Total population (thousands) in Gambia
Gambia: Total population (thousands) was 2,791 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2,791 thousands
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
142nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
2,791 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
516.66 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Gambia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 2,791 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Gambia peaked at 2,791 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 516.66 thousands, in 1970.
That places Gambia 142nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Gambia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 516.66 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 531.55 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 547.22 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 563.52 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 580.47 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 597.7 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 615.94 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 635.4 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 656.14 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 678.06 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 701.5 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 726.33 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 751.92 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 779.58 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 809.47 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 841.79 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 875.96 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 912.08 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 950.1 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 990.22 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 1,032 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 1,077 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 1,123 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 1,168 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 1,209 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 1,246 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 1,283 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 1,320 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 1,358 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 1,396 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 1,435 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 1,475 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 1,515 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 1,556 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 1,599 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 1,644 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 1,690 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 1,740 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 1,791 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 1,844 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 1,899 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 1,955 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 2,013 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 2,073 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 2,134 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 2,195 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 2,254 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 2,313 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 2,371 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 2,428 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 2,486 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 2,546 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 2,606 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 2,667 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 2,729 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 2,791 thousands | +2.3% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 2,791 thousands is below the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 12% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 2,791 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 19% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 592.27 thousands | 516.66 thousands | 678.06 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 833.9 thousands | 701.5 thousands | 990.22 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,221 thousands | 1,032 thousands | 1,396 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,629 thousands | 1,435 thousands | 1,844 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,164 thousands | 1,899 thousands | 2,428 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,637 thousands | 2,486 thousands | 2,791 thousands | 6 |
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)
- 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 total population in Gambia?
- Total population in Gambia was 2,791 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2,791 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 516.66 thousands in 1970.
- How does Gambia rank for total population?
- Gambia ranks 142nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release