GAMBIA

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.

POPULATION GRAPH

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: 1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
76.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.98 years
female: 56.01 years (2002 est.)
male: 52.02 years
Total fertility rate:
5.61 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.95% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,400 (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.5%
male: 58.4%
female: 37.1% (2001 est.)