The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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:

       1,501,050 (July 2003 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 44.9% (male 338,497; female 335,503)

       15–64 years: 52.4% (male 390,150; female 396,763)

       65 years and over: 2.7% (male 20,836; female 19,301) (2003 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 17.4 years

       male: 17.3 years

       female: 17.6 years (2002)

      Population growth rate:

       3.03% (2003 est.)

      Birth rate:

       40.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Death rate:

       12.35 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 1.08 male(s)/female

       total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 74.93 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

       male: 81.67 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 54.38 years

       male: 52.39 years

       female: 56.44 years (2003 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       5.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       1.6% (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       8,400 (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       400 (2001 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: 40.1%

       male: 47.8%

       female: 32.8% (2003 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 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; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he 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 leaders:

       NA

      International organization participation:

       ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,

       ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,