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| Government Type |
republic under multiparty democratic rule |
| Legal System |
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
| Currency |
dalasi (GMD) |
| Economic Overview |
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons have seen substantially lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism in 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemployment rates are extremely high. Shortrun economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice, and on expected growth in the construction sector. |
| Natural Resources |
fish |
| Primary Industries |
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing |
| Agricultural Products |
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats |
| Import Commodities |
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment |
| Export Commodities |
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports |
| Export Partners |
Benelux 14.8%, Brazil 8.1%, Netherlands 6.5%, UK 5.3%, Japan 4.2% (2001) |
| AIRPORTS of Gambia, The |
| Banjul Intīl Airport |
Banjul 19km (11miles), Position 13°20ī17"N, 016°39ī08"W, Elevation 29m (95ft) |
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