Geography

Area: 11,300 sq. km. (4,361 sq. mi.); less than half the size of Maryland.

Cities: Capital--Banjul (pop. 34,828 excluding suburbs; 2003 census
provisional).

Terrain: Flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by low hills.

Climate: Tropical; hot rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season
(November to May).



People

Nationality: Noun and adjective--Gambian(s).

Population (2009): 1.78 million.

Annual growth rate (2009 est.): 2.668%.

Urban population (2008): 57%.

Ethnic groups (2003 census): Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%,
Sarahule 9%, others 5%.

Non-Gambians 12.9% of the population.

Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, other 2%.

Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Jola, Sarahule, other
indigenous languages.

Education: Years compulsory--up to age eight. Attendance--69%
primary, 35% secondary. Adult literacy--40.1%.

Health: Life expectancy--55 years. Infant mortality rate--67/1,000.




Government

Type: Republic.

Independence: February 18, 1965.

Constitution: January 16, 1997.

Branches: Executive, legislative, and judicial.

Subdivisions: Capital and six divisions.

Political parties: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC),
United Democratic Party (UDP), National Reconciliation Party (NRP), National
Convention Party (NCP), Peoples Democratic Organization for Independence and
Socialism (PDOIS), National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM), and the Gambia
Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP).



Economy

GDP (2008): $808 million.

Annual growth rate (2008): 5.9%.

Per capita income (2008): $496.

Inflation rate (consumer prices in 2008): 4.5%.

Natural resources: Seismic studies indicate the possible presence of oil and gas
offshore.

Services (59% of GDP and 6% of labor force): tourism, foreign banking.

Agriculture (33.3% of GDP and 75% of labor force): Products--rice,
millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, fish, palm kernels, vegetables,
livestock, forestry.

Industry (7.6% of GDP and 19% of labor force): Types--peanut and
fish products, construction, telecommunications, brewing, soft drinks,
agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metal working, clothing and
textile manufacturing, food processing.

Trade: (2008 est.): Principal exports--$85 million:
groundnut products, fish and fish preparations, cotton lint, palm kernels,
re-exports. Major markets--India 30.5%, Japan 25.6%, Belgium
6.3%, China 5.5%, U.K. 5.3%, Spain 4.1%, U.S. 0.9%. Principal
imports--$299 million including food and beverages, manufactures, fuel,
machinery and transport equipment, minerals. Major suppliers--China
20.6%, Senegal 12.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.7%, Brazil 7.7%, Netherlands 5%, U.S.
3.3%.

Budget (2008): $155.6 million in revenues; $167.3 million in expenditures.

Official development assistance (ODA) received from all sources (2001): $50.9
million.

FY 2009 U.S. bilateral assistance: $120,000 in International Military Education
and Training.

Currency: Dalasi (GMD). 25 GMD = U.S. $1.