| Published on March 9, 2010 |
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Country Report
The Gambia
Introduction
Background: The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation 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 A. J. J. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Area:
total: 11,295 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,295 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 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 location 53 m
Natural resources: fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land use:
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: 8 cu km (1982)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
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 on the continent of Africa
People
Population: 1,778,081 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 390,806/female 387,172)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 473,478/female 481,315)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 25,071/female 25,051) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.1 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.589% (2009 est.)
Birth rate: 37.8 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate: 12.21 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 74.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.81 years
male: 52.05 years
female: 55.62 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 8,200 (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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)
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures: 2% of GDP (2004)
Government
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: approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997
Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Islamic 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 18 October 1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta; 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)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6.0%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC (the ruling party) [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; 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 N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH]; 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: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, 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, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barry L. WELLS
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
Economy
Economy - overview: The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas. About 80% of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood. 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 markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In the past few years, the Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly. Unemployment and underemployment rates 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.385 billion (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $726 million (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (2009 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,300 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33.5%
industry: 8.5%
services: 58% (2009 est.)
Labor force: 777,100 (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 50.2 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed): 27.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $129.1 million
expenditures: $153.6 million (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate: NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate: NA% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money: $NA (31 December 2008)
Stock of quasi money: $NA (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit: $NA (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA
Agriculture - products: rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
14.9%
note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2009 est.)
Electricity - production: 160 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 148.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - exports: 42 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - imports: 2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
Current account balance: -$88 million (2009 est.)
Exports: $77 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities: peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners: India 36.7%, Japan 23%, Belgium 5.7%, China 5%, UK 4.8% (2008)
Imports: $239 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners: China 21.6%, Senegal 12.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.7%, Brazil 6%, Netherlands 5.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $123 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external: $628.8 million (2003 est.)
Exchange rates: dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 27 (2009), 22.75 (2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006), 28.575 (2005)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 48,900 (2008)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.166 million (2008)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity reached 70 telephones per 100 persons in 2008
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government-owned) (1997)
Internet country code: .gm
Internet hosts: 895 (2009)
Internet users: 114,200 (2008)
Transportation
Airports: 1 (2009)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,742 km
paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
Waterways: 390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 5
by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals: Banjul
Military
Military branches: Office of the Chief of Defense: Gambian National Army (National Guard, GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2009)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 379,668
females age 16-49: 384,438 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 238,454
females age 16-49: 253,680 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 20,238
female: 20,167 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2006)
Transnational Issues
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): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls, and to a lesser extent boys, are trafficked for sexual exploitation - in particular to meet the demand for European sex tourism - and for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked within the country for forced begging and street vending; Gambian women and children may be trafficked to Europe through trafficking schemes disguised as migrant smuggling
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, The Gambia is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking; The Gambia failed to report any trafficking arrests, prosecutions, or convictions in 2007, and the government demonstrated weak victim protection efforts during the reporting period (2008)
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