Introduction :: GAMBIA, THE
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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. After 22 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, President JAMMEH was defeated in free and fair elections in December 2016. Due to The Gambia’s poor human rights record under JAMMEH, international development partners had distanced themselves, and substantially reduced aid to the country. These channels may re-open under the administration of President
Geography :: GAMBIA, THE
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Africa
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,120 sq km
water: 1,180 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
total: 749 km
border countries (1): Senegal 749 km
80 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
mean elevation: 34 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
agricultural land: 56.1%
arable land 41%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 14.6%
forest: 43.9%
other: 0% (2011 est.)
50 sq km (2012)
settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast
droughts
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
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
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country in Africa
People and Society :: GAMBIA, THE
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2,051,363 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Mandinka/Jahanka 33.8%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo 22.1%, Wolof 12.2%, Jola/Karoninka 10.9%, Serahuleh 7%, Serer 3.2%, Manjago 2.1%, Bambara 1%, Creole/Aku Marabout 0.8%, other 0.9%, non-Gambian 5.2%, no answer 0.7% (2013 est.)
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Muslim 95.7%, Christian 4.2%, none 0.1%, no answer 0.1% (2013 est.)
The Gambia’s youthful age structure – almost 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – is likely to persist because the country’s total fertility rate remains strong at nearly 4 children per woman. The overall literacy rate is around 55%, and is significantly lower for women than for men. At least 70% of the populace are farmers who are reliant on rain-fed agriculture and cannot afford improved seeds and fertilizers. Crop failures caused by droughts between 2011 and 2013 have increased poverty, food shortages, and malnutrition.
The Gambia is a source country for migrants and a transit and destination country for migrants and refugees. Since the 1980s, economic deterioration, drought, and high unemployment, especially among youths, have driven both domestic migration (largely urban) and migration abroad (legal and illegal). Emigrants are largely skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, and provide a significant amount of remittances. The top receiving countries for Gambian emigrants are Spain, the US, Nigeria, Senegal, and the UK. While the Gambia and Spain do not share historic, cultural, or trade ties, rural Gambians have migrated to Spain in large numbers because of its proximity and the availability of jobs in its underground economy (this flow slowed following the onset of Spain’s late 2007 economic crisis).
The Gambia’s role as a host country to refugees is a result of wars in several of its neighboring West African countries. Since 2006, refugees from the Casamance conflict in Senegal have replaced their pattern of flight and return with permanent settlement in The Gambia, often moving in with relatives along the Senegal-Gambia border. The strain of providing for about 7,400 Casamance refugees has increased poverty among Gambian villagers.
0-14 years: 37.44% (male 385,646/female 382,328)
15-24 years: 20.47% (male 207,611/female 212,366)
25-54 years: 34.4% (male 345,788/female 359,976)
55-64 years: 4.2% (male 41,295/female 44,865)
65 years and over: 3.48% (male 33,153/female 38,335) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Africa
::GAMBIA, THE
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 92.3
youth dependency ratio: 87.8
elderly dependency ratio: 4.5
potential support ratio: 22.3 (2015 est.)
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 21 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
2.1% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
29.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast
urban population: 60.8% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 3.96% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
BANJUL (capital) 504,000 (2015)
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 (2016 est.)
20.9 years
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013 est.)
706 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
total: 62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 67.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
total population: 64.9 years
male: 62.5 years
female: 67.3 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
3.52 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
9% (2013)
7.3% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 73
0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
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.)
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.)
1.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
20,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
1,100 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
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 (2016)
9.1% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 138
16.4% (2013)
country comparison to the world: 38
2.8% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 109
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 55.5%
male: 63.9%
female: 47.6% (2015 est.)
total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2010)
total number: 103,389
percentage: 25% (2006 est.)
Government :: GAMBIA, THE
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conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
etymology: named for the Gambia River that flows through the heart of the country
presidential republic
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
history: previous 1965 (independence act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast; amended 2001, 2004, 2010 (2017)
mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2017); Vice President Fatoumata JALLOW-TAMBAJANG (since 23 January 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2017); Vice President Fatoumata JALLOW-TAMBAJANG (since 23 January 2017)
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 on 1 December 2016); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Adama BARROW elected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC)39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1%
description: unicameral National Assembly (58 seats; 53 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 6 April 2017 (next to be held in 2022)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 37.5%, GDC 17.4%, APRC 16%, PDOIS 9%, NRP 6.3%, PPP 2.5%, independent 9.6%; seats by party - UDP 31, APRC 5, GDC 5, NRP 5, PDOIS 4, PPP 2, independent 1
highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 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
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Fabakary JATTA]
Coalition 2016 [collective leadership] (electoral coalition including UDP, PDOIS, NRP, GMC, GDC, PPP, GPDP)
Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC [Mama KANDEH]
Gambia Moral Congress or GMC [Mai FATTY]
Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]
National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Samba JALLOW]
National Convention Party or NCP [Ebrima Janko SANYANG]
People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]
People's Progressive Party or PPP [Yaya CEESAY)]
United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]
The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations or TANGO
Female Lawyers Association of Gambia or FLAG
Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices or GAMCOTRAP
Gambia Press Union or GPU
West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA
Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals
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
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Manneh HAMBA (since 3 May 2017)
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
chief of mission: Ambassador C. Patricia ALSUP (since 11 January 2016)
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P.M.B. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 439-2856
FAX: [220] 439-2475
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
lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white
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
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The government has invested in the agriculture sector because three-quarters of the population depends on the sector for its livelihood and agriculture provides for about one-third of GDP, making The Gambia largely reliant on sufficient rainfall. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated and agricultural productivity is low. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of cashews, groundnuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's reexport trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports and China has been its largest trade partner for both exports and imports for several years.
The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits. It relies heavily on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. Remittance inflows to The Gambia amount to about one-fifth of the country’s GDP. The Gambia's location on the ocean and proximity to Europe has made it one of the most frequented tourist destinations in West Africa, boosted by private sector investments in eco-tourism and facilities. Tourism normally brings in about 20% of GDP, but it suffered in 2014 from tourists’ fears of Ebola virus in neighboring West African countries. 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 were concerned about the quality of fiscal management under the administration of former President Yahya JAMMEH, who reportedly stole hundreds of millions of dollars of the country’s funds during his 22 years in power, but anticipate significant improvements under the new administration of President Adama BARROW, who assumed power in early 2017. As of April 2017, the IMF, the World Bank, the European Union, and the African Development Bank were all negotiating with the new government of The Gambia to provide financial support in the coming months to ease the country’s financial crisis.
The country’s GDP contracted in 2016 largely as a result of the limited availability of foreign exchange, weak agricultural output, the border closure with Senegal during the first half of the year, and a slowdown in tourism during the political impasse that occurred at the height of the tourist season. The country faces a large fiscal deficit and a high domestic debt burden that has crowded out private sector investment and driven interest rates to new highs. The new government has committed to taking steps to reduce the deficit, including through expenditure caps, debt consolidation, and reform of state-owned enterprises.
$3.427 billion (2016 est.)
$3.345 billion (2015 est.)
$3.207 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 182
$965 million (2016 est.)
2.5% (2016 est.)
4.3% (2015 est.)
0.9% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$1,700 (2016 est.)
$1,700 (2015 est.)
$1,700 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 214
8.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
4.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
10.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
household consumption: 80.7%
government consumption: 9.7%
investment in fixed capital: 19.1%
investment in inventories: -1.5%
exports of goods and services: 24.8%
imports of goods and services: -32.8% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 21.4%
industry: 15.6%
services: 63% (2016 est.)
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (manioc, tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
1.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
777,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
NA%
48.4% (2010 est.)
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
50.2 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 17
revenues: $231.5 million
expenditures: $323.6 million (2016 est.)
26.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
-10.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
calendar year
7.2% (2016 est.)
6.8% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
9% (31 December 2009)
11% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 33
30.6% (31 December 2016 est.)
30.8% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$236.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$275.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$534.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$511.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
$420.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$466.7 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$NA
$-97 million (2016 est.)
$-134 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$120 million (2016 est.)
$113.2 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
China 47.7%, India 27.1%, France 5.9%, UK 4.9% (2015)
$363.9 million (2016 est.)
$365.1 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
China 34.3%, Brazil 8.2%, Senegal 6.9%, India 5.8%, Netherlands 4.8% (2015)
$91.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$83.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
g: $541.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$502.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
44.5 (2016 est.)
41.89 (2015 est.)
41.89 (2014 est.)
41.73 (2013 est.)
32.08 (2012 est.)
Energy :: GAMBIA, THE
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population without electricity: 1,200,000
electrification - total population: 36%
electrification - urban areas: 60%
electrification - rural areas: 2% (2013)
300 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
300 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
91,000 kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 138
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
3,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
42 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
3,552 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
country comparison to the world: 143
500,000 Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Communications :: GAMBIA, THE
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total subscriptions: 37,969
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
total: 2,838,127
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 141 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
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 over 140 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 completed in 2011 and launched in 2012; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 15 privately owned radio stations; 6 community 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 (2015)
.gm
total: 371,785
percent of population: 18.5% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Transportation :: GAMBIA, THE
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C5 (2016)
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 218
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
total: 3,740 km
paved: 711 km
unpaved: 3,029 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 159
390 km (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 88
total: 4
by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 130
major seaport(s): Banjul
Military and Security :: GAMBIA, THE
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1.48% of GDP (2015)
1.72% of GDP (2014)
1.15% of GDP (2013)
1.22% of GDP (2012)
Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2010)
18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)
Transnational Issues :: GAMBIA, THE
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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 (country of origin): 7,470 (Senegal) (2016)
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; women, girls, and boys from West African countries are trafficked to The Gambia for commercial sexual exploitation, particularly by European sex tourists; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging; some Gambian children have been identified as victims of forced labor 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 demonstrated minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, investigating one trafficking case but not prosecuting or convicting any offenders in 2014; authorities did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any government employees complicit in trafficking, although corruption was a serious problem; the government identified and repatriated 19 Gambian girls subjected to domestic servitude in Lebanon but did not identify or provide protective services to any trafficking victims in The Gambia; 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 (2015)
