Share of population living in rural areas in Gambia
Gambia: Share of population living in rural areas was 25.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Gambia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in rural areas in Gambia is 25.1%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Gambia peaked at 68.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 25.1%, in 2020.
Gambia ranks 123rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 68.8% | — |
| 1955 | 66.8% | -2.9% |
| 1960 | 64.5% | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 62.0% | -3.9% |
| 1970 | 59.3% | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 56.2% | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 53.1% | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 50.6% | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 45.1% | -10.9% |
| 1995 | 41.0% | -9.2% |
| 2000 | 38.0% | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 34.8% | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 31.1% | -10.6% |
| 2015 | 28.1% | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 25.1% | -10.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 67.8% | 66.8% | 68.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 63.3% | 62.0% | 64.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 57.7% | 56.2% | 59.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 51.9% | 50.6% | 53.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 43.1% | 41.0% | 45.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.4% | 34.8% | 38.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 29.6% | 28.1% | 31.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 25.1% | 25.1% | 25.1% | 1 |
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 share of population living in rural areas in Gambia?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Gambia was 25.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 68.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.1% in 2020.
- How does Gambia rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Gambia ranks 123rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.