The literacy level is 41.4 percent (2004). The primary school is free, there is a school of five years (1997). The country has special schools for the training of teachers, nurses and other professionals, but has no university.
Gambia is a presidential republic since 1970. 1997, a new constitution came into force. State and Government, is head of the President, for a term of five years shall be elected by the people. Of the 49 Members of Parliament (National Assembly), 45 elected every five years and four appointed by the President. Main party is the Alliance for Patriotic reorganization and Construction (APRC).
Highest legal body is the Supreme Court; him are subordinate to the Court of Appeal and the magistrate courts. Gambia is divided administratively into six districts.
The economy is based primarily on agriculture. The main products are growing peanuts, partly in the mills of the country to be processed, partly to serve export. The tourism industry, which in recent years has been expanded, is also of economic importance. The trade balance is negative. The gross domestic product amounts to 357 million U.S. dollars (2002).
The cultivation of rice and millet serves as the holding of cattle, sheep, goats and chickens, self-sufficiency. Peanuts are mainly grown for export, approximately one third of the annual export revenue comes from sales of peanuts and peanut products. To the agricultural production more diverse and efficient, the government has the cultivation of cotton, sisal, citrus fruits and tobacco encouraged. Fishing is widespread along the coast.
