Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 28% other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 150 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years
Environment - current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
@The Gambia:People
Population: 1,248,085 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 286,422; female 285,379) 15-64 years: 51% (male 318,699; female 324,264) 65 years and over: 3% (male 17,723; female 15,598) (July 1997 est.)