Gambia

Gambia 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 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.

Gambia Information

• Population: 1,546,848 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian
• Location:: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
• Religions:: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
• Ethnic Groups:: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
• Land Boundaries:: total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km
• Area: total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 sq km
• Coast Line: 80 km
• 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
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified
• Land Use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 74.5% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
• Natural Resources: fish
• Highways: total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Banjul
• Airports: 1 (2003 est.)