Part 81
12.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.49 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 22 male: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.07 years country comparison to the world: 201 male: 52.32 years
female: 55.86 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.96 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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% (2003 census)
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 170
Government ::Gambia, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
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)
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic 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); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; 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 [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, 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, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM
chancery: Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cindy GREGG
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
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 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 ::Gambia, The
Economy - overview:
The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In the past few years, The Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly. Unemployment and underemployment rates 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. The quality of fiscal management, however, is weak. The government has promised to raise civil service wages over the next two years and the deficit is projected to worsen.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.406 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $3.244 billion (2009 est.)
$3.073 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.04 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 5.6% (2009 est.)
6.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 $1,800 (2009 est.)
$1,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.1%
industry: 16.3%
services: 53.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
777,100 (2007) country comparison to the world: 146
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
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: 23
Investment (gross fixed):
28% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 4.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 38 11% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
27% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 27.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$222.9 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 172 $210.2 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$453.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $438.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$293.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 $283.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - 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
Industrial production growth rate:
8.9% country comparison to the world: 21 note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2010 est.)
Electricity - production:
160 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - consumption:
148.8 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - exports:
42 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - imports:
2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Current account balance:
-$90 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 -$81 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$107 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 $95 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:
India 42.06%, France 15.34%, UK 9.03%, China 7.38%, Hong Kong 4.55%, Belgium 3.97% (2009)
Imports:
$306 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 $280 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:
China 20.45%, Senegal 11.97%, Brazil 8.48%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.71%, Netherlands 4.68%, US 4.49% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$203 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $224 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$530 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $489 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 28.5193 (2010), 26.67 (2009), 22.75 (2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006)
Communications ::Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
49,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 162
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.433 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 140
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; a landing station for the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) undersea fiber-optic cable is scheduled for completion in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 4 privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; foreign cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2007)
Internet country code:
.gm
Internet hosts:
1,453 (2010) country comparison to the world: 162
Internet users:
130,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 150
Transportation ::Gambia, The
Airports:
1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 211
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 3,742 km country comparison to the world: 159 paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
Waterways:
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2008) country comparison to the world: 90
Merchant marine:
total: 5 country comparison to the world: 130 by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Banjul
Military ::Gambia, The
Military branches:
Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 402,073
females age 16-49: 406,100 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 238,006
females age 16-49: 248,065 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 20,858
female: 20,762 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 139
Transnational Issues ::Gambia, The
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip (Middle East)
Introduction ::Gaza Strip
Background:
The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel still controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip; and it enforces a restricted zone along the border inside Gaza. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. Violent clashes between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007 resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. In February 2007, ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June 2007, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal, and despite multiple rounds of Egyptian-brokered reconciliation negotiations, the two groups have failed to bridge their differences. Late November 2007 through June 2008 witnessed a substantial increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence. An Egyptian-brokered truce in June 2008 between Israel and HAMAS brought about a five-month pause in hostilities, but spiraling end-of-year violence resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,100 to 1,400 Palestinians and left tens of thousands of people homeless. International donors pledged $4.5 billion in aid to rebuild the Gaza Strip, but by the end of 2010 large-scale reconstruction had not begun.
Geography ::Gaza Strip
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates:
31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 360 sq km country comparison to the world: 205 land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
Climate:
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m
Natural resources:
arable land, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 21%
other: 50% (2002)
Irrigated land:
155 sq km; (note - includes West Bank) (2003)
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues:
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources
Geography - note:
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history
People ::Gaza Strip
Population:
1,604,238 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 353,489/female 334,770)
15-64 years: 53% (male 420,618/female 402,297)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 16,483/female 24,202) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.29% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Birth rate:
36.26 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Death rate:
3.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 217
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Urbanization:
urban population: 72% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.71 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 107 male: 18.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.68 years country comparison to the world: 111 male: 72.05 years
female: 75.4 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.9 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Palestinian Arab
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Gaza Strip
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita' Ghazzah
Economy ::Gaza Strip
Economy - overview:
High population density, limited land and sea access, continuing isolation, and strict internal and external security controls have degraded economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas in the Palestinian Territories. Israeli-imposed crossings closures, which became more restrictive after HAMAS violently took over the territory in June 2007, and fighting between HAMAS and Israel during December 2008-January 2009, resulted in the near collapse of most of the private sector, extremely high unemployment, and high poverty rates. Shortages of goods are met through large-scale humanitarian assistance - led by UNRWA - and the HAMAS-regulated black market tunnel trade that flourishes under the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt. However, chnages to the blockade in 2010 included moving from a white list - in which only approved items were allowed into Gaza through the crossings - to a black list, where all but non-approved items were allowed into Gaza through the crossings. Israeli authorities have recently signaled that exports from the territory might be possible in the future, but currently regular exports from Gaza are not permitted.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
see entry for West Bank
GDP - real growth rate:
see entry for West Bank
GDP - per capita (PPP):
see entry for West Bank
GDP - composition by sector:
see entry for West Bank
Labor force:
339,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 160
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 5%
services: 83% (June 2008)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 40% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.9% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199 11.5% (2008)
note: includes West Bank
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
see entry for West Bank
Stock of domestic credit:
note: see entry for West Bank
Agriculture - products:
olives, fruit, vegetables, flowers; beef, dairy products
Industries:
textiles, food processing