Location: coastal West Africa. surrounded on three sides by Senegal
Population: 1.3 million;
UN Development Programme rating: 13th poorest in the world (1995)
Life Expectancy: 46
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Ethnic Groups: nine, all living peacefully together
Independence: 1965, from Britain
Main industries: (1) Agriculture; (2) Tourism
Tourist numbers: c 100,000 per annum
Famous as: the place Alex Haley traced his Roots to
Irish connections: Irish missionaries present for many decades; approximately 20 resident Irish development workers; Kerrygold butter on sale in the shops