Gambia

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.

$3.406 billion (2010 est.)

$3.244 billion (2009 est.)

$3.073 billion (2008 est.)

$1.04 billion (2010 est.)

5% (2010 est.)

5.6% (2009 est.)

6.3% (2008 est.)

$1,900 (2010 est.)

$1,800 (2009 est.)

$1,800 (2008 est.)

777,100 (2007)

NA%

NA%

50.2 (1998)

28% of GDP (2010 est.)

5.5% (2010 est.)

4.6% (2009 est.)

9% (31 December 2009)

11% (31 December 2008)

27% (31 December 2009 est.)

27.92% (31 December 2007)

$222.9 million (31 December 2010 est)

$210.2 million (31 December 2009 est)

$453.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$438.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$293.5 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$283.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$NA

rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

8.9%

160 million kWh (2007 est.)

148.8 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

42 bbl/day (2007 est.)

2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

-$90 million (2010 est.)

-$81 million (2009 est.)

$107 million (2010 est.)

$95 million (2009 est.)

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports

India 42.06%, France 15.34%, UK 9.03%, China 7.38%, Hong Kong 4.55%, Belgium 3.97% (2009)

$306 million (2010 est.)

$280 million (2009 est.)

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

China 20.45%, Senegal 11.97%, Brazil 8.48%, Cote d’Ivoire 4.71%, Netherlands 4.68%, US 4.49% (2009)

$203 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$224 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$530 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$489 million (31 December 2009 est.)

dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 28.5193 (2010), 26.67 (2009), 22.75 (2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006)