Population in Gambia
Gambia: Population was 2.70 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.70 million people
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
144th
of 236 countries
All-time high
2.70 million people
in 2023
All-time low
306,745 people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Gambia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 2.70 million people for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Gambia peaked at 2.70 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 306,745 people, in 1950.
That places Gambia 144th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Gambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 306,745 people | — |
| 1951 | 314,501 people | +2.5% |
| 1952 | 322,644 people | +2.6% |
| 1953 | 331,095 people | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 339,818 people | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 348,799 people | +2.6% |
| 1956 | 358,040 people | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 367,552 people | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 377,378 people | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 387,547 people | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 398,071 people | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 408,937 people | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 420,171 people | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 431,766 people | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 443,693 people | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 455,960 people | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 468,524 people | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 481,598 people | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 495,278 people | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 509,443 people | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 524,115 people | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 539,394 people | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 555,380 people | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 572,006 people | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 589,093 people | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 606,829 people | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 625,678 people | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 645,781 people | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 667,107 people | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 689,783 people | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 713,921 people | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 739,132 people | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 765,759 people | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 794,528 people | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 825,634 people | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 858,879 people | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 894,019 people | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 931,102 people | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 970,162 people | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 1.01 million people | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 1.05 million people | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 1.10 million people | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 1.15 million people | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 1.19 million people | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 1.23 million people | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 1.26 million people | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 1.30 million people | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 1.34 million people | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 1.38 million people | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 1.42 million people | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 1.46 million people | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 1.50 million people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 1.54 million people | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 1.58 million people | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 1.62 million people | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 1.67 million people | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 1.72 million people | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 1.77 million people | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 1.82 million people | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 1.87 million people | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 1.93 million people | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.98 million people | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 2.04 million people | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 2.10 million people | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 2.16 million people | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 2.22 million people | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 2.28 million people | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 2.34 million people | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 2.40 million people | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 2.46 million people | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 2.52 million people | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 2.58 million people | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 2.64 million people | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 2.70 million people | +2.3% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 2.70 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 23.03 million people, 12% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 2.70 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 19% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 345,412 people | 306,745 people | 387,547 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 451,344 people | 398,071 people | 509,443 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 601,517 people | 524,115 people | 689,783 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 850,451 people | 713,921 people | 1.01 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.24 million people | 1.05 million people | 1.42 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.65 million people | 1.46 million people | 1.87 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.19 million people | 1.93 million people | 2.46 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.61 million people | 2.52 million people | 2.70 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More population data for Gambia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1454 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.023 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 334,764 people (2100)
- Population density 563.54 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5608 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.23 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Gambia?
- Population in Gambia was 2.70 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.70 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 306,745 people in 1950.
- How does Gambia rank for population?
- Gambia ranks 144th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.