Overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income of $180. About two-thirds of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contributes about 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity--processing peanuts, fish, and hides--accounts for less than 10% of GDP. The Gambia imports about one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (over 75% of total value).

GDP: $145 million, per capita $180; real growth rate 5.4% (FY88)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.2% (1988)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $66 million; expenditures $75 million, including capital expenditures of $22 million (FY87)

Exports: $70.1 million (f.o.b., FY87); @m5commodities--peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels; @m5partners--Ghana 49%, Europe 27%, Japan 12%, US 1% (1986)

Imports: $117.5 million (c.i.f., FY87); @m5commodities--foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment; @m5partners--Europe 55% (EC 39%, other 16%), Asia 20%, US 11%, Senegal 4% (1986)

External debt: $354 million (December 1988)

Industrial production: growth rate 10% (FY87)

Electricity: 29,000 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1988)

Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Agriculture: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, maize, palm kernels, cotton

Aid: NA

Currency: dalasi (plural--dalasi); 1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs

Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1--6.8166 (January 1989), 6.6934 (1988), 7.0671 (1987), 6.8306 (1986), 3.8565 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

NOTE: The information regarding The Gambia on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of The Gambia Economy 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about The Gambia Economy 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.