The Gambia

• tropical;
• hot, rainy season (June to November);
• cooler, dry season (November to May)

• deforestation;
• desertification;
• water-borne diseases prevalent

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

1.05 male(s)/female

total population:

1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

degree of risk:

very high

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases:

dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations

water contact disease:

schistosomiasis

respiratory disease:

meningococcal meningitis (2005)

noun:

Gambian(s)

adjective:

Gambian

conventional long form:

Republic of The Gambia

conventional short form:

The Gambia

name:

Banjul

geographic coordinates:

12 28 N, 16 39 W

time difference:

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

• 24 April 1970;
• suspended July 1994;
• rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996;
• reestablished January 1997

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);
• note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta);
• Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the president

elections:

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 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%

• Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party);
• Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE];
• 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 [Sidia JATTA]

note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996

chief of mission:

Ambassador Dodou Bammy JAGNE

chancery:

Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone:

[1] (202) 785-1379

FAX:

[1] (202) 785-1430

chief of mission:

Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III

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

agriculture:

75%

industry:

19%

services:

6%

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

general assessment:

adequate; a packet switched data network is available

domestic:

adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire

international:

• country code - 220;
• microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
• satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total:

3,742 km

paved:

723 km

unpaved:

3,019 km (2003)

males age 18-49:

311,025

females age 18-49:

316,214 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49:

183,057

females age 18-49:

194,551 (2005 est.)