:The Gambia Geography Total area: 11,300 km2 Land area: 10,000 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware Land boundaries: 740 km; Senegal 740 km Coastline: 80 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 18 nm Continental shelf: not specific Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite 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 Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land 16%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 9%; forest and woodland 20%; other 55%; includes irrigated 3% Environment: deforestation Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa :The Gambia People Population: 902,089 (July 1992), growth rate 3.1% (1992) Birth rate: 47 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 129 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 47 years male, 51 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Gambian(s); adjective - Gambian Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%); non-Gambian 1% Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1% Languages: English (official); Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars Literacy: 27% (male 39%, female 16%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%; 55% population of working age (1983) Organized labor: 25-30% of wage labor force :The Gambia Government Long-form name: Republic of The Gambia Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule Capital: Banjul Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK); The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 (effective 1 February 1982) that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989 Constitution: 24 April 1970 Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965) Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Bakary Bunja DARBO (since 12 May 1982) Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; Gambian People's Party (GPP), Hassan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH Suffrage: universal at age 21 Elections: House of Representatives: last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held by March 1992); results - PPP 56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 31, NCP 5 President: last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 13.7% Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH; Chancery at Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005; telephone (202) 842-1356 or 842-1359 US: Ambassador Arlene RENDER; Embassy at Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul (mailing address is P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul); telephone Serrekunda [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971 :The Gambia Government Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green :The Gambia Economy Overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income of about $230. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing peanuts, fish, and hides - accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value). GDP: exchange rate conversion - $207 million, per capita $235; real growth rate 3% (FY91 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.0% (FY91) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $79 million; expenditures $84 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY90) Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., FY90) commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1, other 5% (1989) Imports: $147 million (f.o.b., FY90) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment partners: Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR/EE 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989) External debt: $336 million (December 1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90) Electricity: 30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; the other principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock - cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million Currency: dalasi (plural - dalasi); 1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 - 8.790 (March 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June :The Gambia Communications Highways: 3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 400 km Ports: Banjul Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 2,440-3,659 m Telecommunications: adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station :The Gambia Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police Manpower availability: males 15-49, 194,480; 98,271 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - more than $1 million, 0.7% of GDP (1989) \