4 overthrew the president and banned
political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential
elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a
nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of
presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002.

Geography Gambia, The

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries: total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM

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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:
unnamed location 53 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 1% other: 80% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last
30 years)

Environment - current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne
diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on
the continent of Africa

People Gambia, The

Population: 1,455,842 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.1% (male 329,530; female 326,627) 15-64
years: 52.3% (male 377,357; female 383,548) 65 years and over: 2.6%
(male 20,237; female 18,543) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.09% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 41.25 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 12.63 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.09 male(s)/female total population: