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

Age structure
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 347,349; female 344,264)
15-64 years: 52.6% (male 403,297; female 410,382)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 21,459; female 20,097) (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Airports
1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2003 est.)

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

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 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002.

Birth rate
40.3 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Budget
revenues: $58.63 million
expenditures: $62.64 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1 million (2003 est.)

Capital
Banjul

Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Coastline
80 km

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

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

Currency
dalasi (GMD)

Currency code
GMD

Current account balance
$-42 million (2003)

Death rate
12.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Debt - external
$476 million (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson McDONALD
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971
FAX: [220] 392475

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lena Manga Sagnia SECK
chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379

Disputes - international
attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, and political instability from separatist movement in southern Senegal's Casamance region

Economic aid - recipient
$45.4 million (1995)

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 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 government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons have seen substantially lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism in 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemployment rates are extremely high. Shortrun economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice, and on expected growth in the construction sector.

Electricity - consumption
79.36 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production
85.33 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m

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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Exchange rates
dalasi per US dollar - NA (2003), 19.9182 (2002), 15.6872 (2001), 12.7876 (2000), 11.3951 (1999)

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; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he 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
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held NA October 2006)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%

Exports
$156 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports

Exports - partners
Malaysia 22.2%, UK 22.2%, Belgium 5.6%, China 5.6%, Germany 5.6%, Italy 5.6%, Thailand 5.6% (2003 est.)

Fiscal year
calendar year

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

GDP
purchasing power parity - $2.56 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 46.8%
industry: 9.3%
services: 43.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate
3% (2003 est.)

Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 16 34 W

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

Government type
republic under multiparty democratic rule

Highways
total: 2,700 km
paved: 956 km
unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths
600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
6,800 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Imports
$271 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners
China 25.1%, Senegal 9%, UK 6.7%, Brazil 6.3%, US 5.7%, Netherlands 5.1%, India 4.9% (2003 est.)

Independence
18 February 1965 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate
NA

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

Infant mortality rate
total: 73.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 80.14 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)
14% (2003 est.)

International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code
.gm

Internet hosts
568 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2001)

Internet users
25,000 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed)
20% of GDP (2003)

Irrigated land
20 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch
Supreme Court

Labor force
400,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%

Land boundaries
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km

Land use
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 74.5% (2001)

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

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

Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held NA January 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 54.79 years
male: 52.76 years
female: 56.87 years (2004 est.)

Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Map references
Africa

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Median age
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.7 years (2004 est.)

Merchant marine
none

Military branches
Gambian National Army (GNA) (including Naval Unit), Presidential Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure
$900,000 (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP
0.3% (2003)

Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 350,256 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 176,733 (2004 est.)

National holiday
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Nationality
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian

Natural hazards
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)

Natural resources
fish

Net migration rate
1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption
1,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports
NA (2001)

Oil - imports
NA (2001)

Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; 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]
note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996

Political pressure groups and leaders
NA

Population
1,546,848 (July 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line
NA

Population growth rate
2.98% (2004 est.)

Ports and harbors
Banjul

Radio broadcast stations
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios
196,000 (1997)

Religions
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold
$118 million (2003)

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: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Suffrage
18 years of age; universal

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)

Telephones - main lines in use
38,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular
100,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations
1 (government-owned) (1997)

Televisions
5,000 (2000)

Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Total fertility rate
5.46 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate
NA (2002 est.)

Waterways
400 km