Republic of The Gambia
Population estimate 2 million
Population density (people per square mile) 391
Population doubling time 25 years
GDP per capita US$ 488
Benchmark approximations
Population doubling time in years:
USA 79. Canada 81. Germany declining. UK 248. Russia declining. China 110. Philippines 41.
Population density (people per square mile)
USA 85. Canada 9. Germany 593. UK 660. Russia 21. China 368. Philippines 795.
GDP per capita in US$:
USA 53,000. Canada 52,000. Germany 46,200. UK 41,800. Russia 14,600. China 6,800. Philippines 2,770
RECENT HISTORY
Formerly a British protectorate colony, gaining independence in 1965
Post-independence the country was mismanaged with rampant corruption, military coups, vote rigging etc., that continue to the present. The Economic Community of West African States, responsible for ensuring free and fair elections, refused to even send a monitoring group to the 2011 election, stating that its pre-election fact-finding mission found evidence of intimidation and government control of the media and that a free and fair election would not be possible. International response to the election was mixed.
The underdeveloped economy is largely dependent on agriculture for local consumption. Peanuts and fish form the main export product. The countries exports do not pay for its imports.
EDUCATION
Primary education in The Gambia is free but not compulsory. In the 2000 school year 85% of children were enrolled in primary school while 34% were enrolled in a secondary school. The country’s institutions of higher education include The Gambia College, in Bríkama, and several technical and training schools.
There are secondary and postsecondary schools, including a teacher-training college at Brikama. The government established the country's first university, the University of The Gambia, in 1999. Prior to that, Gambian students seeking higher education had to leave the country, many of them traveling to Sierra Leone, Ghana, Britain, or the United States.