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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, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya 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 may re-open under the administration of President

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Natural Resources

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

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

1593256
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
BANJUL (capital) 504,000 (2015)
Conventional long form
Republic of The Gambia
Conventional short form
The Gambia
Local long form
Local short form
presidential republic
Name
Banjul
Geographic coordinates
13 27 N, 16 34 W
Time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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.
Inflation
6.809%
External debt stocks
US$ 526,775,000
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
51.3%
Real Interest Rate
18.878%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
4.85%
Current Account Balance
US$ 58,021,072
Labor Force, Total
858,184
Employment in Agriculture
31.50%
Employment in Industry
13.90%
Employment in Services
54.60%
Unemployment Rate
29.70%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 404,200,832
Exports of goods and services
US$ 231,491,150
Total Merchandise Trade
54.12%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 10,595,714
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 151,464,506
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (manioc, tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Commodities
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
Partners
China 47.7%, India 27.1%, France 5.9%, UK 4.9% (2015)
Commodities
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Partners
China 34.3%, Brazil 8.2%, Senegal 6.9%, India 5.8%, Netherlands 4.8% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
Business Climate Rating

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