+220 is the dialing code for Gambia.
The long narrow Gambia, which projects like a wedge in the middle of Senegal, is a distinct colonial creation. The British took control of the Gambia River and the surrounding land as early as the 17th century during the race with the French on the then lucrative slave trade. Today, tourism on Gambia’s Atlantic beaches and peanut exports are the main sources of income. Since Yahya Jammeh, who has ruled the country with a hard hand since 1994, lost the 2016 election and was forced to leave power, the hope of a more democratic development in the country was raised.
- Abbreviationfinder: Brief profiles of Gambia, including geography, history, politics, economics as well as common acronyms about this country.
Geography and climate
The Gambia is located in West Africa and is the smallest state on the continent, on the surface as large as Skåne. The country consists of a narrow strip of land along the lower course of the Gambia River. In addition to a short Atlantic coast, Gambia is completely enclosed by Senegal.
To the west, the strip is just under five miles wide. Upstream, it narrows to half that width. In total, the Gambia extends over 30 km into Senegal. The capital Banjul is located on the island of Saint Mary’s at the mouth of the Gambia River. Along the coast there are elongated sandy beaches.
- BagLib: General information about Gambia, covering geography, climate, travel tips and popular sights.
At the riverside, mangrove swamps and marshlands dominate. In addition, the country is mostly covered by flat tree and shrub saplings. A large part of the Gambia is lower than the sea surface, and at most it is just over 50 meters above sea level.
Gambia’s tropical climate is drier and hotter inland than on the coast. The country has a relatively long dry period and an intense rainy season, which lasts from June to October.
During the rainy season it is hotter than during the drier winter season. Most precipitation falls on the coast. In the interior of the country, during the dry season, the desert wind blows the Harmattan in with fine sand dust from the Sahara in the northeast.
Country Facts
Geography
| Cultivated land | 56.1 % |
| Land area | 11300 km 2 |
Population and health
| Population development | 2.16 ‰ |
| Urban population (Urbanization) | 59.6 % |
| Death rate | 7.15 per 1000 residents |
| Life expectancy: Women | 67 years |
| Life expectancy: Men | 62.27 years |
| Birth rate | 30.86 births per 1000 residents |
| HDI index | 0.441 |
| Population | 1967709 |
| Infant mortality | 63.9 deaths / 1000 births |
Population Graph Source: Countryaah.com
Energy
| Electricity, production | 235 million kWh |
| Energy consumption per resident | 86.6 kg. oil per resident |
| Natural gas, production | million cubic meters |
| Crude oil, production | million tons |
Infrastructure
| Internet users | 14.2 per 100 residents |
| Mobile subscriptions | 119 per 100 residents |
| Passenger cars | 7 per 1000 residents |
Business and economics
| Unemployment | % of the workforce |
| GDP | 1600 per resident |
| Primary occupations | 75 % |
| Secondary profession | 19 % |
| Tertiary professions | 6 % |
FACTS – GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Surface
11 295 km2 (2018)
Time
Swedish – 1 hour
Adjacent country (s)
senegal
Capital with number of residents
Banana Christmas 437,000
Other major cities
Serrekunda, Brikama, Bakau, Farafenni
Important rivers
Gambia River
Average Precipitation/year
500 mm (Aug), 1 mm (March-April)
Average/day
19 °C (Jan), 28 °C (June)
2012
December
The EU appeals: respect for human rights
The EU appeals to the Jammeh regime to respect human rights. President Jammeh is accusing the EU of trying to undermine Gambia’s stability.
Human rights activists are arrested
Human rights activists Amie Bensouda and Imam Baba Leigh are arrested for unclear reasons. Bensouda is released after two days, while Imam Baba Leigh remains in custody until May 2013.
September
Opposition group forms exile government
A new opposition group, the Gambia’s National Transitional Council (The Gambia, CNTG), announces that it is forming an exile government in Senegal to fight the Jammeh regime.
Former Minister of Information is pardoned
Former Minister of Information Janneh is pardoned by the President. In January 2012, Janneh was sentenced to life imprisonment for planning a coup.
Scheduled executions are stopped
President Jammeh announces that the planned executions will be stopped, but adds that they can be implemented if crime in the country increases. The stop comes after fierce criticism from the outside world.
August
Senegal protests against executions
Senegal’s Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye calls on Gambia’s ambassador to protest the killing of two Senegalese in the neighboring country. Mbaye appeals to the Gambia for a third death sentence Senegalese to have his sentence converted to life imprisonment.
At least nine people are executed
President Jammeh announces that all 47 sentenced prisoners in the country will be executed in August and September. Many of Gambia’s death row are military and civil servants who have been convicted of high treason since Jammeh’s takeover of power in 1994. Shortly after the announcement, six civilians and three soldiers are executed by arch-busting. These are the first executions that have been carried out since 1985. The decision to start executing prisoners is criticized by the EU, the African Union (AU) and a number of human rights groups , among others. UDP leader Ousainou Darboe urges the outside world to impose sanctions on the Gambia.
June
Fatou Bensouda new chief judge at ICC
A former Gambian Minister of Justice, Fatou Bensouda, will take up the role of Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
March
APRC wins parliamentary elections boycotted by opposition
Elections to the National Assembly are carried out, but six of seven opposition parties choose to boycott the election. Some independent candidates stand, as do members of the NRP. However, in 25 of the 48 constituencies, APRC lacks challenges. The ruling party receives 52 percent of the vote, giving 43 of the 48 electable seats. Independent candidates receive 39 percent of the vote (4 seats), while NRP gets 9 percent (1 seat). The turnout is set at 50 percent.
January
Jammeh: The Gambia will become an economic superpower
President Jammeh formally takes up his fourth term in office. In his installation figure, he raises appearances when he threatens to “wipe out the almost 82 percent” of the country’s employees who he believes are not right for the job. He promises to turn Gambia into an economic superpower within five years.
Former Minister of Information is sentenced to life for dome plans
Former Minister of Information Janneh is sentenced to life imprisonment for treason in connection with his planned coup against President Jammeh (see June – July 2011). Three other people are sentenced to criminal work.