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Gambia |
Capital: Banjul
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Currency: Dalasi (GMD)
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 new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, have completed a nominal return to civilian rule. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides.
PEOPLE
Population: 1,688,359 (July 2007 est.); 1,824,158 (July 2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 54.54 years
Male: 52.68 years
Female: 56.46 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 54.07 years
Male: 52.32 years
Female: 55.86 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 373,831/female 370,397)
15-64 years: 53.2% (male 445,365/female 452,311)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 23,582/female 22,873) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 389,877/female 386,218)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 472,216/female 479,595)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,985/female 25,190) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.781% (2007 est.); 2.528% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: N/A
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 2.4%; (2006 est.); 0.9% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 20,000 (2006 est.); 8,200 (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 40.1%
Male: 47.8%
Female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People:
Refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2006 & 2007))
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: N/A
Labour force by Occupation: N/A
Agricultural Products: rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Exports - Commodities: peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - Partners:
India 38.5%, UK 15.9%, Indonesia 7.9%, France 7.1%, Italy 4.6% (2006)
India 42.06%, France 15.34%, UK 9.03%, China 7.38%, Hong Kong 4.55%, Belgium 3.97% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - Partners:
China 25.2%, Senegal 11.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.1%, Brazil 6.5%, Netherlands 4.5% (2006)
China 20.45%, Senegal 11.97%, Brazil 8.48%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.71%, Netherlands 4.68%, US 4.49% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Natural hazards: drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Source: CIA World Factbook
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