Republic of The Gambia

Republic of Gambia (capital Banjul) and its neighboring state, Senegal

World Factbook as of November 2014: "The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood and the sector provides for about one-fifth of GDP. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides... Tourism brings in about one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture also took a hit in 2012 due to unfavorable weather patterns... Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high. Economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. International donors and lenders continue to be concerned about the quality of fiscal management and The Gambia's debt burden."

Economic growth rate
2011: 5.5%
2010: 6.1%
2009 6.7%

Labor force in agriculture
1996: 75%

Export commodities
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports partner s
2009: India 40.8%, China 15.6%, France 11.9%, UK 6.6%, US 4.5%

Export/Import ratio
2011: exports $120.4 million, imports $394.4 million.

Gambia receives more aid per capita than most poor nations, much more than Ethiopia, for example.

Income Distribution – GINI index
Ranks 23rd among 140 countries (lower rank number is less equal). Less equal than Britain, which ranks 94th, and the US, which ranks 45th.

Healthcare expenditures
2009: 10.1% of GDP

People

Living in an urban area
2010: 58%

Ethnic groups
2003 census: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%

Religions
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

Net migration rate
2012: A net loss of 2.46 persons per 1,000 people per year.

Literacy (age 15 and can read and write)
2003: male 47.8%, femaie 32.8%

Geography

Western Africa. A strip of land along the Gambia River. Twice the size of Delaware. Eighty kilometers of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Capital: Banjul.

Government

(As of May 2014) Chief of state and head of government: Yahya Jammeh (president) since 22 July 1994, Sunni Muslim, Colonel, came to power in a military coup, Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction.

President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits). Unicameral National Assembly with 53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serving five-year terms.)

History

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965.