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Population density: Gambia vs Portugal compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Gambia has a population density of 739 people per square mile compared to 302 people in Portugal. The Gambia has 44,070 sq ft of land per person vs 92,822 sq ft in Portugal. The Gambia and Portugal rank 36th and 81st 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 0.13% of the population and 0.06% of the land area for Portugal, making the population density in the Gambia 144.9% higher than in Portugal.

Population density by year

Gambia
Portugal

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Gambia Portugal
2026 739 302
2025 722 302
2024 706 302
2023 690 299.1
2022 675 295
2021 659 293
2020 644 291.1
2019 629 290.8
2018 614 290.8
2017 599 291.2
2016 584 291.9
2015 569 292.9
2014 554 294.1
2013 538 295.7
2012 523 297.3
2011 508 298.5
2010 493 299
2009 479 298.8
2008 465 299
2007 452 298.5
2006 439 297.9
2005 427 297.4
2004 415 296.8
2003 404 296
2002 393 294.9
2001 383 293.3
2000 372 291.3
1999 362 289.2
1998 352 287.6
1997 343 286.1
1996 333 284.9
1995 324 283.8
1994 314 282.8
1993 304 282.1
1992 293.2 281.7
1991 281.5 281.9
1990 269.9 282.6
1989 258.8 283.2
1988 248.3 283.6
1987 238.3 283.9
1986 228.8 284
1985 219.8 283.7
1984 211.3 283
1983 203.3 281.9
1982 196 280.6
1981 189.2 278.9
1980 182.7 276.4
1979 176.5 273.5
1978 170.7 270.6
1977 165.3 267.7
1976 160.1 264.8
1975 155.3 257.4
1974 150.8 247.8
1973 146.4 244.4
1972 142.1 244.3
1971 138 244.7
1970 134.1 245.7
1969 130.4 247.9
1968 126.8 250.1
1967 123.3 251.2
1966 119.9 252.8
1965 116.7 254.7
1964 113.6 255.8
1963 110.5 255.6
1962 107.5 254.6
1961 104.7 252.8

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Gambia increased by 68.2%, compared to a 1.23% growth in Portugal.

In 2006, the Gambia ranked 51st by population density and is 36th now. Portugal was 68th in 2006 and ranks 81st out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Gambia
Portugal
1x
Year Urban population
Gambia Portugal
2024 64.3% 61.3%
2023 63.8% 61.2%
2022 63.3% 61.1%
2021 62.8% 61.1%
2020 62.2% 61.1%
2019 61.6% 61.1%
2018 61.1% 61.1%
2017 60.5% 61.1%
2016 59.9% 61.1%
2015 59.2% 61.1%
2014 58.6% 61.1%
2013 58% 61.1%
2012 57.3% 61.1%
2011 56.7% 61.1%
2010 56% 61.1%
2009 55.3% 60.8%
2008 54.6% 60.4%
2007 53.9% 59.7%
2006 53.2% 59%
2005 52.4% 58.2%
2004 51.5% 57.4%
2003 50.6% 56.6%
2002 49.6% 55.8%
2001 48.3% 55.1%
2000 47% 54.4%
1999 45.5% 53.7%
1998 44% 53.1%
1997 42.4% 52.4%
1996 40.9% 51.7%
1995 39.6% 51%
1994 38.3% 50.3%
1993 37.3% 49.7%
1992 36.5% 49%
1991 35.8% 48.4%
1990 35.2% 47.7%
1989 34.6% 47.1%
1988 34.1% 46.5%
1987 33.6% 45.8%
1986 33.1% 45.2%
1985 32.5% 44.5%
1984 31.8% 43.9%
1983 31% 43.2%
1982 30% 42.6%
1981 28.7% 41.9%
1980 27.2% 41.3%
1979 25.6% 40.6%
1978 23.8% 40%
1977 22% 39.3%
1976 20.3% 38.7%
1975 18.7% 38.1%
1974 17.3% 37.5%
1973 16.1% 36.9%
1972 15.1% 36.3%
1971 14.1% 35.8%
1970 13.2% 35.2%
1969 12.2% 34.7%
1968 11.3% 34.2%
1967 10.5% 33.7%
1966 9.86% 33.2%
1965 9.33% 32.7%
1964 8.98% 32.3%
1963 8.82% 31.9%
1962 8.84% 31.5%
1961 8.93% 31.2%
1960 9.07% 30.8%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 51.5% to 64.3% in the Gambia and from 57.4% to 61.3% in Portugal.

Densely populated cities

Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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 (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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