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

Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 11,300 sq km
land area: 10,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border country: Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims:
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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 16%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 20%
other: 55%
Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

People

Population: 1,204,984 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 276,782; female 275,683)
15-64 years: 51% (male 307,405; female 312,736)
65 years and over: 3% (male 17,278; female 15,100) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.55% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.44 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.96 years
male: 50.74 years
female: 55.24 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.06 children born/woman (1996 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%
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 38.6%
male: 52.8%
female: 24.9%

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Data code: GA
Type of government: republic under multiparty democratic rule
note:: nominally a republic, The Gambia has had a military government since 22 July 1994; the military authority has promised to return control to a democratically-elected government in July 1996
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; suspended July 1994
Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since the military coup of 22 July 1994); Vice Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Edward SINGHATEH (since March 1995); last popular election held on 29 April 1992; results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0% (prior to the 22 July 1994 coup, next election had been scheduled for April 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet normally is appointed by the president from members of the House of Representatives (present cabinet appointed by Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council)
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Representatives: last popular election held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held NA April 1997); results - PPP won 58.1% of votes; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6
note: following the military coup on 22 July 1994, all elective offices were dissolved; in April 1996, the military government announced that voter registrations would begin in May and democratic elections would be held in October 1996
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: the following political parties were active on 22 July 1994, after which time political activity was banned by the military government: People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile), secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA (in exile); 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
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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Tombong SAIDY
chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399, 1379, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald A. SCOTT
embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971
FAX: [220] 392475
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Economy

Economic overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. A sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade policy, had fostered a respectable 4% annual rate of growth in 1990-93. Reexport trade normally constitutes one-third of economic activity; however, border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993 led to a halving of reexport trade, reducing government revenues in turn. The 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made Senegalese goods more competitive and apparently prompted a relaxation of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in reexports. But, in response to the military's takeover in July 1994, cuts in foreign trade and a decline in tourism have undermined economic growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 15%
services: 58% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1994)
Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $91.4 million
expenditures: $90 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 30,000 kW
production: 70 million kWh
consumption per capita: 64 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishing resources not fully exploited
Exports: $35 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
Imports: $209 million (f.o.b., 1994 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)
External debt: $386 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut
Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.555 (August 1996), 9.576 (1994), 9.129 (1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation

Highways: Railways: 0 km
total: 2,386 km
paved: 764 km
unpaved: 1,622 km (1990 est.)
Waterways: 400 km
Ports: Banjul
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Telephone system: Telephones: 11,000 (1991 est.)
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)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 180,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA

Defense

Branches: Army, Navy, National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 267,188
males fit for military service: 134,611 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 3.8% of GDP (FY93/94)