The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya Jammeh led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. Jammeh has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.

Country Name:

• conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
• conventional short form: The Gambia

Capital:

• name: Banjul
• geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
• time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Independence:

• 18 February 1965 (from the UK)

Government Type:

• republic

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Yahya Jammeh (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy (since 20 March 1997)
  
• head of government: President Yahya Jammeh (since 18 October 1996)
• cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
• elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016)

Legislative Branch:

• structure: unicameral National Assembly

Judicial Branch:

• structure: Supreme Court

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Population:

• 1,925,527 (global rank: 150)
• growth rate: 2.23% (global rank: 43)

Nationality:

• noun: Gambian(s)
• adjective: Gambian

Major Cities:

• Banjul (capital): 506,000

Ethnic Groups:

• 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%

Languages:

• English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Life Expectancy at Birth:

• total population: 64.36 years (global rank: 176)
• male: 62.04 years
• female: 66.74 years

Infant Mortality:

• total population: 65.74 deaths/1,000 live births (global rank: 18)
• male: 71.21 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 60.11 deaths/1,000 live births

HIV/AIDS:

• adult prevalence rate: 1.3% (2012 est.) (global rank: 35)
• people living with AIDS: 14,300 (2012 est.) (global rank: 92)

Literacy:

• definition: age 15 and over can read and write
• total population: 51.1%
• male: 60.9%
• female: 41.9%

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Overview: 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. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In 2012, however, sluggish tourism led to a decline in GDP. Tourism brings in about one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture also took a hit in 2012 due to unfavorable weather patterns. The Gambia's re-export trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports. 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.

Gross Domestic Product:

• GDP (PPP): $3.678 billion (global rank: 177)
• GDP per capita (PPP): $2,000 (global rank: 195)
• real growth rate: 6.4% (global rank: 30)
• composition by sector: agriculture: 19.7%, industry: 12.6%, services: 67.7%

Currency:

• currency: Dalasis (GMD)
• exchange rate (per US Dollar): 36.59

Poverty:

• population below poverty line: 48.4%
• unemployment rate: NA

Agricultural Products:

• rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

• peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Exports Commodities:

• peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Imports Commodities:

• foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Location:

• Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Area:

• total: 196,722 sq km (global rank: 88)
• land: 192,530 sq km
• water: 4,192 sq km
• comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota

Climate:

• tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Land Use:

• arable land: 39.82%
• permanent crops: 0.44%
• other: 59.73%

Natural Resources:

• fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon

Current Environmental Issues:

• deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

• international disputes: 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
• refugees (country of origin): 9,025 (Senegal)
• human trafficking: The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Gambian women, children, and, to a lesser extent, boys are exploited for prostitution and domestic servitude; women, girls, and boys from West African countries are trafficked to the Gambia for sexual exploitation, particularly catering to European tourists seeking sex with children; some Gambian trafficking victims have been identified in neighboring West African countries and the UK; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging