Gambia, The

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Gambia, The

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Republic of the Gambia Area 10,402 sq km/4,016 sq mi Capital Banjul Language English (official), Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, other indigenous dialects Religion Muslim 85%, with animist and Christian minorities Time difference GMT +/-0 Major holidays 1 January, 1, 18 February, 1 May, 15 August, 25 December; variable: Eid-ul-Adha, Ashora, end of Ramadan (2 days), Good Friday, Prophet's Birthday


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Serekunda, Brikama, Bakau, Farafenni, Sukuta, Gunjur, Basse Physical features consists of narrow strip of land along the River Gambia; river flanked by low hills Airports one international airport; total passengers carried: 19,000 (1999) Railways none Roads total road network: 3,741 km/2,325 mi, of which 19.3% paved (2003 est); passenger cars: 7.8 per 1,000 people (2003 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state and government Yahya Jammeh from 1994 Political system transitional Political executive transitional Administrative divisions five divisions and one city (Banjul) Political parties Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), authoritarian, anti-democratic; National Reconciliation Party (NRP), reformist, pro-democratic; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), socialist; United Democratic Party (UDP), reformist. The Progressive People's Party (PPP), moderate centrist; National Convention Party (NCP), left of centre; and the Gambian People's Party (GPP) were all banned in 1996 Death penalty retains the death penalty for ordinary crimes but can be considered abolitionist in practice; date of last known execution 1981 Armed forces 800 (2006 est) Conscription military service is voluntary Defence spend (% GDP) 0.4 (2005 est) Education spend (% GDP) 2.8 (2003 est) Health spend (% GDP) 3.2 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency dalasi GDP (US$) 461 million (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 4.5 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 442 million (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 1,920 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 2.9% (2006 est) Unemployment 25% (2000) Labour force 70% agriculture, 8% industry, 22% services (2004 est) Foreign debt (US$) 674 million (2005 est) Major trading partners India, China, UK, Senegal, France, Brazil, Thailand, Germany, the Netherlands Resources ilmenite, zircon, rutile, petroleum (well discovered, but not exploited) Industries food processing (fish, fish products, and vegetable oils), beverages, construction materials Exports groundnuts and related products, cotton lint, fish and fish preparations, hides and skins. Principal market: India 37.6% (2005) Imports food and live animals, basic manufactures, machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuels and lubrications, miscellaneous manufactured articles, chemicals. Principal source: China 20.7% (2005) Arable land 27.9% (2006 est) Agricultural products groundnuts, cotton, rice, citrus fruits, avocados, sesame seed, millet, sorghum, maize; livestock rearing (cattle); fishing


POPULATION

Population 1,555,800 (2006 est) Population growth rate 2.3% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 149 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 26 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 40%, 15–59 54%, 60+ 6% (2005 est) Ethnic groups wide mix of ethnic groups, the largest is the Madinka (about 40%); other main groups are the Fula (13.5%), Wolof (13%), Jola (7%), and Serahuli (7%) Life expectancy 57 (men); 59 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 122 (2004) Education free, but not compulsory Literacy rate 47% (men); 33% (women) (2003 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 0.4 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 0.6 (2002 est HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 2.4 (2005 est) AIDS deaths 1,300 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 95 (urban); 77 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 2.9 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 16.3 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 394 (1999) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 15 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 1.6 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 3.4 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

13th century Wolof, Malinke (Mandingo), and Fulani tribes settled in the region from east and north. 14th century Became part of the great Muslim Mali Empire, which, centred to northeast, also extended across Senegal, Mali, and southern Mauritania. 1455 The Gambia River was first sighted by the Portuguese. 1663 and 1681 The British and French established small settlements on the river at Fort James and Albreda. 1843 The Gambia became British crown colony, administered with Sierra Leone until 1888. 1965 Independence achieved as constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, with Dawda K Jawara of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) as prime minister at head of multiparty democracy. 1970 The Gambia became republic, with Jawara as president. 1982 The Gambia formed Confederation of Senegambia with Senegal, which involved integration of military forces, economic and monetary union, and coordinated foreign policy. 1994 Jawara ousted in a military coup and fled to Senegal; Yahya Jammeh named acting head of state. 1996 Civilian constitution adopted. 1997 Jammeh elected president. 2004 Oil reserves discovered offshore. 2006 Attempted coup foiled; Jammeh re-elected. 2007 Ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) retained power in parliamentary elections.


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