The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and unlike many of its West African neighbours it has enjoyed long spells of stability since independence.
This stability, however, has not translated into prosperity. Despite the presence of the Gambia river, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and the poor nature of the soil has led to the predominance of one crop - peanuts.
This has made The Gambia heavily dependent on peanut exports - and a hostage to fluctuations in the production and world prices of the crop.
Consequently, The Gambia suffers from poor standards of health care and relies on foreign aid to fill gaps in its balance of payments.
However, President Jammeh announced in 2004 that large reserves of oil had been discovered. These could usher in a "new future" for The Gambia, he added.
Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange, as is the money sent home by Gambians living abroad. Most visitors are drawn to the resorts that occupy a stretch of the Atlantic coast.
In 1994 The Gambia's elected government was toppled in a military coup. The country returned to constitutional rule two years later when its military leader ran as a civilian and won a presidential election. But the credibility of the poll was questioned by a group of Commonwealth ministers.
- Population: 1.5 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Banjul
- Area: 11,295 sq km (4,361 sq miles)
- Major languages: English, indigenous languages
- Major religions: Islam, Christianity
- Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 dalasi = 100 butut
- Main exports: Peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
- GNI per capita: US $270 (World Bank, 2005)
- Internet domain: .gm
- International dialling code: +220
President: Yahya Jammeh
President Jammeh |
Former coup leader Yahya Jammeh won a second five-year term in the October 2001 presidential elections, which earned the approval of foreign observers.
He gained 53% of votes cast against less than 33% for his main rival Ouassainou Darboe, a prominent human rights lawyer.
Born in 1965, Yahya Jammeh joined the army in 1984 upon leaving school. After serving with Gambian peacekeepers in Liberia, he returned and, together with a group of veterans who had not been paid, ousted the elected president, Dawda Jawara, who had led the country since independence.
Upon taking power Mr Jammeh set up bodies to investigate corruption and recover pilfered public funds. However, he has been criticised for harassing opposition activists and journalists.
Foreign minister: Musa Gibril Bala Gaye
Finance minister: Alieu Ngum
Private media face severe restrictions, with radio stations and newspapers having to pay large licence fees.
A media bill passed in March 2002 was seen by critics as a threat to press freedom. The law set up a commission with wide-ranging powers, from issuing licences to jailing journalists.
Further legislation introduced in late 2004 provided jail terms for journalists found guilty of libel or sedition. Deyda Hydara, one of the press law's leading critics and the editor of private newspaper The Point, was shot dead days after the law was passed.
State-run Radio Gambia broadcasts tightly-controlled news, which is also relayed by private radio stations. Radio France Internationale is available via an FM relay.
The government operates the only national television station.
The press
Observer - private daily
The Independent - private
Foroyaa - private, bi-weekly
The Point - private, thrice-weekly
Television
Gambia Television - state-run, single-channel national service
Premium TV Network - private satellite channel
Radio
Radio Gambia - national broadcaster, programmes in English and vernacular languages
Radio 1 FM - private, music-based
West Coast Radio - private
Sud FM - private
City Limits Radio - private 
