Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, National
Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 269,066; fit for military service 135,836; reach military
age (20) annually 9,680 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $102 million, 3.2% of GDP (1990 est.)

*The Gambia, Geography

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely
surrounded by Senegal
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
11,300 km2
land area:
10,000 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
18 nm
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November
to May)
Terrain:
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land:
16%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
9%
forest and woodland:
20%
other:
55%
Irrigated land:
120 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
deforestation
Note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

*The Gambia, People

Population:
930,249 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
46.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
16.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
126.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
49.61 years
male:
47.41 years
female:
51.87 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Gambian(s)
adjective:
Gambian
Ethnic divisions:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other
4%), non-Gambian 1%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
27%
male:
39%
female:
16%
Labor force:
400,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 75.0%, industry