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Population density: Gambia vs Rwanda compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Gambia has a population density of 739 people per square mile compared to 1,563 people in Rwanda. The Gambia has 44,070 sq ft of land per person vs 19,886 sq ft in Rwanda. The Gambia and Rwanda rank 36th and 13th 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 0.18% of the population and 0.02% of the land area for Rwanda, making the population density in the Gambia 52.8% lower than in Rwanda.

Population density by year

Gambia
Rwanda

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Gambia Rwanda
2026 739 1,563
2025 722 1,529
2024 706 1,497
2023 690 1,465
2022 675 1,433
2021 659 1,402
2020 644 1,372
2019 629 1,341
2018 614 1,311
2017 599 1,281
2016 584 1,251
2015 569 1,222
2014 554 1,193
2013 538 1,165
2012 523 1,137
2011 508 1,110
2010 493 1,083
2009 479 1,056
2008 465 1,029
2007 452 1,003
2006 439 976
2005 427 951
2004 415 926
2003 404 901
2002 393 882
2001 383 870
2000 372 862
1999 362 855
1998 352 848
1997 343 814
1996 333 704
1995 324 596
1994 314 713
1993 304 838
1992 293.2 807
1991 281.5 790
1990 269.9 774
1989 258.8 754
1988 248.3 732
1987 238.3 709
1986 228.8 686
1985 219.8 663
1984 211.3 641
1983 203.3 620
1982 196 600
1981 189.2 580
1980 182.7 562
1979 176.5 545
1978 170.7 529
1977 165.3 513
1976 160.1 498
1975 155.3 484
1974 150.8 470
1973 146.4 456
1972 142.1 443
1971 138 430
1970 134.1 418
1969 130.4 405
1968 126.8 393
1967 123.3 381
1966 119.9 370
1965 116.7 359
1964 113.6 350
1963 110.5 342
1962 107.5 334
1961 104.7 326

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Gambia increased by 68.2%, compared to a 60.1% growth in Rwanda.

In 2006, the Gambia ranked 51st by population density and is 36th now. Rwanda was 18th in 2006 and ranks 13th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Gambia
Rwanda
1x
Year Urban population
Gambia Rwanda
2024 64.3% 29.9%
2023 63.8% 28.9%
2022 63.3% 27.8%
2021 62.8% 26.1%
2020 62.2% 24.5%
2019 61.6% 23%
2018 61.1% 21.5%
2017 60.5% 20.2%
2016 59.9% 19.1%
2015 59.2% 18.2%
2014 58.6% 17.5%
2013 58% 17.1%
2012 57.3% 16.9%
2011 56.7% 16.9%
2010 56% 16.9%
2009 55.3% 16.9%
2008 54.6% 16.9%
2007 53.9% 16.9%
2006 53.2% 16.9%
2005 52.4% 16.9%
2004 51.5% 16.9%
2003 50.6% 16.9%
2002 49.6% 16.9%
2001 48.3% 16.5%
2000 47% 15.8%
1999 45.5% 14.7%
1998 44% 13.3%
1997 42.4% 11.8%
1996 40.9% 10.3%
1995 39.6% 8.82%
1994 38.3% 7.48%
1993 37.3% 6.4%
1992 36.5% 5.66%
1991 35.8% 5.36%
1990 35.2% 5.27%
1989 34.6% 5.2%
1988 34.1% 5.14%
1987 33.6% 5.09%
1986 33.1% 5.05%
1985 32.5% 5.01%
1984 31.8% 4.98%
1983 31% 4.95%
1982 30% 4.91%
1981 28.7% 4.87%
1980 27.2% 4.82%
1979 25.6% 4.75%
1978 23.8% 4.67%
1977 22% 4.55%
1976 20.3% 4.39%
1975 18.7% 4.19%
1974 17.3% 3.97%
1973 16.1% 3.75%
1972 15.1% 3.55%
1971 14.1% 3.37%
1970 13.2% 3.24%
1969 12.2% 3.14%
1968 11.3% 3.06%
1967 10.5% 3%
1966 9.86% 2.94%
1965 9.33% 2.88%
1964 8.98% 2.83%
1963 8.82% 2.78%
1962 8.84% 2.72%
1961 8.93% 2.67%
1960 9.07% 2.6%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 51.5% to 64.3% in the Gambia and from 16.9% to 29.9% in Rwanda.

Densely populated cities

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K

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/rwanda | 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 (2012–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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