Islamic countries

Islamic countries

REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA

REPUBLIQUE DE GAMBIE

General Information

Total Land Area:	10,000 km²
Land boundaries:	740 km
Coastline:	80 km
Capital:	Banjul
Other Large Cities:	Serekunda, Brikama
Official Language:	English
National Currency Unit:	Dalasi (GMD)
National Day:	February 18

Location and Geography

Named after the river Gambia, which flows through its length from East to West, Gambia is a relatively small country in West Africa. It is situated on the Atlantic Coast at the Bulge of West Africa and is in the Savannah Region. It is a semi-enclave in Senegal. It has borders with Senegal in three directions and the Atlantic shore lies to the West. The river Gambia is the dominating feature and provides a useful means of transportation and irrigation. It is also a rich source for fishing. The coast and riverbanks consist largely of mangrove swamps and the lower part of the river has steep banks which are covered with tropical forest. Away from the river, there is wooded grassland. The weather is subtropical with distinct dry and rainy seasons.

Demography

Population:	1.41 million (2002)
Crude Birth Rate:	37 per thousand people (2002)
Crude Death Rate:	14 per thousand people (2002)
Infant Mortality Rate:	91 per thousand (2002)
Life Expectancy:	Male: 52 years, Female: 55 years (2002)
Urban Population:	32.0 percent (2002)
Adult Literacy:	37.80 percent (2001)

Economy

Gambia’s economy depends mostly on the cultivation and export of groundnuts in the form of nuts, oil and cattle cake. Forestry and fisheries remain the dominant sub-sectors, providing employment for most of the population. There are some small-scale manufacturing activities engaged in the processing of peanuts, fish and hides. Tourism, groundnut processing and oil milling activities are also worth mentioning. There has been investment in shrimp farming and poultry in recent years. Shoes, cement and bricks, metal works, soap and plastics are among the other manufactured goods that contribute to the economy.

GDP at Current Market Prices:	337 million US$ (2001)
Per Capita GDP:	246 US$ (2001)
Share of Sectors in GDP:	26.0% Agriculture, 14.0% Industry, 60.0% Services, (2002)
Total Exports:	29 million US$ (2002)
Total Imports:	409 million US$ (2002)
Major Exports Items:	Peanuts and peanut products, fish and fish preparation, fruits and vegetables, hide and skin and cotton
Major Imports Items:	Foodstuffs, manufactured goods, raw materials and machinery
Major Trading Partners:	UK, China, France, Italy and Brazil