West Coast Division (Gambia) births. The poverty gap ratio was 22.4 per cent and literacy rate was 69.7 per cent as of 2003. The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa and the width of the strip-like structure never exceeds . It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and otherwise surrounded by Senegal. The Gambia River flows throughout the country and is the principal source of water and a transport route. The banks of the river have swampy beaches, while it has alluvial soil in all other parts, which is conducive for the growth of rice. Peanuts are the major cash
Gambia–Philippines relations exploration following the recent discovery of oil in his country. Jammeh offered one block out of the five oil deposits in the Gambia to the Philippines to be developed in the proposed joint oil exploration. The Philippines agreed to conduct a joint oil exploration with the Gambia. The agreement was said to be the fruits of the New Asian–African Strategic Partnership signed by both countries in Jakarta. The Philippine National Oil Company subsequently said that the first 5 blocks offered did not show much potential, but that they were interested in the sixth block. The Gambia also wanted to reciprocate