Gambia <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:ga-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>Banjul</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>republic under multiparty democratic rule </td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>dalasi (GMD)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>''total:'' 11,300 sq km ''land:'' 10,000 sq km ''water:'' 1,300 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>1,455,842 (July 2002 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%</td></tr> </table> </div>  The '''Gambia''' is a country in West Africa|West Africa and is the smallest country on the continent of Africa. It has a North Atlantic Ocean coastline in the west and is surrounded by Senegal so that it is almost an enclave. The country occupies the the Gambia river valley and surrounding hills. Image:ga-map.png|thumb|350px|Map of Gambia WikiPedia:{{PAGENAME}} ==Regions== ; '''Administrative divisions''' : 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western ==Cities== *Banjul - Capital ==Other destinations== ==Understand== ===Climate=== Tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May); '''Natural hazards''' : drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years) ===Terrain=== Flood plain of the Gambia river flanked by some low hills ; ''Highest point'' : unnamed location 53 m ===History=== The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. ; '''Independence''' : 18 February 1965 (from UK) ; '''National holiday''' : Independence Day, 18 February (1965) ; '''Constitution''' : 24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997 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 new 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. ==Get in== ===By plane=== ===By car=== ===By bus=== ===By boat=== ==Get around== ==Talk== ; '''Languages''' : English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars ==Buy== ==Eat== ==Drink== ==Sleep== ==Learn== ==Work== ==Stay safe== ==Stay healthy== ==Respect== ==Contact== ==External links== fr:Gambie {{stub}} ---- ''The rest of this article is an Wikitravel:CIA World Factbook 2002 import|import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a '''real''' Wikitravel country article according to our Wikitravel:country article template|country article template. Please Wikitravel:plunge forward|plunge forward and integrate it into the article above.'' ---- ==Geography== ; '''Geographic coordinates''' : 13 28 N, 16 34 W ; '''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 ; '''Coastline''' : 80 km ; '''Maritime claims''' : ''contiguous zone:'' 18 NM ''territorial sea:'' 12 NM ''continental shelf:'' not specified ''exclusive fishing zone:'' 200 NM ; '''Natural resources''' : fish ; '''Land use''' : ''arable land:'' 19.5% ''permanent crops:'' 0.5% ''other:'' 80% (1998 est.) ; '''Irrigated land''' : 20 sq km (1998 est.) ; '''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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands ''signed, but not ratified:'' none of the selected agreements ==People== ; '''Population''' : 1,455,842 (July 2002 est.) ; '''Age structure''' : ''0-14 years:'' 45.1% (male 329,530; female 326,627) ''15-64 years:'' 52.3% (male 377,357; female 383,548) ''65 years and over:'' 2.6% (male 20,237; female 18,543) (2002 est.) ; '''Population growth rate''' : 3.09% (2002 est.) ; '''Birth rate''' : 41.25 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) ; '''Death rate''' : 12.63 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) ; '''Net migration rate''' : 2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) ; '''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:'' 1.09 male(s)/female ''total population:'' 1 male(s)/female (2002 est.) ; '''Infant mortality rate''' : 76.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) ; '''Life expectancy at birth''' : ''total population:'' 53.98 years ''female:'' 56.01 years (2002 est.) ''male:'' 52.02 years ; '''Total fertility rate''' : 5.61 children born/woman (2002 est.) ; '''HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate''' : 1.95% (1999 est.) ; '''HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS''' : 13,000 (1999 est.) ; '''HIV/AIDS - deaths''' : 1,400 (1999 est.) ; '''Nationality''' : ''noun:'' Gambian(s) ''adjective:'' Gambian ; '''Ethnic groups''' : African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% ; '''Religions''' : Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1% ; '''Literacy''' : ''definition:'' age 15 and over can read and write ''total population:'' 47.5% ''male:'' 58.4% ''female:'' 37.1% (2001 est.) ==Government== ; '''Country name''' : ''conventional long form:'' Republic of The Gambia ''conventional short form:'' The Gambia ; '''Government type''' : republic under multiparty democratic rule ; '''Legal system''' : based on a composite of English common law, Koranic 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 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 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% ; '''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, ; '''Judicial branch''' : Supreme Court ; '''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 ; '''International organization participation''' : ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ; '''Diplomatic representation in the US''' : ''chief of mission:'' Ambassador Essa Bokar SEY ''chancery:'' Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 ''FAX:'' [1] (202) 785-1430 ''telephone:'' [1] (202) 785-1399 ; '''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 ; '''Flag description''' : three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green ==Economy== ; '''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 Banjul. 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. Record crops undergirded sturdy growth in 2001. ; '''GDP''' : purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2001 est.) ; '''GDP - real growth rate''' : 5.7% (2001 est.) ; '''GDP - per capita''' : purchasing power parity - $1,770 (2001 est.) ; '''GDP - composition by sector''' : ''agriculture:'' 21% ''industry:'' 12% ''services:'' 67% (1998 est.) ; '''Population below poverty line''' : NA% ; '''Household income or consumption by percentage share''' : ''lowest 10%:'' NA% ''highest 10%:'' NA% ; '''Inflation rate (consumer prices)''' : 4% (2001 est.) ; '''Labor force''' : 400,000 400,000 ; '''Labor force - by occupation''' : agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6% ; '''Unemployment rate''' : NA% ; '''Budget''' : ''revenues:'' $90.5 million ''expenditures:'' $80.9 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1 million (2001 est.) ; '''Industries''' : processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing ; '''Industrial production growth rate''' : NA% ; '''Electricity - production''' : 75 million kWh (2000) ; '''Electricity - production by source''' : ''fossil fuel:'' 100% ''hydro:'' 0% ''other:'' 0% (2000) ''nuclear:'' 0% ; '''Electricity - consumption''' : 69.75 million kWh (2000) ; '''Electricity - exports''' : 0 kWh (2000) ; '''Electricity - imports''' : 0 kWh (2000) ; '''Agriculture - products''' : peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and fishery resources not fully exploited ; '''Exports''' : $139.2 million f.o.b. (2001) ; '''Exports - commodities''' : peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels ; '''Exports - partners''' : Benelux 26%, Japan 15%, UK 14%, Brazil 7% (2000) ; '''Imports''' : $200.3 million f.o.b. (2001) ; '''Imports - commodities''' : foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment ; '''Imports - partners''' : China (including Hong Kong) 18%, UK 10%, Netherlands 8%, France 6%, Brazil 6% (2000) ; '''Debt - external''' : $440 million (2001 est.) ; '''Economic aid - recipient''' : $45.4 million (1995) (1995) ; '''Currency''' : dalasi (GMD) ; '''Currency code''' : GMD ; '''Exchange rates''' : dalasi per US dollar - 15.000 (January 2001), 12.788 (2000), 11.395 (1999), 10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997) ; '''Fiscal year''' : calendar year ==Communications== ; '''Telephones - main lines in use''' : 31,900 (2000) ; '''Telephones - mobile cellular''' : 5,624 (2000) ; '''Telephone system''' : ''general assessment:'' adequate; a packet switched data network is available ''domestic:'' adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire ''international:'' microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) ; '''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 Service Providers (ISPs)''' : 2 (2001) ; '''Internet users''' : 5,000 (2001) ==Transportation== ; '''Railways''' : 0 km ; '''Highways''' : ''total:'' 2,700 km ''paved:'' 956 km ''unpaved:'' 1,744 km (1996) ; '''Waterways''' : 400 km ; '''Ports and harbors''' : Banjul ; '''Merchant marine''' : none (2002 est.) ; '''Airports''' : 1 (2001) ; '''Airports - with paved runways''' : ''total:'' 1 ''over 3,047 m:'' 1 (2002) ==Military== ; '''Military branches''' : Gambian National Army (GNA) (includes marine unit), National Police, Presidential Guard ; '''Military manpower - availability''' : ''males age 15-49:'' 327,677 (2002 est.) ; '''Military manpower - fit for military service''' : ''males age 15-49:'' 165,249 (2002 est.) ; '''Military expenditures - dollar figure''' : $1.2 million (FY01) ; '''Military expenditures - percent of GDP''' : 0.3% (FY01) ==Transnational Issues== ; '''Disputes - international''' : none First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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