Chapter One

Introduction
General Background Information
The Gambia is a small West African country with a total land area of about 11,000 square
kilometers. The capital of the Gambia, Banjul is situated on the St. Mary’s Island at the mouth of
the river Gambia.
The Gambia like other West African countries was colonized by Britain. It attained
independence on the 18th February 1965 and became a republic on 24th April 1970 under Sir
Dwada Kairaba Jawara as the first president who ruled the country for about 30 years.

The gambia is surrounded by Senegal from east north and south except the west which is
occupied by the Atlantic Ocean. The small tiny west African state is located on latitude 130N and
140S.

In april 1993, a population and housing census was held and according to Provisional Reports
produced by the Central Statistics Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,
the Gambia had a population of one million twenty five thousand, eight hundred and sixty seven
(1,025, 867). The 2003 Provisional report of that census, produced by the Central Statistics
Department also indicated that nationally, there are 128 persons per km/s in 1993. With 30, 46,
64, persons per km/s in 1963, 1973 and 1983 respectively.