E-mail this to a friend    Printable version             Country profile: The Gambia


The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and unlike many of its West African neighbours it has enjoyed long spells of stability since independence.   This stability has not translated into prosperity. Despite the presence of the Gambia river, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and the poor nature of the soil has led to the predominance of one crop - peanuts.               OVERVIEW


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  This has made The Gambia heavily dependent on peanut exports - and a hostage to fluctuations in the production and world prices of the crop.   Consequently, The Gambia suffers from poor standards of health care and relies on foreign aid to fill gaps in its balance of payments.   However, President Jammeh announced in 2004 that large reserves of oil had been discovered. These could usher in a "new future" for The Gambia, he added.   Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange, as is the money sent home by Gambians living abroad. Most visitors are drawn to the resorts that occupy a stretch of the Atlantic coast.   In 1994 The Gambia's elected government was toppled in a military coup. The country returned to constitutional rule two years later when its military leader ran as a civilian and won a presidential election. But the credibility of the poll was questioned by a group of Commonwealth ministers.             FACTS


  OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | MEDIA

   Population: 1.5 million (UN, 2005)
   Capital: Banjul
   Area: 11,295 sq km (4,361 sq miles)
   Major languages: English, indigenous languages
   Major religions: Islam, Christianity
   Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
   Monetary unit: 1 dalasi = 100 butut
   Main exports: Peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels



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