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Population density: Gambia vs Tanzania compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Gambia has a population density of 739 people per square mile compared to 212.2 people in Tanzania. The Gambia has 44,070 sq ft of land per person vs 148,726 sq ft in Tanzania. The Gambia and Tanzania rank 36th and 106th 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 0.84% of the population and 0.59% of the land area for Tanzania, making the population density in the Gambia 248% higher than in Tanzania.

Population density by year

Gambia
Tanzania

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Gambia Tanzania
2026 739 212.2
2025 722 206.3
2024 706 200.5
2023 690 194.8
2022 675 189.2
2021 659 183.7
2020 644 178.3
2019 629 173
2018 614 167.9
2017 599 162.7
2016 584 157.4
2015 569 152.1
2014 554 147.2
2013 538 142.8
2012 523 138.5
2011 508 134.6
2010 493 130.9
2009 479 127.6
2008 465 124.5
2007 452 121.2
2006 439 117.8
2005 427 114.6
2004 415 111.4
2003 404 108.4
2002 393 105.6
2001 383 102.9
2000 372 100.2
1999 362 97.4
1998 352 94.8
1997 343 92.3
1996 333 90.5
1995 324 88.8
1994 314 86.1
1993 304 82.8
1992 293.2 80.3
1991 281.5 78.3
1990 269.9 76.3
1989 258.8 74.4
1988 248.3 72.4
1987 238.3 70.3
1986 228.8 68
1985 219.8 65.8
1984 211.3 63.7
1983 203.3 61.6
1982 196 59.6
1981 189.2 57.8
1980 182.7 56.1
1979 176.5 54.4
1978 170.7 52.6
1977 165.3 50.7
1976 160.1 48.9
1975 155.3 47.2
1974 150.8 45.5
1973 146.4 43.9
1972 142.1 42.3
1971 138 40.9
1970 134.1 39.5
1969 130.4 38.1
1968 126.8 36.8
1967 123.3 35.7
1966 119.9 34.6
1965 116.7 33.5
1964 113.6 32.5
1963 110.5 31.6
1962 107.5 30.7
1961 104.7 29.8

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/tanzania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Gambia increased by 68.2%, compared to a 80.1% growth in Tanzania.

In 2006, the Gambia ranked 51st by population density and is 36th now. Tanzania was 128th in 2006 and ranks 106th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Gambia
Tanzania
1x
Year Urban population
Gambia Tanzania
2024 64.3% 36.2%
2023 63.8% 35.5%
2022 63.3% 34.8%
2021 62.8% 34.4%
2020 62.2% 33.9%
2019 61.6% 33.3%
2018 61.1% 32.8%
2017 60.5% 32.3%
2016 59.9% 31.8%
2015 59.2% 31.2%
2014 58.6% 30.6%
2013 58% 30.1%
2012 57.3% 29.5%
2011 56.7% 28.9%
2010 56% 28.2%
2009 55.3% 27.5%
2008 54.6% 26.8%
2007 53.9% 26.1%
2006 53.2% 25.4%
2005 52.4% 24.7%
2004 51.5% 24.1%
2003 50.6% 23.5%
2002 49.6% 23%
2001 48.3% 22.6%
2000 47% 22.2%
1999 45.5% 21.8%
1998 44% 21.5%
1997 42.4% 21.1%
1996 40.9% 20.8%
1995 39.6% 20.5%
1994 38.3% 20.2%
1993 37.3% 19.9%
1992 36.5% 19.6%
1991 35.8% 19.3%
1990 35.2% 18.9%
1989 34.6% 18.6%
1988 34.1% 18.2%
1987 33.6% 17.8%
1986 33.1% 17.4%
1985 32.5% 17%
1984 31.8% 16.6%
1983 31% 16.2%
1982 30% 15.7%
1981 28.7% 15.3%
1980 27.2% 14.8%
1979 25.6% 14.2%
1978 23.8% 13.7%
1977 22% 13%
1976 20.3% 12.1%
1975 18.7% 11.2%
1974 17.3% 10.1%
1973 16.1% 9.05%
1972 15.1% 8.03%
1971 14.1% 7.08%
1970 13.2% 6.26%
1969 12.2% 5.62%
1968 11.3% 5.19%
1967 10.5% 5.04%
1966 9.86% 5%
1965 9.33% 4.97%
1964 8.98% 4.95%
1963 8.82% 4.93%
1962 8.84% 4.92%
1961 8.93% 4.9%
1960 9.07% 4.89%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 51.5% to 64.3% in the Gambia and from 24.1% to 36.2% in Tanzania.

Densely populated cities

Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K

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/tanzania | 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 (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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