Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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 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 2011.
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
total: 11,295 sq km
country comparison to the world: 167
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,295 sq km
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
arable land: 39.82%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 59.73% (2011)
total: 0.09 cu km/yr (41%/21%/39%)
per capita: 65.77 cu m/yr (2005)
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
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 on the continent of Africa
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
1,883,051 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
0-14 years: 39.2% (male 369,966/female 367,285)
15-24 years: 21.1% (male 196,194/female 201,206)
25-54 years: 32.5% (male 299,837/female 312,864)
55-64 years: 4% (male 36,330/female 38,464)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 28,722/female 32,183) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 93.5 %
youth dependency ratio: 88.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.6 %
potential support ratio: 21.6 (2013)
total: 19.9 years
male: 19.6 years
female: 20.2 years (2013 est.)
2.29% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
32.59 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
-2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
urban population: 57.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
BANJUL (capital) 436,000 (2009)
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: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
360 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 29
total: 67.63 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 20
male: 73.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 64.09 years
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 61.78 years
female: 66.47 years (2013 est.)
3.98 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
4.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 154
0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
18,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
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 (2013)
7.9% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 138
15.8% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 49
3.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 112
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.1%
male: 60.9%
female: 41.9% (2011 est.)
total number: 103,389
percentage: 25 % (2006 est.)
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
previous 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)
mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Yahya 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 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 on 24 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH 71.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 17.4%, Hamat BAH 11.1%
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 29 March 2012 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - APRC 51.8%, independents 38.8%, NRP 9.4%; seats by party - APRC 43, independents 4, NRP 1
note: except for the NRP, all opposition parties boycotted the 29 March 2012 legislative elections
highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 other justices); note - 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 [Yahya JAMMEH] (the ruling party)
National Environment Agency or NEA
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, 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 Baboucarr JALLOW (since 25 June 2013)
chancery: Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 342-0240
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard T. YONEOKA (since August 2012)
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
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
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"
The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood and the sector provides for about one-quarter of GDP. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated. 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 2012, however, sluggish tourism led to a decline in GDP. Tourism brings in about one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture also took a hit in 2012 due to unfavorable weather patterns. The Gambia's re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports. 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. International donors and lenders continue to be concerned about the quality of fiscal management and The Gambia's debt burden.
$3.409 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$895.7 million (2012 est.)
5.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$1,900 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
17.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
household consumption: 88.3%
government consumption: 10.9%
investment in fixed capital: 18.9%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 28.5%
imports of goods and services: -46.7%
agriculture: 19.1%
industry: 13.1%
services: 67.8% (2012 est.)
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (manioc), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
2.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
777,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 151
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
50.2 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 22
revenues: $230.7 million
expenditures: $271.2 million (2012 est.)
25.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
-4.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
4.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
9% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
28% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$217.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
$512.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
$386.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$-152.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$111.8 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
China 57.1%, India 18.6%, France 4.6%, UK 4% (2012)
$365.8 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
China 27.6%, Senegal 8.5%, Brazil 8.1%, UK 6.4%, India 6.1%, Indonesia 4.1% (2012)
$236.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$481.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
230 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
213.9 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
62,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 134
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
3,181 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
41.62 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
3,434 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 141
425,600 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
64,200 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 159
1.526 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 151
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 roughly 80 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 is scheduled for completion in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 4 privately owned 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 (2007)
656 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 179
130,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 216
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
total: 3,740 km
country comparison to the world: 159
paved: 711 km
unpaved: 3,029 km (2011)
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 89
total: 4
country comparison to the world: 132
by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)
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)
males age 16-49: 423,306
females age 16-49: 438,641 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 315,176
females age 16-49: 347,017 (2010 est.)
male: 20,508
female: 20,853 (2010 est.)
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): 9,042 (Senegal) (2012)
