Gambia, The

Introduction

Background

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived Confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991, the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, although tensions flared up intermittently during the regime of Yahya JAMMEH. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential election in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH was elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011. After 22 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, President JAMMEH was defeated in free and fair elections in December 2016. Due to The Gambia’s poor human rights record under JAMMEH, international development partners had distanced themselves, and substantially reduced aid to the country. These channels have now reopened under the administration of President Adama BARROW, who took office in January 2017. The US and The Gambia currently enjoy improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported military education and training programs, as well as various capacity building and democracy strengthening activities.  

Geography

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: 10,120 sq km
water: 1,180 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries

total: 749 km
border countries (1): Senegal 749 km

Coastline

80 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
contiguous zone: 18nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200nm

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

mean elevation: 34 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m

Natural resources

fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon

Land use

agricultural land: 56.1% (2011 est.)
arable land: 41% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0.5% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 14.6% (2011 est.)
forest: 43.9% (2011 est.)
other: 0% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast

Natural hazards

droughts

Environment - current issues

deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland

People and Society

Population

2,092,731 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Nationality

noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian

Ethnic groups

Mandinka/Jahanka 34%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo 22.4%, Wolof 12.6%, Jola/Karoninka 10.7%, Serahuleh 6.6%, Serer 3.2%, Manjago 2.1%, Bambara 1%, Creole/Aku Marabout 0.7%, other 0.9%, non-Gambian 5.2%, no answer 0.6% (2013 est.)

Languages

English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Religions

Muslim 95.7%, Christian 4.2%, none 0.1%, no response 0.1% (2013 est.)

Demographic profile

The Gambia’s youthful age structure – almost 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – is likely to persist because the country’s total fertility rate remains strong at nearly 4 children per woman. The overall literacy rate is around 55%, and is significantly lower for women than for men. At least 70% of the populace are farmers who are reliant on rain-fed agriculture and cannot afford improved seeds and fertilizers. Crop failures caused by droughts between 2011 and 2013 have increased poverty, food shortages, and malnutrition.The Gambia is a source country for migrants and a transit and destination country for migrants and refugees. Since the 1980s, economic deterioration, drought, and high unemployment, especially among youths, have driven both domestic migration (largely urban) and migration abroad (legal and illegal). Emigrants are largely skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, and provide a significant amount of remittances. The top receiving countries for Gambian emigrants are Spain, the US, Nigeria, Senegal, and the UK. While the Gambia and Spain do not share historic, cultural, or trade ties, rural Gambians have migrated to Spain in large numbers because of its proximity and the availability of jobs in its underground economy (this flow slowed following the onset of Spain’s late 2007 economic crisis).The Gambia’s role as a host country to refugees is a result of wars in several of its neighboring West African countries. Since 2006, refugees from the Casamance conflict in Senegal have replaced their pattern of flight and return with permanent settlement in The Gambia, often moving in with relatives along the Senegal-Gambia border. The strain of providing for about 7,400 Casamance refugees has increased poverty among Gambian villagers.

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.97%(male 388,615 /female 385,172)
15-24 years: 20.31%(male 210,217 /female 214,807)
25-54 years: 34.9%(male 357,934 /female 372,428)
55-64 years: 4.26%(male 42,655 /female 46,591)
65 years and over: 3.55%(male 34,328 /female 39,984) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 92.3 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 87.8 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 22.3 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 21.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 20.9 years
female: 21.6 years
country comparison to the world: 184

Population growth rate

1.99% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Birth rate

28.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Death rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Net migration rate

-1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Population distribution

settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast

Urbanization

urban population: 61.9% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 4.07% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

443,000 BANJUL (capital) (2019)
note: includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.9 years (2013 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality rate

597 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Infant mortality rate

total: 58.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 63.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 16

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.4 years (2018 est.)
male: 63 years
female: 67.8 years
country comparison to the world: 181

Total fertility rate

3.42 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Contraceptive prevalence rate

9% (2013)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 94.2% of population
rural: 84.4% of population
total: 90.2% of population
unimproved: urban: 5.8% of population
rural: 15.6% of population
total: 9.8% of population (2015 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

4.4% (2016)

Physicians density

0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 61.5% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 55% of population (2015 est.)
total: 58.9% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 38.5% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 45% of population (2015 est.)
total: 41.1% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.9% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

26,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<1000 (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2016)
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis (2016)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10.3% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 139

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.5% (2013)
country comparison to the world: 37

Education expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2016)
country comparison to the world: 167

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 55.5%
male: 63.9%
female: 47.6% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2010)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 13.1%
male: 9.1%
female: 17.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
etymology: named for the Gambia River that flows through the heart of the country

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Banjul is located on Saint Mary's Island at the mouth of the Gambia River; the Mandinka used to gather fibrous plants on the island for the manufacture of ropes; "bang julo" is Mandinka for "rope fiber"; mispronunciation over time caused the term became the word Banjul

Administrative divisions

5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast

Independence

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Constitution

history: previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; note - referendum on new constitution planned over the next 2 years
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast; amended 2001, 2004, 2010 (2017)

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2017); Vice President Isatou TOURAY (since 15 March 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2017); Vice President Isatou TOURAY (since 15 March 2019)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 1 December 2016 (next to be held in 2021); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Adama BARROW elected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1%

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly (58 seats; 53 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 6 April 2017 (next to be held in 2022)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 37.5%, GDC 17.4%, APRC 16%, PDOIS 9%, NRP 6.3%, PPP 2.5%, other 1.7%, independent 9.6%; seats by party - UDP 31, APRC 5, GDC 5, NRP 5, PDOIS 4, PPP 2, independent 1; composition - men 52, women 6, percent of women 10.3%

Judicial branch

highest courts: Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 75
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Fabakary JATTA]
Coalition 2016 [collective leadership] (electoral coalition includes UDP, PDOIS, NRP, GMC, GDC, PPP, and GPDP)
Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC [Mama KANDEH]
Gambia Moral Congress or GMC [Mai FATTY]
Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress or GPDP [Sarja JARJOU]
National Convention Party or NCP [Yaya  SANYANG and Majanko SAMUSA (both claiming leadership)]
National Democratic Action Movement or NDAM [Lamin Yaa JUARA]
National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat BAH]
People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]
People's Progressive Party or PPP [Yaya CEESAY)]
United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Dawda D. FADERA (since 24 January 2018)
chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399
FAX: [1] (202) 342-0240

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard "Carl" PASCHALL (since 9 April 2019)
telephone: [220] 439-2856
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B.19, Banjul
mailing address: P.M.B. 19, Banjul
FAX: [220] 439-2475

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white

National anthem

name: For The Gambia, Our Homeland
lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

Economy

Economy - overview

The government has invested in the agriculture sector because three-quarters of the population depends on the sector for its livelihood and agriculture provides for about one-third of GDP, making The Gambia largely reliant on sufficient rainfall. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated and agricultural productivity is low. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of cashews, groundnuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's reexport trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports and China has been its largest trade partner for both exports and imports for several years.The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits. It relies heavily on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. Remittance inflows to The Gambia amount to about one-fifth of the country’s GDP. The Gambia's location on the ocean and proximity to Europe has made it one of the most frequented tourist destinations in West Africa, boosted by private sector investments in eco-tourism and facilities. Tourism normally brings in about 20% of GDP, but it suffered in 2014 from tourists’ fears of Ebola virus in neighboring West African countries. Unemployment and underemployment remain high.Economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. International donors and lenders were concerned about the quality of fiscal management under the administration of former President Yahya JAMMEH, who reportedly stole hundreds of millions of dollars of the country’s funds during his 22 years in power, but anticipate significant improvements under the new administration of President Adama BARROW, who assumed power in early 2017. As of April 2017, the IMF, the World Bank, the European Union, and the African Development Bank were all negotiating with the new government of The Gambia to provide financial support in the coming months to ease the country’s financial crisis.The country faces a limited availability of foreign exchange, weak agricultural output, a border closure with Senegal, a slowdown in tourism, high inflation, a large fiscal deficit, and a high domestic debt burden that has crowded out private sector investment and driven interest rates to new highs. The government has committed to taking steps to reduce the deficit, including through expenditure caps, debt consolidation, and reform of state-owned enterprises.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.556 billion (2017 est.)
$5.314 billion (2016 est.)
$5.292 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 176

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.482 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2017 est.)
0.4% (2016 est.)
5.9% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,600 (2017 est.)
$2,600 (2016 est.)
$2,700 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 197

Gross national saving

6.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
7.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 90.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 12% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -2.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 20.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -40% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 20.4% (2017 est.)
industry: 14.2% (2017 est.)
services: 65.4% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (manioc, tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries

peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Industrial production growth rate

-0.8% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Labor force

777,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA

Population below poverty line

48.4% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.2 (1998)
country comparison to the world: 18

Budget

revenues: 300.4 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 339 million (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Public debt

88% of GDP (2017 est.)
82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8% (2017 est.)
7.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2009)
11% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 31

Commercial bank prime lending rate

29% (31 December 2017 est.)
30.4% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Stock of narrow money

$297.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$279.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Stock of broad money

$297.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$279.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

Stock of domestic credit

$552.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$499 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

-$194 million (2017 est.)
-$85 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Exports

$72.9 million (2017 est.)
$106.6 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Exports - partners

Guinea-Bissau 51.9%, Vietnam 14.6%, Senegal 8.8%, Mali 7.2% (2017)

Exports - commodities

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Imports

$376.9 million (2017 est.)
$310.5 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners

Cote dIvoire 11.5%, Brazil 10.6%, Spain 10.2%, China 7.8%, Russia 6.4%, Netherlands 5.3%, India 5% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$170 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$87.64 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Debt - external

$586.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$571.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Exchange rates

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
49.74 (2017 est.)
43.8846 (2016 est.)
43.8846 (2015 est.)
41.89 (2014 est.)
41.733 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

population without electricity: 1 million (2017)
electrification - total population: 47.8% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 69% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 15.5% (2016)

Electricity - production

304.1 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - consumption

282.8 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Electricity - installed generating capacity

117,000 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - from fossil fuels

97% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity - from other renewable sources

3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Refined petroleum products - consumption

3,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185

Refined petroleum products - exports

42 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,738 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

607,300 Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 37,969
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 2,838,127
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized but still retaining a monopoly; multiple mobile networks offering effective competition; three licensed ISPs which serve local area without much competion (2018)
domestic: fixed-line stands at 2 per 100 subscriptions with one dominant company and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, is over 138 per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code - 220; landing points for the ACE submarine cable to West Africa and Europe; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV-channel; one privately-owned TV-station; 1 Online TV-station; three state-owned radio station and 31 privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country  (2019)

Internet country code

.gm

Internet users

total: 371,785
percent of population: 18.5% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 3,750
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Military and Security

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2018)
1.48% of GDP (2015)
1.72% of GDP (2014)
1.15% of GDP (2013)
1.22% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 24

Military and security forces

Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG) (2018)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2012)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C5 (2016)

Airports

1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 221

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2019)
over 3,047 m: 1

Roadways

total: 2,977 km (2011)
paved: 518 km (2011)
unpaved: 2,459 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 157

Waterways

390 km(on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 88

Merchant marine

total: 9
by type: other 9 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 154

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Banjul

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states

Trafficking in persons

current situation: The Gambia is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Gambian women, girls, and, to a lesser extent, boys are exploited for prostitution and domestic servitude; women, girls, and boys from West African countries are trafficked to The Gambia for commercial sexual exploitation, particularly by European sex tourists; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging; some Gambian children have been identified as victims of forced labor in neighboring West African countries
tier rating: Tier 3 – The Gambia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government demonstrated minimal anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts, investigating one trafficking case but not prosecuting or convicting any offenders in 2014; authorities did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any government employees complicit in trafficking, although corruption was a serious problem; the government identified and repatriated 19 Gambian girls subjected to domestic servitude in Lebanon but did not identify or provide protective services to any trafficking victims in The Gambia; a government program continued to provide resources and financial support to 12 Koranic schools on the condition that their students were not forced to beg (2015)

Flag of Gambia, The