Dictionary    Maps    Thesaurus    Translate    Advanced >   


Tip: Click Thesaurus above for synonyms. Also, follow synonym links within the dictionary to find definitions from other sources.

1. CIA World Factbook 2002
Gambia, The

   Introduction Gambia, The
   ------------------------
                            Background: The Gambia gained its independence
                                        from the UK in 1965; it formed a
                                        short-lived federation of Senegambia
                                        with Senegal between 1982 and 1989.
                                        In 1991 the two nations signed a
                                        friendship and cooperation treaty. A
                                        military coup in 1994 overthrew the
                                        president and banned political
                                        activity, but a new 1996
                                        constitution and presidential
                                        elections, followed by parliamentary
                                        balloting in 1997, completed a
                                        nominal return to civilian rule. The
                                        country undertook another round of
                                        presidential and legislative
                                        elections in late 2001 and early
                                        2002.
  
   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: 11,300 sq km
                                        land: 10,000 sq km
                                        water: 1,300 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: contiguous zone: 18 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                                        continental shelf: not specified
                                        exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
                               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 location 53 m
                     Natural resources: fish
                              Land use: arable land: 19.5%
                                        permanent crops: 0.5%
                                        other: 80% (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1998 est.)
                       Natural hazards: drought (rainfall has dropped by 30%
                                        in the last 30 years)
          Environment - current issues: deforestation; desertification;
                                        water-borne diseases prevalent
            Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
                            agreements: Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
                                        Protocol, Desertification,
                                        Endangered Species, Hazardous
                                        Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
                                        Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
                                        Pollution, Wetlands
                                        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: 1,455,842 (July 2002 est.)
                         Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.1% (male 329,530;
                                        female 326,627)
                                        15-64 years: 52.3% (male 377,357;
                                        female 383,548)
                                        65 years and over: 2.6% (male
                                        20,237; female 18,543) (2002 est.)
                Population growth rate: 3.09% (2002 est.)
                            Birth rate: 41.25 births/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                            Death rate: 12.63 deaths/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                    Net migration rate: 2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population
                                        (2002 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: 1.09 male(s)/
                                        female
                                        total population: 1 male(s)/female
                                        (2002 est.)
                 Infant mortality rate: 76.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
                                        est.)
              Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.98 years
                                        female: 56.01 years (2002 est.)
                                        male: 52.02 years
                  Total fertility rate: 5.61 children born/woman (2002 est.)
      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.95% (1999 est.)
     HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 13,000 (1999 est.)
                                  AIDS:
                     HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,400 (1999 est.)
                           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%
                             Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous
                                        beliefs 1%
                             Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof,
                                        Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
                              Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
                                        and write
                                        total population: 47.5%
                                        male: 58.4%
                                        female: 37.1% (2001 est.)
  
   Government Gambia, The
   ----------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
                                        The Gambia
                                        conventional short form: The Gambia
                       Government type: republic under multiparty democratic
                                        rule
                               Capital: Banjul
              Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*,
                                        Central River, Lower River, North
                                        Bank, Upper River, Western
                          Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK)
                      National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
                          Constitution: 24 April 1970; suspended July 1994;
                                        rewritten and approved by national
                                        referendum 8 August 1996;
                                        reestablished in January 1997
                          Legal system: based on a composite of English
                                        common law, Koranic 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 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; note - from 1994 to 1996 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
                                        cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
                                        president
                                        elections: president elected by
                                        popular vote for a five-year term;
                                        the number of terms is not
                                        restricted; election last held 18
                                        October 2001 (next to be held NA
                                        October 2006)
                                        election results: Yahya A. J. J.
                                        JAMMEH reelected president; percent
                                        of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH
                                        52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%
                    Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (53
                                        seats; 48 elected by popular vote,
                                        five appointed by the president;
                                        members serve five-year terms)
                                        elections: last held 17 January 2002
                                        (next to be held NA January 2007)
                                        election results: percent of vote by
                                        party - NA%; seats by party - APRC
                                        45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
                       Judicial branch: Supreme Court
         Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation
                                        and Construction or APRC [Yahya A.
                                        J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's
                                        Party-Progressive People's Party-
                                        United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-
                                        UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE];
                                        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 [Sidia JATTA]
                                        note: in August 2001, an independent
                                        electoral commission allowed the
                                        reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and
                                        PPP, three parties banned since 1996
          Political pressure groups and NA
                               leaders:
             International organization ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO,
                         participation: G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
                                        IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
                                        IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM,
                                        OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
                                        UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU,
                                        WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
                                        WTrO
   Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John P.
                                        BOJANG
                                        chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th
                                        Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
                                        FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
                                        telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399
     Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson
                                    US: McDONALD
                                        embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue,
                                        Banjul
                                        mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19,
                                        Banjul
                                        telephone: [220] 392856, 392858,
                                        391970, 391971
                                        FAX: [220] 392475
                      Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red
                                        (top), blue with white edges, and
                                        green
  
   Economy Gambia, The
   -------------------
                    Economy - overview: The Gambia has no important mineral
                                        or other natural resources and has a
                                        limited agricultural base. About 75%
                                        of the population depends on crops
                                        and livestock for its livelihood.
                                        Small-scale manufacturing activity
                                        features the processing of peanuts,
                                        fish, and hides. Reexport trade
                                        normally constitutes a major segment
                                        of economic activity, but a 1999
                                        government-imposed preshipment
                                        inspection plan, and instability of
                                        the Gambian dalasi (currency) have
                                        drawn some of the reexport trade
                                        away from Banjul. The government's
                                        1998 seizure of the private peanut
                                        firm Alimenta eliminated the largest
                                        purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the
                                        following two marketing seasons have
                                        seen substantially lower prices and
                                        sales. A decline in tourism in 2000
                                        has also held back growth.
                                        Unemployment and underemployment
                                        rates are extremely high. Shortrun
                                        economic progress remains highly
                                        dependent on sustained bilateral and
                                        multilateral aid, on responsible
                                        government economic management as
                                        forwarded by IMF technical help and
                                        advice, and on expected growth in
                                        the construction sector. Record
                                        crops undergirded sturdy growth in
                                        2001.
                                   GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5
                                        billion (2001 est.)
                GDP - real growth rate: 5.7% (2001 est.)
                      GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,770
                                        (2001 est.)
           GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21%
                                        industry: 12%
                                        services: 67% (1998 est.)
         Population below poverty line: NA%
     Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
                      percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2001 est.)
                           Labor force: 400,000
           Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry, commerce,
                                        and services 19%, government 6%
                     Unemployment rate: NA%
                                Budget: revenues: $90.5 million
                                        expenditures: $80.9 million,
                                        including capital expenditures of
                                        $4.1 million (2001 est.)
                            Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides;
                                        tourism; beverages; agricultural
                                        machinery assembly, woodworking,
                                        metalworking; clothing
     Industrial production growth rate: NA%
              Electricity - production: 75 million kWh (2000)
    Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
                                        hydro: 0%
                                        other: 0% (2000)
                                        nuclear: 0%
             Electricity - consumption: 69.75 million kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
                Agriculture - products: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice,
                                        corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca),
                                        palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats;
                                        forest and fishery resources not
                                        fully exploited
                               Exports: $139.2 million (f.o.b., 2001)
                 Exports - commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish,
                                        cotton lint, palm kernels
                    Exports - partners: Benelux 26%, Japan 15%, UK 14%,
                                        Brazil 7% (2000)
                               Imports: $200.3 million (f.o.b., 2001)
                 Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel,
                                        machinery and transport equipment
                    Imports - partners: China (including Hong Kong) 18%, UK
                                        10%, Netherlands 8%, France 6%,
                                        Brazil 6% (2000)
                       Debt - external: $440 million (2001 est.)
              Economic aid - recipient: $45.4 million (1995)
                              Currency: dalasi (GMD)
                         Currency code: GMD
                        Exchange rates: dalasi per US dollar - 15.000
                                        (January 2001), 12.788 (2000),
                                        11.395 (1999), 10.643 (1998), 10.200
                                        (1997)
                           Fiscal year: calendar year
  
   Communications Gambia, The
   --------------------------
        Telephones - main lines in use: 31,900 (2000)
          Telephones - mobile cellular: 5,624 (2000)
                      Telephone system: general assessment: adequate; a
                                        packet switched data network is
                                        available
                                        domestic: adequate network of
                                        microwave radio relay and open wire
                                        international: microwave radio relay
                                        links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
                                        satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
                                        (Atlantic Ocean)
              Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
                                Radios: 196,000 (1997)
         Television broadcast stations: 1 (government-owned) (1997)
                           Televisions: 5,000 (2000)
                 Internet country code: .gm
     Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2001)
                        Internet users: 5,000 (2001)
  
   Transportation Gambia, The
   --------------------------
                                          Railways: 0 km
                                          Highways: total: 2,700 km
                                                    paved: 956 km
                                                    unpaved: 1,744 km (1996)
                                         Waterways: 400 km
                                 Ports and harbors: Banjul
                                   Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
                                          Airports: 1 (2001)
                     Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
                                                    over 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
  
   Military Gambia, The
   --------------------
                     Military branches: Gambian National Army (GNA)
                                        (includes marine unit), National
                                        Police, Presidential Guard
      Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 327,677 (2002 est.)
   Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 165,249 (2002 est.)
                               service:
         Military expenditures - dollar $1.2 million (FY01)
                                figure:
     Military expenditures - percent of 0.3% (FY01)
                                   GDP:
  
   Transnational Issues Gambia, The
   --------------------------------
                                              Disputes - international: none
  
                                       



Common Misspellings >
Most Popular Searches: Define Misanthrope, Define Pulchritudinous, Define Happy, Define Veracity, Define Cornucopia, Define Almuerzo, Define Atresic, Define URL, Definitions Of Words, Definition Of Get Up, Definition Of Quid Pro Quo, Definition Of Irreconcilable Differences, Definition Of Word, Synonyms of Repetitive, Synonym Dictionary, Synonym Antonyms. See our main index and map index for more details.

©2011-2024 ZebraWords.com - Define Yourself - The Search for Meanings and Meaning Means I Mean. All content subject to terms and conditions as set out here. Contact Us, peruse our Privacy Policy