Gambia

People

A wide variety of ethnic groups live side by side in The Gambia with a minimum of inter-tribal friction, each preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka tribe is the largest, followed by the Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahuli. Approximately 2,500 non-Africans live in The Gambia, including Europeans and many families of Lebanese origin. The Gambia’s youthful age structure – almost 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – is likely to persist because the country’s total fertility rate remains strong at nearly 4 children per woman. The overall literacy rate is around 55%, and is significantly lower for women than for men. At least 70% of the populace are farmers who are reliant on rain-fed agriculture and cannot afford improved seeds and fertilizers. Crop failures caused by droughts between 2011 and 2013 have increased poverty, food shortages, and malnutrition.

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1990 2000 2010 2020
Population, total (millions) 0.96 1.32 1.79 2.42
Population growth (annual %) 4.3 3.1 3 2.9
Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) 11.3 11.3 11.3 11.3
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) 94.4 130.2 177.2 238.8
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) .. .. 48.1 ..
Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) .. 70.8 25.4 ..
Income share held by lowest 20% .. 4.3 5.7 ..
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 52 56 60 62
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 6.1 5.9 5.6 5.2
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 163 124 96 73
Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) 12 10 13 19
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) 44 52 56 83
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 166 113 74 49
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) .. 15.4 17.4 11.6
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 86 89 92 85
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) 44 66 67 82
School enrollment, primary (% gross) 58.6 80.2 79.8 103.5
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) 17 .. 50 ..
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) 1 .. 1 ..
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) 0.1 1.6 1.9 1.8
Environment
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) 4.1 3.6 3 2.4
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) .. .. .. 1.4
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) 2 3.2 3.4 3.4
Urban population growth (annual %) 7.1 5 4.3 3.9
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) 65 .. 81 ..
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 0.2 0.18 0.25 0.25
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) .. .. .. ..
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