The Gambia | People

Population:

1,641,564 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.3% (male 365,157/female 361,821)

15-64 years: 53% (male 431,627/female 438,159)

65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,889/female 21,911) (2006 est.)

Median age:

Total: 17.7 years

Male: 17.6 years

Female: 17.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.84% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:

39.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:

12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female

Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

Total: 71.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Male: 78.06 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

Total population: 54.14 years

Male: 52.3 years

Female: 56.03 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.3 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

Degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations

Water contact disease: Schistosomiasis

Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

Nationality:

Noun: Gambian(s)

Adjective: Gambian

Ethnic groups:

African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%

Religions:

Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

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.)