Gambia (The)Download light PDF version

Overview

The smallest country in continental Africa, The Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1965. It is also the third smallest West African country in terms of population, ranking after Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.

The Gambia’s total population lives no more than 25 km from its sole land border. Senegal, its only border country, surrounds it on the north, south and east. The Gambia is intrinsically regional. It was part of the Senegambia Confederation with Senegal until 1989 (“Sénégambie”) and its population is integrated into the large ethno-linguistic groups within Senegal (Malinke in the East and Wolof to the West). The Mouride Brotherhood, whose capital is in Touba, Senegal, has a very strong and powerful presence in the country.

The country trades extensively with both Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, particularly in cereals, livestock, and imports of consumer goods.  Moreover, the common natural environment shared by The Gambia, the Casamance (southern Senegal) and Guinea-Bissau have made the area highly interdependent and strongly interconnected.

Institutional Framework

Government type: Republic
Constitution:

approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997

Legal system:
mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
Administrative division 5 divisions and 1 city*: Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Executive branch:
  • 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
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)
Judical branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties:
  • Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC ;
  • Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP ;
  • National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD ;
  • National Convention Party or NCP ;
  • National Reconciliation Party or NRP ;
  • People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS ;
  • United Democratic Party or UDP
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 

 

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%
Central bank: Central Bank of Gambia (CBG)
Military branches: Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2010)
Military age and obligations:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Membership in regional organisations:

AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, CILSS, OMVG, Ced-sad

Source: CIA Factbook, Country Profile The Gambia

Regional Indicators

  • Land boundaries: 740 km
  • Border countries: Senegal (740 km)
  • Coastline: 80 km
  • Airports: 1 with paved runways:  1 (2010)
  • Railways: -----
  • Roadways:  3 047km; paved: 723km; unpaved: 3 019 km (2004)
  • Waterways: 390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)
  • Ports and terminals: Banjul

 

Demographic Trends

  • Population 2010: 1 728 000
  • Projection 2050: 4 036 000
  • Population < 15 years: 760 320 (44% *1 728 000 = 760 320)
  • Population density: 153/ sq.km
  • Urban agglomeration: none
  • Annual Growth: 2.75% (2005-2010) > 2.68% (2005-2010)
  • Woman fertility (children per women): 5.10 (2005-2010)> 4.69 (2010-2015)
  • Median age: 17.8
  • Dependency ratio:133

Migration and Mobility

 

  • Number of emigrants (2010): 64 900 =3.7% of pop
  • Number of immigrants (2010): 290 100 = 16.6% of pop
  • Top destination countries: Spain, the United States, Nigeria, Senegal, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Sierra Leone, Norway, France
  • Refugees within country: 14 800 (2009)

 

Economic Indicators

  • GDP total 2010: USD 3525 million
  • GDP per capita: USD 2013
  • Annual Growth: 5.2%
  • Average growth (2002-10): 5.2%
  • Currency: Dalasis (GMD)
  • Inflation Rate: 4.6%
  • Main Exports: peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
  • Main Export partners: India 47.5%, France 12.6%, China 10.9%, UK 7.4% (2009)
  • Main Imports: foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
  • Main Import partners: China 22.1%, Senegal 9.3%, Brazil 8.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, India 4.5%, US 4.4% (2009)
  • Trade balance: USD -203 million
  • Net Foreign Direct Investment inflows: USD  47 million
  • Estimated Diaspora Remittances 2009: 7.9% of GDP
  • = USD 60 million
  • = 34.72 per capita
  • ODA received: USD 128 million
  • =as % of GDP: 36.31%
  • =per capita:  USD 74.07
  • Category: Low income (2011)
  • Public Spending on:
  • Education as a percentage of total government expenditure (2000-2007): 8.9%
  • Health as a percentage of total government expenditure (WHO, 2009): 8.7%
  • Military: 4.6 million USD =0.8% GDP (2007)
  • External Debt: USD 330 million
  • Debt service (as % of Exports 2010e): 31.2%
  • Public finance (% of GDP 2009):
  • Revenue and grants: 19%
  • Expenditures and net lending: 22%
  • Overall balance:-3
  • IMF Adjustment Programme: yes
  • Corruption Perception Index (xx/10) 2010: 3.2 (86/178)
  • Index of Economic Freedom (xx/100): 57.4 (105/179)
  • WB Doing Business index: 146/183
  • Ibrahim African Governance index: 55.2

 

Food Security

Global Hunger Index (IFPRI, 2011): 15
Food supply (kcal per capita/day) 2 345
Number of people undernourished:
0.3 million

:Percentage of people undernourished:

 19%
Child malnutrition, underweight: 20%
Child malnutrition, stunting: 22%

Land use

Land area (1 000 ha): 1 000
Agricultural land area (1 000 ha):
665

Arable land (1 000 ha):

 390
Permanent crops (1 000 ha): 5
Pastures (1 000 ha): 260
Irrigated land (1 000 ha): 2
Share in total water use by
  • agriculture: 65.4%
  • industry: 11.8%
  • domestic use: 22.9%
Forest area (1000 ha): 480

Source: FAOStat and FAO Country Profile

Social Indicators

Religion & Ethnicity

  • Ethnic Groups : Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, non-African 1%, other 4% (2003 census)
  • Major Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

 

Health

 

  • Life Expectancy: 55.8 (2005-2010)
  • Child Mortality (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) : 76.5
  • Under-five Mortality Rate (per 1000 live births) (2008): 106
  • Number of physicians (for 100 000 people) (2004): 10.2
  • Hospital Beds (for 10 000 people): 8 (2005)
  • Estimated HIV prevalence (2007): 0.9%

Education:

  • Adult literacy rate: (% age 15 and above): 45,3% (2008)
  • Youth Literacy Rate: 64,1% (2008)
  • Net Primary Enrolment Ratio: 220931 (2008)
  • Net Secondary Enrolment Ration: 105237 (2008)
  • Tertiary Students: N.A
  • University attendance Ration: 1,2% (2004)

 

ICT & Media:

 

  • Internet Access (per 100 inhabitants): 7.63
  • Internet domain: .gm
  • International dialing code: 220
  • Mobile line (per 100 inhabitants) 2009: 84.04
  • Main telephone line (per 100 inhabitants) 2009: 2.87

Basic Services

  • Access to electricity 2007: kWh 223 millions
  • Water supply coverage 2008: 92% (urban 96%, rural 86%)
  • Sanitation coverage2008: 67% (urban 68%, rural 65%)