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Africa :: Gambia, The

- ## Introduction :: GAMBIA, THE

- Background:
  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.

- ## Geography :: GAMBIA, THE

- Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
  Geographic coordinates:
  13 28 N, 16 34 W
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 11,300 sq km
  land: 10,120 sq km
  water: 1,180 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Area - comparative:
  slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
  Land boundaries:
  total: 749 km
  border countries (1): Senegal 749 km
  Coastline:
  80 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 18 nm
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: extent not specified
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m
  Natural resources:
  fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 56.1%
  arable land 41%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 14.6%
  forest: 43.9%
  other: 0% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  50 sq km (2011)
  Total renewable water resources:
  8 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.09 cu km/yr (41%/21%/39%)
  per capita: 65.77 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  drought (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, 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
  Geography - note:
  almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country in Africa

- ## People and Society :: GAMBIA, THE

- 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% (2003 census)
  Languages:
  English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
  Religions:
  Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
  Population:
  1,967,709 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Age structure:
  0-14 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:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 94.2%
  youth dependency ratio: 89.7%
  elderly dependency ratio: 4.5%
  potential support ratio: 22.3% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 20.5 years
  male: 20.2 years
  female: 20.8 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.16% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Birth rate:
  30.86 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Death rate:
  7.15 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Net migration rate:
  -2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 59.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  BANJUL (capital) 504,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  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.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  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: 18
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 64.6 years
  male: 62.27 years
  female: 67 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Total fertility rate:
  3.73 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  9% (2013)
  Health expenditures:
  6% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Physicians density:
  0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  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.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  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.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  1.82% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  20,300 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  900 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree 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)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  9.1% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  17.4% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Education expenditures:
  4.1% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 55.5%
  male: 63.9%
  female: 47.6% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 9 years
  male: 9 years
  female: 9 years (2010)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 103,389
  percentage: 25% (2006 est.)

- ## Government :: GAMBIA, THE

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
  conventional short form: The Gambia
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Banjul
  geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
  time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
  Independence:
  18 February 1965 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
  Constitution:
  previous 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  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%
  Legislative branch:
  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%, independent 38.8%, NRP 9.4%; seats by party - APRC 43, independent 4, NRP 1
  Judicial branch:
  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
  Political parties and leaders:
  Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya JAMMEH] (the ruling party)
  Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]
  National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]
  National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]
  National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat BAH]
  People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH]
  People's Progressive Party or PPP [Omar JALLOW]
  United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  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
  International organization participation:
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  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
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  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
  Flag description:
  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
  National symbol(s):
  lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white
  National anthem:
  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"

- ## Economy :: GAMBIA, THE

- Economy - overview:
  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.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $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
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $825 million (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -0.2% (2014 est.)
  4.8% (2013 est.)
  5.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $1,600 (2014 est.)
  $1,600 (2013 est.)
  $1,500 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Gross national saving:
  10.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  9.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  19.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household 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.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 22.8%
  industry: 11.8%
  services: 65.5% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (manioc, tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
  Industries:
  peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
  Industrial production growth rate:
  0.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Labor force:
  777,100 (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 75%
  industry: 19%
  services: 6% (1996)
  Unemployment rate:
  NA%
  Population below poverty line:
  48.4% (2010 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2%
  highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  50.2 (1998)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Budget:
  revenues: $177.6 million
  expenditures: $242.6 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  19.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -7.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.3% (2014 est.)
  5.7% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Central bank discount rate:
  9% (31 December 2009)
  11% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  33.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
  28% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Stock of narrow money:
  $217.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $215.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Stock of broad money:
  $534.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $511.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $416.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $398.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$105 million (2014 est.)
  -$165.1 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Exports:
  $107.4 million (2014 est.)
  $104.6 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Exports - commodities:
  peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
  Exports - partners:
  China 34.4%, India 32.9%, UK 8.2%, France 4.4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $353.1 million (2014 est.)
  $355.8 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
  Imports - partners:
  China 31.3%, Brazil 8.6%, India 7.9%, Senegal 7.2% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $227.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $210.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Debt - external:
  $583.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $547.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Exchange rates:
  dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
  39.98 (2014 est.)
  36.57 (2013 est.)
  32.08 (2012 est.)
  29.4615 (2011 est.)
  28.012 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: GAMBIA, THE

- Electricity - production:
  230 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Electricity - consumption:
  213.9 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  62,000 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  3,350 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  42 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  3,434 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  472,200 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183

- ## Communications :: GAMBIA, THE

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 55,800
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 2.3 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Telephone system:
  general 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)
  Broadcast media:
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (government-owned) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .gm
  Internet users:
  total: 274,000
  percent of population: 14.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147

- ## Transportation :: GAMBIA, THE

- Airports:
  1 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 218
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 3,740 km
  paved: 711 km
  unpaved: 3,029 km (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Waterways:
  390 km (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Merchant marine:
  total: 4
  by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Banjul

- ## Military :: GAMBIA, THE

- Military branches:
  Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2010)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 423,306
  females age 16-49: 438,641 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 315,176
  females age 16-49: 347,017 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 20,508
  female: 20,853 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: GAMBIA, THE

- Disputes - international:
  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 and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 11,036 (Senegal) (2014)
  Trafficking in persons:
  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)

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