The Gambia - Society

KEY FACTS 2005

• Birth rate: 40 per 1,000
• Population per sq km: 159
• Life expectancy: 57
• Infant mortality: 97 per 1,000

Population: 1,709,000 (2007); 26% lives in urban areas; growth 3.5% p.a. 1970–90 and 3.3% p.a. 1990–2004; birth rate (2005) 40 per 1,000 people (50 in 1970); life expectancy 57 years (36 in 1970).

Mandinka people constitute 42% of total population, followed (in descending order of population) by Fula, Wollof, Jola and Sarahuli. There is also a community of Akus (Creoles), descended mainly from Africans freed from slavery in the early 19th century.

Religion: Muslims about 90%; the rest mostly Christians. Traditional animist religions are often practised alongside both of these religions.

Language: English is the official language. Local languages are Mandinka (widely spoken in the provinces), Fula, Wollof (widely spoken in Banjul), Jola and Sarahuli.

Media: Gambia Television is the state-run national television station. The national radio station, Radio Gambia, is also state run and broadcasts in English and local languages. Radio France Internationale is available on an FM relay.

Newspapers are in English and include Observer (daily), Foroyaa, The Independent and The Point. There are 16 personal computers (2004) and 38 internet users per 1,000 people (2006).

Education: Public spending on education was 2% of GDP in 2005. There are six years of primary education and six years of secondary. Net enrolment ratios are 79% for primary and 33% for secondary. The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 38:1 and for secondary 25:1. The school year starts in September.

Technical and vocational training are provided at the Technical Training Institute and higher education at the University of The Gambia.

Health: The country relies partially on expatriate doctors: when Chinese doctors working in the country were recalled in 1995, Cuban doctors replaced them. There are hospitals at Banjul, Bansang and a new one at Farafenni opened in 1998. In addition there are health centres and dispensaries. Traditional healers and midwives are well established in rural areas. There is a leprosy control programme. 82% of the population uses an improved drinking water source and 72% in urban areas have adequate sanitation facilities (2004/2005). Infant mortality was 97 per 1,000 live births in 2005 (207 in 1960). At the end of 2005, 2.1% of people age 15 and over were HIV positive.

Communications: Country code 220. Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies, and coverage is good in tourist areas and towns but patchy in the countryside. Most of the major towns have internet cafes. Post offices can be found in the major cities and at Banjul airport.

There are 29 main telephone lines (2002) and 260 mobile phones per 1,000 people (2006); the country’s first GSM mobile phone network was launched in 2001.

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Independence Day (18 February), Labour Day (1 May), Assumption (15 August) and Christmas Day.

Religious and other festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year), Prophet’s Birthday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Koriteh (End of Ramadan) and Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).