What are the Key Facts of The Gambia?

Official Name	Republic of The Gambia
Continent	Africa
Capital	Banjul
Largest City	Serekunda
Coordinates	13.511257, -15.423134
Area	4,363 sq. mi (11,300 sq. km)
Land Boundaries	465 mi (749 km)
Coastline	50 mi (80 km)
Currency	Dalasi (GMD)
Neighboring Countries	Senegal. Maritime neighbor: Cabo Verde
Population	2,348,000 (World Bank, 2019)
Official Languages	English
Major Religion	Islam
National Day	18 February (Independence Day)
National Anthem	“For The Gambia, Our Homeland”
Form of Government	Presidential republic
President	Adama Barrow
Vice-President	Isatou Touray
GDP per capita (PPP)	$ 2,298.4 (World Bank, 2019)
GDP per capita (nominal)	$ 751.3 (World Bank, 2019)
HDI	0.466 (2019), Rank: 174
Literacy Rate (%)	50.78 % (UNESCO, 2015)
Space Agency	NA
Military Expenditure Ranking	145 (SIPRI, 2019)
No. of Olympic Medals	0 (as of 2018)
Driving Side	right
Calling Code	220
Time Zone	UTC (GMT)
Internet TLD	.gm

Where is The Gambia Located?

The Gambia (whose official name is the Republic of The Gambia) is a Western African country that borders the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal. The country is on both sides of the lower reaches of its namesake, the Gambia River. The river flows through the center of The Gambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

What is the Geography of The Gambia?

The country spreads across a total area of 4,363 sq. mi (11,300 sq. km). Out of the total area, 3,907.4 sq. mi (10,120 sq. km) is land area, and 455.6 sq. mi (1,180 sq. km) is the water area.

The Republic of The Gambia’s total land boundary is 465.4 mi (749 km) long. It shares its entire land border with Senegal (465.4 mi or 749 km). Except for the western coast on the Atlantic Ocean, The country is surrounded by Senegal. The country has 49.7 mi (80 km) of coastline.

The mean elevation of Gambia is 111.5 ft (34 m). The country’s highest point is an unnamed elevation point (with a height of at least 173.9 ft or 53 m to 210 ft or 64 m), which lies between Sabi and the Senegalese village named Vélingara (located in a sandstone plateau at the Senegal border). The lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean at 0 ft (0 m).

The Gambia River dominates the geomorphology of The Gambia. The Gambia River stretches 700 miles (1,130 km) from northwestern Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean at Banjul city. The Gambia is a small and narrow country that is less than 30 miles (48.3 km) wide at its widest point. A grassy flood plain having Guinean mangroves (located closer to the coastline) can be found in the rest of the country’s terrain.

The highest mountains in the country are Mamayungebi Hill, Alligator Rock, Kassang Hill, Konkoba Hill, etc.

Major rivers of the country are Gambia River, Massarinko Bolon, Oyster Creek, Cape Creek, Kotu Stream, River Tanji, Tujering River, River Benifet, Allahein River and their tributaries.

What is the Climate of The Gambia?

The country has a tropical climate, and the seasons are distinct dry and rainy seasons. Uninterrupted dry weather is from November-to-mid-May. In Banjul and surrounding areas, the temperature can get as low as 64.4 °F (18 °C) during nighttime.

During the rest of the year, you will find hot and humid weather. The rainy season starts in June and continues until October. During these months, the temperature can go as high as 109.4 °F (43 °C). However, the temperature usually remains lower near the sea.

The average temperature along the coastal areas varies from that of the inland areas during January-June.

In coastal areas, the average temperature hovers around 73.4 °F (23 °C) in January and about 27 °C (80.6 °F) in June.

In inland areas, the average temperature hovers around 75.2 °F (24 °C) in January and approximately 89.6 °F (32 °C) in May.

The average yearly rainfall also varies. At the same time, inland areas get 36.2 in (920 mm) of rain, the coastal areas get around 57.1 in (1,450 mm) of precipitation.

What is the Economy of The Gambia?

The Gambia government has invested mostly in the agricultural sector because most (3/4th) of its population depends upon the primary sector for livelihood. Agriculture contributes around 1/3rd of the GDP. While agriculture in The country is mostly reliant on sufficient rainfall, there are many untapped potentials (such as low agricultural productivity and cultivation takes place in less than half of arable land).

Manufacturing is mostly restricted to the small scale sector, including the processing of fish, groundnuts, cashews, and hides. Around 80% of the total export of goods is restricted to re-export trade. In terms of exports as well as imports, China is the largest trading partner of The Gambia.

The economy of the country depends heavily on the remittances sent by the workers from overseas and tourist receipts. Around 1/5th of the GDP is dependent upon remittances. The Gambia is one of the most frequented tourist destinations in West Africa, thanks to its location and proximity to European countries. The eco-tourism and facilities have boomed in this country because of the private sector investments. Tourism accounts for 20% of GDP.

The nominal GDP of The Gambia increased at a rate of 5.975% to US$1.764 billion in 2019. The country had a negative balance of trade of -$1.53 billion in 2018 as the values of export and import in that year were US$118 million and US$ $1.64 billion, respectively.

The major export items of The Gambia were Coconuts, Brazil Nuts, and Cashews, Rough Wood, Non-fillet Frozen Fish, Scrap Iron, and Sawn Wood. The major import items were Refined Petroleum, Light Pure Woven Cotton, Rice, Palm Oil, and Raw Sugar.

The unemployment rate had decreased marginally, from 9.25% in 2016 to 9.06% in 2019. The Gambia is one of the poorest countries in the world. As per the 2019 Human Development Index, its ranking was 174 out of 189 countries. The poverty levels and the condition of malnutrition have worsened in the last ten years, despite making considerable gains in primary education.

While 48% of the 2.1 million population lives below the poverty line, 10.3% of children suffer from acute malnutrition.

What is the Transportation System of The Gambia?

The country has only one airport, and it is paved. Banjul International Airport (Yundum Int’ l) at Banjul is the only airport in the country.

There is 1849.8 mi (2,977 km) long roadways available, out of which just 321.9 mi (518 km) is paved, and 1528 mi (2,459 km) is unpaved. No railway facility is available in The Gambia.

Waterways are around 242.3 mi (390 km) long. They are mostly concentrated on River Gambia. Banjul is the principal seaport of the country, and there are eight merchant marine vessels.

What International Organizations is The Gambia Part of?

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

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