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.
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
10,000 sq km
water
1,300 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
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.)
Country name
conventional long form
Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form
The Gambia
Government type
republic
Capital
name
Banjul
geographic coordinates
12 28 N, 16 39 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 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 [Sidia JATTA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]
Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone
[1] (202) 785-1379
FAX
[1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III
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 - overview
The Gambia has no confirmed mineral or natural resource deposits 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 a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing key parastatals, no plans have been made public that would indicate that the government intends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, on continued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth in the construction sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$3.284 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$462.5 million (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
5.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
30.5%
industry
13.9%
services
55.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force
400,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
75%
industry
19%
services
6%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
14% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
20.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$112.7 million
expenditures
$155.1 million; including capital expenditures of $4.1 million (2006 est.)
India 36.8%, UK 15.1%, Indonesia 7.5%, France 6.8%, Italy 4.3%, Senegal 4.2% (2006)
Imports
$212.2 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners
China 25%, Senegal 12.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 8%, Brazil 6.2%, Netherlands 4.4% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$88.11 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$628.8 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$59.8 million (2003)
Currency (code)
dalasi (GMD)
Currency code
GMD
Exchange rates
dalasi per US dollar - 28.3 (2006), 30.38 (2005), 30.03 (2004), 27.306 (2004), 19.918 (2003), 15.687 (2002), 15.687 (2001)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
44,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
247,500 (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
adequate; a packet switched data network is available
domestic
adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire
international
country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios
196,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (government-owned) (1997)
Televisions
5,000 (2000)
Internet country code
.gm
Internet hosts
14 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2001)
Internet users
49,000 (2005)
Airports
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
1
over 3,047 m
1 (2006)
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) (2006)
Merchant marine
total
5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 32,064 GRT/9,751 DWT
by type
passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals
Banjul
Military branches
Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Gambian National Guard (includes Presidential Guard) (2007)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
311,025
females age 18-49
316,214 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
183,057
females age 18-49
194,551 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
0.5% (2006)
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) (2006)
