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PEOPLE

Language
English is the official language. The most widespread local languages are Mandingo, Fulani and Wolof.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	1.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	1.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	1.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	1.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	1.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	1.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	1.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	1.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	1.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
3.8 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Mandingos constitute 40 percent of the population. There are also 14 percent Futa, 13 percent Wolof and a smaller Diula minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Muslim 95 percent, with the remainder mainly practising Christianity and traditional African religions.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	55.7 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	54.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	53.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	53.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	52.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	51.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	50.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	49.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1960
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2005)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	41.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	40.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	40.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	40.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	41.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	40.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +0

Climate description
Sub-tropical with distinct dry and rainy seasons; coastal areas dry from mid-November to mid-May, rainy from June-October; inland, shorter cool season, daytime temperatures extremely high from March to June.

Currency
Dalasi

Telephone dialling code
(+) 220

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	58.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	56.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	55.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	54.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	53.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	46.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	57.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	54.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	54.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	52.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	52.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	59.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	57.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	57.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	55.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	55.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	47.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	82 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	84 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	97 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	89 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	90 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	91 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	91 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	92 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	109 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	113 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	137 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	122 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	123 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	126 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	55 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	55 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	55 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	55 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	51 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	51 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	690 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	540 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	155	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	155	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	155	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	155	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	151	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	160	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	20 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	20 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	17 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	17 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	17 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	17 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2000	17 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	30 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	29 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	27 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	86 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	82 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	82 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	52 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	53 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	53 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	37 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	37.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	37.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	36.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	45.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	45.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	30.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	30.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	29.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	28 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	702 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	495 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	257 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	162 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	118 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	104 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	72 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	41 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	65 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	59 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	53 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	38 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	33 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	24 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	158 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	143 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	121 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	103 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	90 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	92 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Signed but not yet ratified (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	59.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	59.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	59.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	59.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	59.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	320 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	270 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	260 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	240 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	290 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	310 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	0.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	0.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	0.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	5.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	5.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	7.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	-3.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	5.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	5.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	5.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	4.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	12.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	27.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	16.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	15.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.8 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
37.0 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	11 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	11 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	4 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	4 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	258 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	253 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	248 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	244 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	239 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	234 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	230 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	225 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	1352	UNHCR
2007	1267	UNHCR
2006	1254	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	1678	UNHCR
2004	684	UNHCR
2003	746	UNHCR
2002	861	UNHCR
2001	734	UNHCR
2000	750	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	14836	UNHCR
2007	14895	UNHCR
2006	13761	UNHCR
2005	7330	UNHCR
2004	7343	UNHCR
2003	7465	UNHCR
2002	12120	UNHCR
2001	8133	UNHCR
2000	12016	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2007	Estimated at 3	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	No data available percent
2004	0.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	0.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	3.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003