador John P. BOJANG
chancery:: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:: [1] (202) 785-1399
FAX:: [1] (202) 785-1430

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
telephone:: [220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971
FAX:: [220] 392475

Flag description

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.

31 fields

Real growth rate

4.2%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.5%

(1999 est.)

Labor force

400,000

Debt - external

$430million

(1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1997 est.)

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

Budget

Revenues

$88.6 millionExpenditures

$98.2 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

75 million (1998)Electricity consumption

70 million (1998)

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. Annual GDP growth is expected to fall to less than 4% over 2000-01.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,030 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

4,485

(1998)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

22,000

(1998)

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)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

Networkskm

Highways

2,700Railways

0Waterways

400

Highways: paved: 956 km · unpaved: 1,744 km (1996 est.)

Highways

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

Military

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

5 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

(FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Gambia, The.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gambia/2000.

How to cite ← 1999 edition 2001 edition →