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 about $230. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contributes 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity--processing peanuts, fish, and hides--accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods. Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).

GDP: $195 million, per capita $230; real growth rate 6.0% (FY90 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.0% (FY91)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $79 million; expenditures $84 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (FY90)

Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., FY90); commodities--peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels; partners--Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1% other 5% (1989)

Imports: $147 million (f.o.b., FY90); commodities--foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment; partners--Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR/EE 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)

External debt: $336 million (December 1990 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)

Electricity: 29,000 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1989)

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

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; the principal crops--millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock--cattle, sheep, and goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $492 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $39 million

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

Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1--7.610 (January 1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987), 6.9380 (1986), 3.8939 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

NOTE: The information regarding The Gambia on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of The Gambia Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about The Gambia Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.