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.)

Population growth rate 3.48% (1997 est.)

Birth rate 43.86 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate 13.29 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate 4.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate 78.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 53.43 years
male : 51.16 years
female: 55.76 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate 5.98 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality
noun : Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian

Ethnic groups African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%,other 4%), non-Gambian 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: 38.6%
male : 52.8%
female: 24.9% (1995 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding The Gambia on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of The Gambia People 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about The Gambia People 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.