The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.
Population: 1,778,081 (July 2009 est.)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 389,877/female 386,218)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 472,216/female 479,595)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,985/female 25,190) (2009 est.)
Birth Rate: 37.8 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death Rate: 12.21 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
Infant mortality Rate:
total: 68.84 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 26
male: 74.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life Expectancy:
total population: 53.81 years
country comparison to the world: 200
male: 52.05 years
female: 55.62 years (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 8,200 (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 600 (2003 est.)
Ethnic Groups:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
Government Type: republic
Capital: Banjul
Geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK)
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Currency: Dalasis (GMD)
Population below poverty line: NA%

Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states.

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)

**Information retreived from CIA - The World Factbook: www.cia.gov