country comparison to the world: 4
1.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.835 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 122
$1.623 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.764 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$2.468 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.074 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$826.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical
softwood); fish
Industries:
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship
repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity - production:
1.774 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - consumption:
1.446 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
241,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Oil - exports:
227,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Oil - imports:
4,185 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Oil - proved reserves:
2 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - production:
90 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - consumption:
90 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Current account balance:
$591 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$887 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$6.803 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$6.04 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 70%, timber, manganese, uranium
Exports - partners:
Russia 30.62%, US 16.56%, China 15.87%, France 4.28% (2009)
Imports:
$2.433 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$2.298 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction
materials
Imports - partners:
France 32.21%, US 7.92%, China 7.02%, Belgium 4.99%, Italy 4.81%,
Cameroon 4.56%, Netherlands 4.35% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.602 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$1.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.374 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$2.352 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar -
507.71 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.89
(2006)
Communications ::Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:
26,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.373 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic: a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers
is making telephone service more widely available; subscribership
reached 90 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state owns and operates 2 TV stations and 2 radio broadcast
stations; a few private radio and TV stations are operational;
transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are
accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.ga
Internet hosts:
90 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 205
Internet users:
98,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
Transportation ::Gabon
Airports:
44 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 97
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 240 km; oil 858 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 814 km
country comparison to the world: 100
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 9,170 km
country comparison to the world: 138
paved: 937 km
unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)
Waterways:
1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 51
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 148
Ports and terminals:
Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil
Military ::Gabon
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for voluntary military service; there is no
conscription (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 344,147
females age 16-49: 345,292 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 198,970
females age 16-49: 192,807 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 17,283
female: 17,276 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
Transnational Issues ::Gabon
Disputes - international:
UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty
dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to
establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Gabon is predominantly a destination country for
children trafficked from other African countries for the purpose of
forced labor; girls are primarily trafficked for domestic servitude,
forced market vending, forced restaurant labor, and sexual
exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced street hawking
and forced labor in small workshops
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Gabon is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat
human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to
convict and punish trafficking offenders; the government has not
reported the convictions or sentences of any trafficking offenders;
the government did not take steps to reduce demand for commercial
sex acts (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Gambia, The (Africa)
Introduction ::Gambia, The
Background:
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 A. J. J. 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 2006.
Geography ::Gambia, The
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 11,295 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,295 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season
(November to May)
Terrain:
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m
Natural resources:
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land use:
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
8 cu km (1982)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of
Africa
People ::Gambia, The
Population:
1,824,158 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 389,877/female 386,218)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 472,216/female 479,595)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,985/female 25,190) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.528% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Birth rate:
37.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Death rate:
12.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 22
male: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.07 years
country comparison to the world: 201
male: 52.32 years
female: 55.86 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli
9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous
vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 170
Government ::Gambia, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North
Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January
1997
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and
customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 22 September 2006 (next to
be held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa
SALLAH 6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by
popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya
A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's Democratic
Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and
Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; 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 [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP
[Ousainou DARBOE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building
Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network
Gambia or YENGambia
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM
chancery: Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cindy GREGG
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
FAX: [220] 439-2475
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges,
and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents
the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the
white stripes denote unity and peace
National anthem:
name: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional
Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"
Economy ::Gambia, The
Economy - 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.
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 the past few years, The
Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic
activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly.
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. The
quality of fiscal management, however, is weak. The government has
promised to raise civil service wages over the next two years and
the deficit is projected to worsen.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.406 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
$3.244 billion (2009 est.)
$3.073 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.04 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
5.6% (2009 est.)
6.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$1,800 (2009 est.)
$1,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.1%
industry: 16.3%
services: 53.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
777,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 146
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.2 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 23
Investment (gross fixed):
28% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
4.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 38
11% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
27% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
27.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$222.9 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 172
$210.2 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$453.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$438.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$293.5 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$283.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca),
palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages,
agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
8.9%
country comparison to the world: 21
note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in
the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2010
est.)
Electricity - production:
160 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - consumption:
148.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - exports:
42 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - imports:
2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Current account balance:
-$90 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
-$81 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$107 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
$95 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:
India 42.06%, France 15.34%, UK 9.03%, China 7.38%, Hong Kong 4.55%,
Belgium 3.97% (2009)
Imports:
$306 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
$280 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:
China 20.45%, Senegal 11.97%, Brazil 8.48%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.71%,
Netherlands 4.68%, US 4.49% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$203 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$224 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$530 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$489 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 28.5193 (2010), 26.67 (2009), 22.75
(2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006)
Communications ::Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
49,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.433 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 140
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire
network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized
in 2007
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided
by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons
in 2009
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; a landing station for the Africa Coast to
Europe (ACE) undersea fiber-optic cable is scheduled for completion
in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station
and 4 privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple
international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio;
foreign cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable
in some parts of the country (2007)
Internet country code:
.gm
Internet hosts:
1,453 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 162
Internet users:
130,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
Transportation ::Gambia, The
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 211
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 3,742 km
country comparison to the world: 159
paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
Waterways: