Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Gambia
Gambia: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.3%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
39th
of 215 countries
All-time high
4.2%
in 1991
All-time low
2.3%
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Population growth in Gambia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2024, population growth in Gambia stood at 2.3%. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Gambia peaked at 4.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2024.
Gambia ranks 39th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Gambia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.8% | — |
| 1971 | 2.9% | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 2.9% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 3.1% | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 3.2% | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 3.3% | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 3.4% | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 3.5% | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 3.5% | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 3.7% | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 3.8% | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 3.9% | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 4.0% | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 4.1% | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 4.1% | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 4.2% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 4.2% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 4.1% | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | -9.8% |
| 1994 | 3.2% | -12.2% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | -7.5% |
| 1996 | 2.9% | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 2.8% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 2.8% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | -1.0% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 2.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 88% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 2.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.4% | 2.8% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More population data for Gambia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.023 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.023 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1454 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 4,674 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.23 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5608 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.012 (2100)
- Population density 563.54 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 334,764 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Gambia?
- Population growth in Gambia was 2.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2024.
- How does Gambia rank for population growth?
- Gambia ranks 39th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release