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Background:
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The
Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; 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 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. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the
coup, has been elected president in all subsequent
elections. |
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Location:
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Western
Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 28 N,
16 34 W |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
less than twice the size of Delaware |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km |
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Coastline:
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80 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical;
hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season
(November to May) |
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Terrain:
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flood
plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish,
titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica
sand, clay, petroleum |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 25%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 74.5% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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20 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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drought
(rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years) |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases
prevalent |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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almost an
enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of
Africa |
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Population:
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1,593,256
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 44.5% (male 356,079/female 352,894)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 416,809/female 424,429)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,111/female
20,934) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
17.59 years
male: 17.45 years
female: 17.74 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.93%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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39.86
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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11.81
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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1.27
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
72.02 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 78.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 53.75 years
male: 51.91 years
female: 55.64 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.38
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.2%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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6,800
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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600 (2003
est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria,
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high
risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
(2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian |
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Ethnic groups:
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African
99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%,
Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% |
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Religions:
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Muslim
90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1% |
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Languages:
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English
(official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous
vernaculars |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia |
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Government type:
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republic
under multiparty democratic rule |
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Capital:
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Banjul
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Administrative divisions:
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5
divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower
River, North Bank, Upper River, Western |
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Independence:
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18
February 1965 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 18 February (1965) |
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Constitution:
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24 April
1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by
national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished January
1997 |
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Legal system:
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based on
a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and
customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Yahya A. J. J. 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 A. J. J.
JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996
was he 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; election last held 18 October 2001
(next to be held 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% |
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Legislative branch:
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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 February 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1, |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alliance
for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC -
the ruling party [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 |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB,
AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971
FAX: [220] 392475 |
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Flag description:
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three
equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white
edges, and green |
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Economy - overview:
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The
Gambia has no significant mineral or natural resource
deposits 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 The Gambia. The government's 1998 seizure of the
private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest
purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two
marketing seasons saw substantially lower prices and
sales. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing
key parastatals, no plans have been made public that
would indicate that the government intends to follow
through on its promises. Unemployment and
underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run
economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and
multilateral aid, on responsible government economic
management, on continued technical assistance from the
IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth in the
construction sector. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$2.799
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 26.8%
industry: 14.5%
services: 58.7% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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400,000
(1996) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%,
government 6% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA (2002
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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7% (2004
est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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25.3% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $44.85 million
expenditures: $59.94 million, including capital
expenditures of $4.1 million (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice,
millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava
(tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats |
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Industries:
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processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages;
agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking,
metalworking; clothing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA |
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Electricity - production:
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90.31
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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83.99
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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1,900
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Current account balance:
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$-16.4
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$114.4
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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peanut
products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
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Exports - partners:
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India
21.4%, Thailand 15.1%, UK 13.7%, France 12.9%, Germany
8.7%, Italy 7.5% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$180.9
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport
equipment |
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Imports - partners:
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China
23.7%, Senegal 11.6%, Brazil 5.9%, UK 5.5%, Netherlands
4.5%, US 4.4% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$113.1
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$476
million (2001 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$45.4
million (1995) |
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Currency (code):
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dalasi (GMD)
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Currency code:
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GMD |
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Exchange rates:
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dalasi
per US dollar - 27.306 (2003), 27.306 (2003), 19.918
(2002), 15.687 (2001), 12.788 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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38,400
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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100,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data
network is available
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio
relay and open-wire
international: country code - 220; microwave
radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 3, FM
2, shortwave 0 (2001) |
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Radios:
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196,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1
(government-owned) (1997) |
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Televisions:
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5,000
(2000) |
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Internet country code:
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.gm |
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Internet hosts:
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568
(2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2001)
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Internet users:
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25,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
2,700 km
paved: 956 km
unpaved: 1,744 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
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390 km
(on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach
190 km) (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Banjul
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Merchant marine:
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total:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,976 GRT/10,978 DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Switzerland 1) (2005) |
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Airports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Gambian
National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Presidential
Guard, National Guard |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 309,279 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 188,117 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$1
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.3%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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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 |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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