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Population density: Gambia vs Zimbabwe compared

Updated on by Georank team

The Gambia has a population density of 739 people per square mile compared to 115.6 people in Zimbabwe. The Gambia has 44,070 sq ft of land per person vs 252,854 sq ft in Zimbabwe. The Gambia and Zimbabwe rank 36th and 144th 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 0.2% of the population and 0.26% of the land area for Zimbabwe, making the population density in the Gambia 539% higher than in Zimbabwe.

Population density by year

Gambia
Zimbabwe

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Gambia Zimbabwe
2026 739 115.6
2025 722 113.5
2024 706 111.4
2023 690 109.4
2022 675 107.6
2021 659 105.8
2020 644 104
2019 629 102.2
2018 614 100.7
2017 599 99.2
2016 584 97.8
2015 569 96.4
2014 554 95.1
2013 538 93.8
2012 523 92.5
2011 508 91
2010 493 89.4
2009 479 88
2008 465 86.8
2007 452 85.7
2006 439 84.6
2005 427 83.6
2004 415 82.8
2003 404 81.9
2002 393 80.9
2001 383 80.2
2000 372 79.6
1999 362 78.9
1998 352 77.6
1997 343 76.1
1996 333 74.7
1995 324 73.5
1994 314 72.8
1993 304 72.7
1992 293.2 71.7
1991 281.5 69.7
1990 269.9 67.9
1989 258.8 66
1988 248.3 64.2
1987 238.3 62.2
1986 228.8 60.1
1985 219.8 58.2
1984 211.3 56.2
1983 203.3 54.2
1982 196 52.2
1981 189.2 50.2
1980 182.7 47.1
1979 176.5 44.5
1978 170.7 43.8
1977 165.3 43.2
1976 160.1 42.1
1975 155.3 40.8
1974 150.8 39.6
1973 146.4 38.3
1972 142.1 37.1
1971 138 36
1970 134.1 34.9
1969 130.4 33.9
1968 126.8 32.8
1967 123.3 31.8
1966 119.9 30.8
1965 116.7 29.8
1964 113.6 28.9
1963 110.5 28
1962 107.5 27.2
1961 104.7 26.3

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the Gambia increased by 68.2%, compared to a 36.7% growth in Zimbabwe.

In 2006, the Gambia ranked 51st by population density and is 36th now. Zimbabwe was 145th in 2006 and ranks 144th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Gambia
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Urban population
Gambia Zimbabwe
2024 64.3% 39.9%
2023 63.8% 39.3%
2022 63.3% 38.7%
2021 62.8% 37.9%
2020 62.2% 37%
2019 61.6% 36.2%
2018 61.1% 35.4%
2017 60.5% 34.7%
2016 59.9% 34.1%
2015 59.2% 33.6%
2014 58.6% 33.2%
2013 58% 32.9%
2012 57.3% 32.8%
2011 56.7% 32.8%
2010 56% 32.7%
2009 55.3% 32.7%
2008 54.6% 32.7%
2007 53.9% 32.7%
2006 53.2% 32.7%
2005 52.4% 32.6%
2004 51.5% 32.6%
2003 50.6% 32.6%
2002 49.6% 32.6%
2001 48.3% 32.5%
2000 47% 32.4%
1999 45.5% 32.3%
1998 44% 32.1%
1997 42.4% 31.9%
1996 40.9% 31.7%
1995 39.6% 31.4%
1994 38.3% 31.2%
1993 37.3% 30.9%
1992 36.5% 30.6%
1991 35.8% 30.2%
1990 35.2% 29.6%
1989 34.6% 28.9%
1988 34.1% 28.1%
1987 33.6% 27.3%
1986 33.1% 26.5%
1985 32.5% 25.6%
1984 31.8% 24.8%
1983 31% 24.1%
1982 30% 23.5%
1981 28.7% 22.9%
1980 27.2% 22.3%
1979 25.6% 21.8%
1978 23.8% 21.3%
1977 22% 20.8%
1976 20.3% 20.3%
1975 18.7% 19.8%
1974 17.3% 19.4%
1973 16.1% 18.9%
1972 15.1% 18.4%
1971 14.1% 17.9%
1970 13.2% 17.4%
1969 12.2% 16.9%
1968 11.3% 16.4%
1967 10.5% 15.8%
1966 9.86% 15.1%
1965 9.33% 14.5%
1964 8.98% 14%
1963 8.82% 13.5%
1962 8.84% 13.1%
1961 8.93% 12.8%
1960 9.07% 12.5%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 51.5% to 64.3% in the Gambia and from 32.6% to 39.9% in Zimbabwe.

Densely populated cities

Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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