Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Gambia
Gambia: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 632,697 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Gambia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Gambia is 632,697 people, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Gambia peaked at 632,697 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 211,122 people, in 1950.
Gambia ranks 141st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Gambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 211,122 people | — |
| 1955 | 233,001 people | +10.4% |
| 1960 | 256,892 people | +10.3% |
| 1965 | 282,757 people | +10.1% |
| 1970 | 310,553 people | +9.8% |
| 1975 | 340,895 people | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 379,357 people | +11.3% |
| 1985 | 434,985 people | +14.7% |
| 1990 | 476,049 people | +9.4% |
| 1995 | 518,225 people | +8.9% |
| 2000 | 552,744 people | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 579,454 people | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 599,021 people | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 624,728 people | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 632,697 people | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 222,062 people | 211,122 people | 233,001 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 269,824 people | 256,892 people | 282,757 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 325,724 people | 310,553 people | 340,895 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 407,171 people | 379,357 people | 434,985 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 497,137 people | 476,049 people | 518,225 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 566,099 people | 552,744 people | 579,454 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 611,874 people | 599,021 people | 624,728 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 632,697 people | 632,697 people | 632,697 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 138 Jordan 710,062 people compare
- 139 East Timor 671,378 people compare
- 140 Armenia 665,250 people compare
- 142 Puerto Rico 626,315 people compare
- 143 Lebanon 591,690 people compare
- 144 Solomon Islands 581,600 people compare
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)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 563.54 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 334,764 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Gambia?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Gambia was 632,697 people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 632,697 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 211,122 people in 1950.
- How does Gambia rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Gambia ranks 141st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.