a
limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a
per capita income of about $230. About 75% of the population is engaged in
crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 30% to GDP.
Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing peanuts, fish, and hides -
accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia
imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods.
Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $207 million, per capita $235; real growth rate
3% (FY91 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.0% (FY91)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $79 million; expenditures $84 million, including capital
expenditures of $21 million (FY90)
Exports:
$116 million (f.o.b., FY90)
commodities:
peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
partners:
Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1, other 5% (1989)
Imports:
$147 million (f.o.b., FY90)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport
equipment
partners:
Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR/EE 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)
External debt:
$336 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
Electricity:
30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly,
woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Agriculture:
accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports
one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; the other
principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels;
livestock - cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing resources not
fully exploited
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million
Currency:
dalasi (plural - dalasi); 1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs
Exchange rates:
dalasi (D) per US$1 - 8.790 (March 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846
(1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

:The Gambia Communications

Highways:
3,083 km tot