THE GAMBIA
Geography People Government Economy Transportation Communications Defense Forces
THE GAMBIA
@The Gambia:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
Senegal
Map references: Africa
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GAMBIA - MAJOR CITIES
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Latitude, Internat'l Time
Population Longitude Phone Code Zone
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Serrekunda 103,000 13.32N, 15.09W 220- GMT
BANJUL 44,000 13.28N, 16.39W 220- GMT
Brikama 20,000 13.15N, 16.39W 220- GMT
Bakau 19,000 13.29N, 16.41W 220- GMT
Farefenni 10,000 13.34N, 15.37W 220- GMT
Gunjur 7,000 13.11N, 16.46W 220- GMT
Sukuta 7,000 13.24N, 16.43W 220- GMT
Basse Santa Su 3,000 13.23N, 14.15W 220- GMT
Georgetown 3,000 13.31N, 14.50W 220- GMT
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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, 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
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 thirty years
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent
of Africa
@The Gambia:People
Population: 989,273 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (female 231,636; male 231,053)
15-64 years: 51% (female 257,329; male 244,947)
65 years and over: 2% (female 11,850; male 12,458) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.08% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 45.97 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 120.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.55 years
male: 48.25 years
female: 52.92 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.23 children born/woman (1995 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 (1990 est.)
total population: 27%
male: 39%
female: 16%
Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services
18.9%, government 6.1%
@The Gambia:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Digraph: GA
Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
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
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);
election last 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 was scheduled for April
1997)
cabinet: Cabinet; 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: elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next
to be held April 1997); results - PPP 58.1%; seats - (43 total, 36
elected) PPP 30, NCP 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: 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
Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT
(nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aminatta DIBBA
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 Andrew J. WINTER
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
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, which
contribute 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing
peanuts, fish, and hides - accounts for less than 10% of GDP. A
sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade
policy, had fostered a respectable 4% rate of growth in recent years.
Reexport trade 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 overwhelming these developments were the devastating effects of
the military's takeover in July 1994. By October, traffic at the Port
of Banjul had fallen precipitously as importers nervously scaled back
their activities with the commencement of the anticorruption drive by
the new regime. Concerned with the growing potential for serious
unrest after a countercoup attempt was bloodily put down by the
regime, the United Kingdom and the EU in November issued a travelers
advisory for The Gambia, which brought a halt to tourism almost
immediately. The Gambia faces additional problems in 1995 if, as is
likely, economic sanctions by Western governments remain in effect in
response to indications that the military regime intends to stay in
power far longer than expected by the donors.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1993
est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $1,050 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1993)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $94 million
expenditures: $89 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (FY92/93 est.)
Exports: $81 million (f.o.b., FY92/93 est.)
commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm
kernels
partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
Imports: $154 million (f.o.b., FY92/93 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: $286 million (FY92/93 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 6.7%
Electricity:
capacity: 30,000 kW
production: 70 million kWh
consumption per capita: 64 kWh (1993)
Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural
machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP; one-third of food requirements
is imported; major export crop is peanuts; other principal crops -
millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock -
cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully
exploited
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $535 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million
Currency: 1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut
Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.565 (January 1995), 9.576
(1994), 9.129 (1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@The Gambia:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 3,083 km
paved: 431 km
unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 501 km; unimproved earth 2,151 km
Inland waterways: 400 km
Ports: Banjul
Merchant marine:
total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,194 GRT/19,394 DWT
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
@The Gambia:Communications
Telephone system: 3,500 telephones; telephone density - 4
telephones/1,000 persons
local: NA
intercity: adequate network of radio relay and wire
international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: NA
televisions: NA
@The Gambia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, National Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 214,680; males fit for military
service 108,659 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 3.8% of
GDP (FY93/94)
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