ga.json

{"code":"ga","name":"Gambia, The","region":"Africa","background":"The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2006.","geo":{"Location":"Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal","Geographic coordinates":{"N":{"deg":13,"min":28},"W":{"deg":16,"min":34}},"Map references":{},"Area":{"total":{"quantity":11295,"unit":"sq km"},"country comparison to the world":"","land":{"quantity":10000,"unit":"sq km"},"water":{"quantity":1295,"unit":"sq km"}},"Area - comparative":"slightly less than twice the size of Delaware","Land boundaries":{"total":{"quantity":740,"unit":"km"},"border countries":"Senegal 740 km"},"Coastline":{"quantity":80,"unit":"km"},"Maritime claims":{"territorial sea":{"quantity":12,"unit":"nm"},"contiguous zone":{"quantity":18,"unit":"nm"},"exclusive fishing zone":{"quantity":200,"unit":"nm"},"continental shelf":"extent not specified"},"Terrain":"flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills","Elevation extremes":{"lowest point":"Atlantic Ocean 0 m","highest point":"unnamed elevation 53 m"},"Land use":{"arable land":{"quantity":27.88,"unit":"%"},"permanent crops":{"quantity":0.44,"unit":"%"},"other":{"quantity":71.68,"unit":"%"}},"Irrigated land":{"quantity":20,"unit":"sq km"},"Total renewable water resources":{"quantity":8,"unit":"cu km"},"Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)":{"total":{"quantity":0.03,"unit":"cu km/yr"},"per capita":{"quantity":20,"unit":"cu m/yr"}},"Natural hazards":"drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)","internationalEnvironmentAgreements":{"signed, but not ratified":"none of the selected agreements","partyTo":["Biodiversity","Climate Change","Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol","Desertification","Endangered Species","Hazardous Wastes","Law of the Sea","Ozone Layer Protection","Ship Pollution","Wetlands","Whaling"]},"naturalResources":["fish","clay","silica sand","titanium (rutile and ilmenite)","tin","zircon"],"environmentalIssues":["deforestation","desertification","water-borne diseases prevalent"],"climate":["tropical","hot, rainy season (June to November)","cooler, dry season (November to May)"],"geographyNote":["almost an enclave of Senegal","smallest country on the continent of Africa"]},"people":{"Population":1797,"Age structure":{"0-14 years":{"quantity":40,"unit":"%"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":56.9,"unit":"%"},"65 years and over":"3.1% (male 26,645/female 29,271) (2011 est.)"},"Median age":{"total":{"quantity":19.4,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":19.2,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":19.7,"unit":"years"}},"Population growth rate":{"quantity":2.396,"unit":"%"},"Birth rate":{"quantity":34.19,"unit":"births/1,000 population"},"Death rate":{"quantity":7.65,"unit":"deaths/1,000 population"},"Net migration rate":"-2.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)","Urbanization":{"urban population":{"quantity":58,"unit":"% of total population"},"rate of urbanization":{"quantity":3.7,"unit":"% annual rate of change"}},"Major cities - population":"BANJUL (capital) 436,000 (2009)","Sex ratio":{"at birth":{"quantity":1.03,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"under 15 years":{"quantity":1.01,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":0.98,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"65 years and over":{"quantity":0.98,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"total population":{"quantity":1,"unit":"male(s)/female"}},"Infant mortality rate":{"total":{"quantity":71.67,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":77.3,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"female":{"quantity":65.87,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"}},"Life expectancy at birth":{"total population":{"quantity":63.51,"unit":"years"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":61.23,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":65.86,"unit":"years"}},"Total fertility rate":{"quantity":4.23,"unit":"children born/woman"},"HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate":{"quantity":2,"unit":"%"},"HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS":18000,"HIV/AIDS - deaths":"fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)","Drinking water source":{},"Sanitation facility access":{},"Nationality":{"noun":"Gambian(s)","adjective":"Gambian"},"Literacy":{"definition":"age 15 and over can read and write","total population":{"quantity":40.1,"unit":"%"},"male":{"quantity":47.8,"unit":"%"},"female":{"quantity":32.8,"unit":"%"}},"School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)":{"total":{"quantity":9,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":9,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":9,"unit":"years"}},"Education expenditures":{"quantity":2,"unit":"% of GDP"},"majorInfectiousDiseases":{"degree of risk":"very high","food or waterborne diseases":"bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever","vectorborne diseases":"malaria","water contact disease":"schistosomiasis","respiratory disease":"meningococcal meningitis"},"ethnicGroups":["African 99% (Mandinka 42%","Fula 18%","Wolof 16%","Jola 10%","Serahuli 9%","other 4%)","non-African 1% (2003 census)"],"religions":["Muslim 90%","Christian 8%","indigenous beliefs 2%"],"languages":["English (official)","Mandinka","Wolof","Fula","other indigenous vernaculars"]},"government":{"Country name":{"conventional long form":"Republic of The Gambia","conventional short form":"The Gambia"},"Government type":"republic","Capital":{"name":"Banjul","geographic coordinates":{"N":{"deg":13,"min":27},"W":{"deg":16,"min":34}},"time difference":"UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)"},"Independence":"18 February 1965 (from the UK)","National holiday":"Independence Day, 18 February (1965)","Legal system":"mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law","International law organization participation":"accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction","Suffrage":"18 years of age; universal","Executive branch":{"chief of state":"President Yahya 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 JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); 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 on 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)","election results":"Yahya JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6%"},"Legislative branch":{"Legislative branch":"unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)","elections":"last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)","election results":"percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1"},"Judicial branch":"Supreme Court","Political parties and leaders":"Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; 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 [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]","Political pressure groups and leaders":{"Political pressure groups and leaders":"National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia","other":"special needs group advocates; teachers and principals"},"Diplomatic representation in the US":{"chief of mission":"Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM","chancery":"Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007","telephone":"[1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425","FAX":"[1] (202) 785-1430"},"Diplomatic representation from the US":{"chief of mission":"Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cindy GREGG","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"},"Flag description":"three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace","National anthem":{"name":"\"For The Gambia, Our Homeland\"","lyrics/music":"Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE"},"internationalOrganizations":["ACP","AfDB","AU","C","ECOWAS","FAO","G-77","IBRD","ICAO","ICRM","IDA","IDB","IFAD","IFC","IFRCS","ILO","IMF","IMO","Interpol","IOC","IOM","IPU","ISO (correspondent)","ITSO","ITU","ITUC","MIGA","NAM","OIC","OPCW","UN","UNAMID","UNCTAD","UNESCO","UNIDO","UNMIL","UNOCI","UNWTO","UPU","WCO","WFTU","WHO","WIPO","WMO","WTO"],"administrativeDivisions":["5 divisions and 1 city*","Banjul*","Central River","Lower River","North Bank","Upper River","Western"]},"economy":{"Economy - overview":"The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In the past few years, The Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high; economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. The quality of fiscal management, however, is weak. The government has promised to raise civil service wages over the next two years and the deficit is projected to worsen.","GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"usd":3494000000},"country comparison to the world":""},"GDP (official exchange rate)":{"usd":1067000000},"GDP - real growth rate":{"quantity":5.7,"unit":"%"},"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"usd":null},"country comparison to the world":""},"GDP - composition by sector":{"agriculture":{"quantity":30.1,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":16.3,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":53.6,"unit":"%"}},"Labor force":777100,"Labor force - by occupation":{"agriculture":{"quantity":75,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":19,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":6,"unit":"%"}},"Unemployment rate":"NA%","Population below poverty line":"NA%","Household income or consumption by percentage share":{"lowest 10%":{"quantity":2,"unit":"%"},"highest 10%":{"quantity":36.9,"unit":"%"}},"Distribution of family income - Gini index":50.2,"Investment (gross fixed)":{"quantity":28,"unit":"% of GDP"},"Budget":{"revenues":{"usd":183900000},"expenditures":{"usd":202500000}},"Inflation rate (consumer prices)":{"quantity":5.5,"unit":"%"},"Central bank discount rate":{"quantity":9,"unit":"%"},"Commercial bank prime lending rate":{"quantity":27,"unit":"%"},"Stock of narrow money":{"usd":222900000},"Stock of broad money":{"usd":453900000},"Stock of domestic credit":{"usd":293500000},"Market value of publicly traded shares":"$NA","Industrial production growth rate":{"Industrial production growth rate":{"quantity":8.9,"unit":"%"},"country comparison to the world":""},"Electricity - production":{"quantity":160000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - consumption":{"quantity":148800000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - exports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - imports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"kWh"},"Oil - production":{"quantity":0,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - consumption":{"quantity":2000,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - exports":{"quantity":41.62,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - imports":{"quantity":2266,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - proved reserves":{"quantity":0,"unit":"bbl"},"Natural gas - production":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - consumption":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - exports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - imports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - proved reserves":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Current account balance":"$-90 million (2010 est.)","Exports":{"usd":107000000},"Imports":{"usd":306000000},"Reserves of foreign exchange and gold":{"usd":203000000},"Debt - external":{"usd":530000000},"Exchange rates":"dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -","industries":["processing peanuts, fish, and hides","tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing"],"agricultureProducts":["rice","millet","sorghum","peanuts","corn","sesame","cassava (tapioca)","palm kernels","cattle","sheep","goats"],"exportCommodities":["peanut products","fish","cotton lint","palm kernels"],"exportPartners":["India 42.06%","France 15.34%","UK 9.03%","China 7.38%","Hong Kong 4.55%","Belgium 3.97%"],"importCommodities":["foodstuffs","manufactures","fuel","machinery and transport equipment"],"importPartners":["China 20.45%","Senegal 11.97%","Brazil 8.48%","Cote d'Ivoire 4.71%","Netherlands 4.68%","US 4.49%"]},"communications":{"Telephones - main lines in use":49000,"Telephones - mobile cellular":1433000,"Telephone system":{"general assessment":"adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007","domestic":"combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons in 2009","international":"country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; a landing station for the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) undersea fiber-optic cable is scheduled for completion in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)"},"Broadcast media":"state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 4 privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; foreign cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2007)","Internet country code":".gm","Internet hosts":1453,"Internet users":130100},"transport":{"Airports":1,"Airports - with paved runways":{"total":1,"over 3,047 m":1},"Roadways":{"total":{"quantity":3742,"unit":"km"},"country comparison to the world":"","paved":{"quantity":723,"unit":"km"},"unpaved":{"quantity":3019,"unit":"km"}},"Waterways":"390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2010)","Merchant marine":{"total":5,"country comparison to the world":"","by type":"passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)"},"Ports and terminals":"Banjul"},"military":{"Military branches":"Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN) (2010)","Military service age and obligation":"18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)","Manpower available for military service":{"males age 16-49":423306,"females age 16-49":438641},"Manpower fit for military service":{"males age 16-49":315176,"females age 16-49":347017},"Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually":{"male":20508,"female":20853},"Military expenditures":{"quantity":0.9,"unit":"% of GDP"}},"issues":{"Refugees and internally displaced persons":{"refugees (country of origin)":"5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)"},"internationalDisputes":["attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states"]}}