About The Gambia
Overview
The Gambia, a country on the western coast of Africa, fronting the Atlantic Ocean. Senegal encloses the country on the other three sides. Straddling the Gambia River, the country extends eastward for about 320 km (200 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean. At its widest, this narrow country measures only about 50 km (30 mi) across.
The Gambia became a British colony during the 1800s. It gained its independence in 1965. Following independence, The Gambia was regarded by Westerners as a stable democracy until a bloodless military coup in 1994 removed its president. Yahya Jammeh, the military leader who became president after the coup, was subsequently reelected. In the December 2016 presidential elections, His Excellency President Adama Barrow was elected as the President of the 3rd Republic of The Gambia.
Name: Republic of The Gambia
Capital City: Banjul
Currency: Gambian Dalasi
Time Zone: GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Calling Code: +220
Country Profile
| Land | |
| Geographical Location1 | West Africa |
| Land Area2 | 11, 300 KM2 |
| Population Density3 | 174 Person KM2 |
| Population | |
| Population4 | 2,706,000 |
| Population, female (% of total)5 | 50.4 (2019) |
| Population, male (% of total)6 | 49.6 (2019) |
| Urban population (% of total)7 | 61.9 (2019) |
| Urban population growth rate (annual %)8 | 4.0 (2019) |
| Rural population (% of total population)9 | 38.0 (2019) |
| Population ages 15-19, female (% of female population)12 | 10.6 (2019) |
| Population ages 15-19, male (% of male population)13 | 10.8 (2019) |
| Type14 | Presidential Republic |
| Electoral Cycle15 | 5 Years |
| Constitution16 | 1997 Constitution of The Republic of The Gambia |
| The proportion of seats held by women in National Parliament(%)17 | 10.3 (2019) |
| Key Political events18 | 18 February 1965 gained Independence |
| Number of Local Government Areas19 | 8 |
| Economy | |
| GDP ( USD Billion)20 | 1.90 (2020) |
| GDP per capita (USD)21 | 807 (2019) |
| GDP per capita growth (annual %)22 | -2.9 (2020) |
| Trade (% of GDP)23 | 55.5% (2019) |
| Net official development assistance received ( USD)24 | 194, 039, 993.286 (2019) |
| Net ODA received per capita (USD)25 | 82.7 (2019) |
| Social Indicators | |
| Proportion of the Population living below $1.25 /per day26 | 48.6 (2015 – 2016) |
| Domestic general government health expenditure (% of GDP)27 | 0.9 (2018) |
| Domestic general government health expenditure (% of current health expenditure)28 | 30.6 (2018) |
| Current Health Expenditure per capita (USD)29 | 22.2 (2018) |
| Domestic private health expenditure per capita (USD)30 | 33.3 (2018) |
| Prevelence of anaemia among pregnant women (%)31 | 55.1 (2019) |
| Demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods (% of married women with demad for family planning)32 | 41.3 (2019 – 2020) |
| Maternal Mortality ratio (per 100, 000 live births)33 | 289 (2019 – 2020) |
| Mortality rate, neonatal (per 1, 000 live births)34 | 29 (2019 – 2020) |
| Mortality rate, under – 5 (per 1, 000 live births)35 | 56 (2019 – 2020) |
| Fertility rate, total (births per woman)36 | 4.4 (2019 – 2020) |
| Life Expectancy at birth, Female37 | 63.5 (2019) |
| Life Expectancy at birth, Male38 | 60.6 (2019) |
| Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15 – 49)39 | 19.0 (2019 – 2020) |
| Contraceptive prevalence, modern methods (% of women ages 15 – 49)40 | 17.0 (2019 – 2020) |
| Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1000 women ages 15 – 19)41 | 65.0 (2019 – 2020) |
| Birth attended by skilled health personnel42 | 83.8 (2019 – 2020) |
| HIV prevalence rate for the population aged (15 – 49 years)43 | Total 1.9 (2013) |
| Male 1.7 (2013) | |
| Female 2.1 (2013) | |
| Umemployment rate for the population aged (15 – 49 years)44 | Total 35.2 (2018) |
| Male 42.9 (2018) | |
| Female 57.1 (2018) | |
| Youth Unemployment Rate (15 – 35 Years)45 | 41.5 (2018) |
| Youth not in employment, education or training (NEET)46 | Total 56.8 (2018) |
| Male 44.7 (2018) | |
| Female 56.3 (2018) | |
| Literacy rate for the population aged (15 – 49 years)47 | Male 63.4 (2018) |
| Female 48.1 (2018) | |
| The proportion of the population with access to safely managed drinking water48 | 33.8 (2018) |
| The proportion of the population with access to improve sanitary facilities49 | 61.8 (2018) |
1 https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Gambia
2 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/census-2013-8
3 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/census-2013-8
4 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=GM
5 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS?locations=GM
6 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.MA.ZS?locations=GM
7 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL?locations=GM
8 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.GROW?locations=GM
9 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL?locations=GM
10 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZG?locations=GM
11 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW?locations=GM
12 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.1519.FE.5Y?locations=GM
13 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.1519.MA.5Y?locations=GM
14 https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/the-gambia/government
15 https://www.moj.gm/downloads
16 https://www.moj.gm/downloads
17 https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/263072020GambiaVNR.pdf
18 https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/gambia/gambia-independence-day
19 The Gambia National Policy for Decentralization and Local Government (2015-2024)
20 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=GM
21 Gambia Bureau of Statistic 2019
22 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.KD.ZG?locations=GM
23 https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/GMB/gambia/trade-gdp-ratio
24 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/DT.ODA.ODAT.CD?locations=GM
25 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/DT.ODA.ODAT.PC.ZS?locations=GM
26 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/integrated-household-survey-ihs-24
27 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.GHED.GD.ZS?locations=GM
28 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.GHED.CH.ZS?locations=GM
29 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD?locations=GM
30 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.PVTD.CH.ZS?locations=GM
31 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.PRG.ANEM?locations=GM
32 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
33 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
34 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
35 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
36 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
37 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN?locations=GM
38 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.MA.IN?locations=GM
39 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
40 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
41 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
42 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-76
43 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/reports-fact-sheets-73
44 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/gambia-labour-force-survey-29
45 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/gambia-labour-force-survey-29
46 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/gambia-labour-force-survey-29
47 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/the-mics-survey-findings-report-58
48 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/the-mics-survey-findings-report-58
49 https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/the-mics-survey-findings-report-58
Natural Resources
The main natural resource of The Gambia is the River Gambia, one of Africa’s best navigable waterways. Small ocean-going vessels can go upstream for about 200 km (125 mi) from the coast, and smaller craft can continue for another 200 km. The country’s soil is mostly poor and sandy, except in the swamps along the rivers. However, this sandy soil is ideally suited for the cultivation of peanuts, upon which the economy depends. Fish are increasing in economic importance. Seismic surveys have indicated the possibility that petroleum and natural gas exist offshore.
Climate
The Gambia has a tropical climate with well-defined rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from June to October. Agricultural production must be concentrated during this season. Rainfall varies considerably from year to year, averaging about 1,020 mm (about 40 in). But it ranges from less than 750 mm (30 in) to more than 1,500 mm (60 in).
The dry season extends from November to May. During March, April, and May, the harmattan, a hot, dry, dusty wind, frequently blows from the Sahara, bringing temperatures that exceed 38°C (100°F) to the interior of the country. Temperatures along with the coast range from 18°C (65°F) in the wet season to 32°C (90°F) in the dry season.
Plants and Animals
The natural vegetation of the upland areas consists of wooded, but open, savanna. However, intensive clearing for agriculture has destroyed most of the original tree cover. The government has set aside some areas as forest parks and has planted trees in other areas. Mangroves grow in abundance along the Gambia River, and oil palms have been planted on plantations.
Wild animal life has become scarce in The Gambia, but the birdlife is exceptionally rich, especially in the large mangroves near the rivers. The animals most commonly seen include monkeys, baboons, wild boar, and several species of antelope. Hippopotamuses and crocodiles can be seen in the central and upper zones of the Gambia River. Lions and hyenas live in the Abuko Nature Reserve, 24 km (15 miles) from Banjul.
The People
Population: 2,706,000
Official language: English
A variety of ethnic groups live side by side in The Gambia while preserving individual languages and traditions. The main ethnic groups are the Mandinka (also known as Mandingo or Malinke), Fula, and Wolof. The Mandinka, the largest ethnic group, make up more than 40 per cent of the country’s inhabitants. The Fula (Fulani), about 18 per cent of Gambians, predominate in the eastern part of the country. The Wolof, about 16 per cent of the people, live mainly in Banjul and the western region. Smaller groups include the Jola, who live in the western region, and the Sarahulleh, whose rulers introduced Islam into the region in the 12th century. There is also a small Creole community, the Aku, who are descended from liberated slaves and from European traders who married African women. Most of The Gambia’s people live in rural areas.
Arts and Culture
The Gambia has a strong musical tradition, often associated with weddings, feast-days such as the end of Ramadan, or Christmas. Traditional instruments include the kora (lute), bala (xylophone ), and the tama (hand-held drum). Though the majority of the population is Muslim, Christmas brings a celebration with large lanterns called fanals, often in the shape of boats or houses and intricately decorated. The fanals are paraded through the streets to singing and chanting.
