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Population density: Gambia vs Kenya compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Gambia has a population density of 739 people per square mile compared to 261.5 people in Kenya. The Gambia has 44,070 sq ft of land per person vs 110,878 sq ft in Kenya. The Gambia and Kenya rank 36th and 94th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The Gambia has 0.03% of the world's population and 0.007% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.69% of the population and 0.39% of the land area for Kenya, making the population density in the Gambia 182.4% higher than in Kenya.

Population density by year

Gambia
Kenya

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Gambia Kenya
2026 739 261.5
2025 722 256.6
2024 706 251.6
2023 690 246.7
2022 675 241.9
2021 659 237.3
2020 644 232.8
2019 629 229.1
2018 614 225.4
2017 599 221.6
2016 584 217.6
2015 569 213.6
2014 554 209.6
2013 538 204.7
2012 523 199.7
2011 508 194.6
2010 493 189.3
2009 479 183.9
2008 465 178.4
2007 452 173.1
2006 439 167.9
2005 427 162.9
2004 415 158
2003 404 153.1
2002 393 148.5
2001 383 143.9
2000 372 139.4
1999 362 135.3
1998 352 131.5
1997 343 127.9
1996 333 124.4
1995 324 121.1
1994 314 117.7
1993 304 114.3
1992 293.2 111
1991 281.5 107.6
1990 269.9 104.2
1989 258.8 100.7
1988 248.3 97.2
1987 238.3 93.8
1986 228.8 90.6
1985 219.8 87.4
1984 211.3 84.3
1983 203.3 81.2
1982 196 78.3
1981 189.2 75.5
1980 182.7 72.9
1979 176.5 70.4
1978 170.7 68
1977 165.3 65.7
1976 160.1 63.5
1975 155.3 61.5
1974 150.8 59.5
1973 146.4 57.5
1972 142.1 55.5
1971 138 53.6
1970 134.1 51.7
1969 130.4 49.8
1968 126.8 47.9
1967 123.3 46
1966 119.9 44.2
1965 116.7 42.5
1964 113.6 40.8
1963 110.5 39.3
1962 107.5 37.8
1961 104.7 36.3

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/gambia/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Gambia increased by 68.2%, compared to a 55.7% growth in Kenya.

In 2006, the Gambia ranked 51st by population density and is 36th now. Kenya was 111th in 2006 and ranks 94th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Gambia
Kenya
1x
Year Urban population
Gambia Kenya
2024 64.3% 31.9%
2023 63.8% 31.6%
2022 63.3% 31.4%
2021 62.8% 31.3%
2020 62.2% 31.2%
2019 61.6% 31.2%
2018 61.1% 31.4%
2017 60.5% 31.5%
2016 59.9% 31.7%
2015 59.2% 31.7%
2014 58.6% 31.8%
2013 58% 31.8%
2012 57.3% 31.9%
2011 56.7% 31.9%
2010 56% 31.9%
2009 55.3% 31.9%
2008 54.6% 31.4%
2007 53.9% 30.4%
2006 53.2% 29%
2005 52.4% 27.3%
2004 51.5% 25.4%
2003 50.6% 23.6%
2002 49.6% 21.9%
2001 48.3% 20.4%
2000 47% 19.5%
1999 45.5% 19%
1998 44% 18.9%
1997 42.4% 18.8%
1996 40.9% 18.7%
1995 39.6% 18.6%
1994 38.3% 18.5%
1993 37.3% 18.5%
1992 36.5% 18.4%
1991 35.8% 18.3%
1990 35.2% 18.2%
1989 34.6% 18.1%
1988 34.1% 17.9%
1987 33.6% 17.7%
1986 33.1% 17.5%
1985 32.5% 17.3%
1984 31.8% 17%
1983 31% 16.8%
1982 30% 16.5%
1981 28.7% 16.2%
1980 27.2% 15.8%
1979 25.6% 15.5%
1978 23.8% 15%
1977 22% 14.5%
1976 20.3% 13.9%
1975 18.7% 13.2%
1974 17.3% 12.5%
1973 16.1% 11.8%
1972 15.1% 11.2%
1971 14.1% 10.6%
1970 13.2% 10.1%
1969 12.2% 9.83%
1968 11.3% 9.61%
1967 10.5% 9.42%
1966 9.86% 9.26%
1965 9.33% 9.12%
1964 8.98% 8.97%
1963 8.82% 8.82%
1962 8.84% 8.63%
1961 8.93% 8.44%
1960 9.07% 8.23%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/gambia/kenya | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 51.5% to 64.3% in the Gambia and from 25.4% to 31.9% in Kenya.

Densely populated cities

Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/gambia/kenya | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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