Page 13 - Economic transformation

A general rule of thumb is that is most preferable for GDP growth to be higher than the

rate of inflation. Figure 9 below summarizes the GDP growth and inflation rates of The

Gambia, Senegal, Guinea and Lesotho. Of the three countries, only Senegal has registered

GDP growth rates that are higher than inflation – and this is only between 2012 and 2017.

The rest of the countries are no different to Gambia, registering GDP growth rates that

have consistently been lower than the average rate of inflation.

Figure 9: GDP growth rates and inflation rates – Senegal, Gambia, and Lesotho
(2000 to 2018)

Source: IMF 2018 WEO Database and UN Population estimates

Lacklustre economic growth has exacerbated gender and spatial

inequalities in the labour market

According to the 2018 Gambia labour force survey, 65 percent of working age

Gambians are employed. The majority of the employed are male (64 percent) or live in

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