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Population in Eswatini compared to the Gambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Eswatini was 1,256,174 in 2025 vs 2,822,093 people in the Gambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Eswatini's population is 1,276,995 people compared to 2,916,990 in the Gambia.

Population statistics:

  • The Gambia's population is 2.28 times bigger than Eswatini's.
  • Eswatini is ranked the 156th most populous country in the world, while the Gambia is the 138th.
  • The countries together account for 0.05% of the world: 0.02% for Eswatini vs 0.04% for the Gambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Eswatini has had an average growth rate of +0.92% per year vs +2.44% in the Gambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Eswatini has increased from 1.08M people to 1.28M (17.8% growth), while the Gambia has grown from 1.72M to 2.92M (70.1% growth).

Eswatini vs Gambia: population by year and forecast

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Eswatini Gambia
2100 1,352,676 5,766,099
2099 1,361,771 5,764,092
2098 1,370,136 5,761,403
2097 1,378,294 5,758,064
2096 1,386,470 5,753,864
2095 1,394,685 5,748,821
2094 1,402,820 5,742,977
2093 1,410,707 5,735,465
2092 1,418,422 5,727,035
2091 1,426,384 5,717,851
2090 1,433,911 5,707,322
2089 1,441,481 5,695,590
2088 1,448,623 5,682,547
2087 1,455,625 5,668,415
2086 1,462,692 5,653,552
2085 1,469,955 5,637,112
2084 1,477,042 5,619,538
2083 1,483,569 5,600,932
2082 1,489,850 5,581,062
2081 1,495,270 5,559,781
2080 1,500,616 5,537,312
2079 1,505,611 5,513,586
2078 1,510,082 5,488,256
2077 1,514,879 5,461,819
2076 1,519,757 5,434,380
2075 1,524,151 5,405,474
2074 1,528,574 5,375,255
2073 1,532,275 5,343,873
2072 1,535,515 5,311,755
2071 1,538,642 5,278,538
2070 1,541,025 5,243,773
2069 1,543,544 5,207,961
2068 1,545,599 5,170,739
2067 1,547,340 5,132,640
2066 1,548,173 5,093,072
2065 1,548,989 5,051,871
2064 1,549,433 5,009,758
2063 1,549,585 4,966,686
2062 1,549,184 4,922,343
2061 1,548,383 4,876,639
2060 1,547,596 4,830,317
2059 1,545,737 4,783,233
2058 1,543,109 4,735,557
2057 1,540,394 4,686,764
2056 1,537,579 4,637,220
2055 1,534,469 4,586,935
2054 1,530,939 4,535,328
2053 1,526,664 4,483,472
2052 1,521,811 4,430,621
2051 1,516,286 4,376,942
2050 1,510,851 4,322,480
2049 1,504,429 4,267,374
2048 1,497,956 4,211,530
2047 1,491,300 4,154,844
2046 1,484,115 4,097,814
2045 1,476,270 4,040,118
2044 1,468,495 3,981,892
2043 1,460,344 3,923,058
2042 1,451,725 3,863,611
2041 1,442,112 3,804,282
2040 1,433,098 3,744,293
2039 1,423,349 3,684,045
2038 1,413,090 3,623,285
2037 1,403,127 3,562,776
2036 1,392,397 3,502,038
2035 1,381,536 3,441,138
2034 1,370,158 3,380,088
2033 1,358,179 3,318,743
2032 1,346,333 3,257,194
2031 1,334,598 3,195,735
2030 1,321,695 3,134,115
2029 1,309,323 3,072,145
2028 1,296,796 3,009,805
2027 1,283,692 2,947,443
2026 1,269,922 2,884,828
2025 1,256,174 2,822,093
2024 1,242,822 2,759,988
2023 1,230,506 2,697,845
2022 1,218,917 2,636,470
2021 1,206,593 2,576,010
2020 1,192,729 2,515,733
2019 1,179,874 2,456,844
2018 1,168,929 2,399,632
2017 1,158,195 2,342,189
2016 1,149,507 2,283,769
2015 1,142,813 2,224,529
2014 1,136,299 2,164,528
2013 1,129,990 2,103,820
2012 1,123,863 2,043,094
2011 1,117,833 1,983,784
2010 1,111,650 1,926,630
2009 1,105,153 1,871,422
2008 1,098,091 1,817,852
2007 1,090,705 1,765,774
2006 1,084,436 1,715,275
2005 1,079,022 1,667,037
2004 1,073,159 1,621,312
2003 1,066,700 1,577,611
2002 1,059,441 1,535,691
2001 1,051,064 1,495,011
2000 1,041,414 1,455,084
1999 1,030,782 1,415,779
1998 1,019,653 1,376,987
1997 1,006,635 1,338,889
1996 989,841 1,301,410
1995 970,433 1,264,313
1994 971,212 1,227,226
1993 971,318 1,188,365
1992 943,416 1,145,582
1991 908,189 1,099,959
1990 872,428 1,054,696
1989 837,800 1,011,357
1988 799,798 970,160
1987 763,811 931,091
1986 734,732 894,019
1985 706,196 858,874
1984 680,783 825,631
1983 658,957 794,525
1982 637,652 765,753
1981 616,808 739,125
1980 596,644 713,913
1979 577,199 689,781
1978 558,446 667,103
1977 540,348 645,770
1976 523,330 625,667
1975 507,673 606,821
1974 492,988 589,085
1973 479,038 571,991
1972 465,788 555,370
1971 453,183 539,388
1970 441,216 524,105
1969 429,875 509,440
1968 419,147 495,269
1967 409,031 481,588
1966 398,766 468,516
1965 388,336 455,952
1964 378,656 443,687
1963 369,759 431,757
1962 361,365 420,163
1961 353,264 408,930
1960 345,337 398,060

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eswatini/gambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Eswatini increased by 65,071 people (a 6% growth), while the Gambia gained 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Eswatini gained 127,488 people (a 11.1% growth), while the Gambia's population increased by 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth).

Eswatini was ranked 152nd most populous country in 2006 and is 156th in 2026. The Gambia was ranked 146th in 2006 and ranked 138th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Eswatini's population will grow by 18.3% to 1,510,851 people with a rank change from 156th to 154th. The population of the Gambia will increase by 48.2% to 4,322,480 people and rank change from 138th to 132nd.

Eswatini is projected to reach its peak in 2063 at 1.55M people compared to the peak of 5.77M people in 2100 for the Gambia.

Population growth rate by year

Eswatini
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Eswatini Gambia
2100 -0.67% 0.03%
2099 -0.61% 0.05%
2098 -0.59% 0.06%
2097 -0.59% 0.07%
2096 -0.59% 0.09%
2095 -0.58% 0.1%
2094 -0.56% 0.13%
2093 -0.54% 0.15%
2092 -0.56% 0.16%
2091 -0.52% 0.18%
2090 -0.53% 0.21%
2089 -0.49% 0.23%
2088 -0.48% 0.25%
2087 -0.48% 0.26%
2086 -0.49% 0.29%
2085 -0.48% 0.31%
2084 -0.44% 0.33%
2083 -0.42% 0.36%
2082 -0.36% 0.38%
2081 -0.36% 0.41%
2080 -0.33% 0.43%
2079 -0.3% 0.46%
2078 -0.32% 0.48%
2077 -0.32% 0.5%
2076 -0.29% 0.53%
2075 -0.29% 0.56%
2074 -0.24% 0.59%
2073 -0.21% 0.6%
2072 -0.2% 0.63%
2071 -0.15% 0.66%
2070 -0.16% 0.69%
2069 -0.13% 0.72%
2068 -0.11% 0.74%
2067 -0.05% 0.78%
2066 -0.05% 0.82%
2065 -0.03% 0.84%
2064 -0.01% 0.87%
2063 0.03% 0.9%
2062 0.05% 0.94%
2061 0.05% 0.96%
2060 0.12% 0.98%
2059 0.17% 1.01%
2058 0.18% 1.04%
2057 0.18% 1.07%
2056 0.2% 1.1%
2055 0.23% 1.14%
2054 0.28% 1.16%
2053 0.32% 1.19%
2052 0.36% 1.23%
2051 0.36% 1.26%
2050 0.43% 1.29%
2049 0.43% 1.33%
2048 0.45% 1.36%
2047 0.48% 1.39%
2046 0.53% 1.43%
2045 0.53% 1.46%
2044 0.56% 1.5%
2043 0.59% 1.54%
2042 0.67% 1.56%
2041 0.63% 1.6%
2040 0.68% 1.64%
2039 0.73% 1.68%
2038 0.71% 1.7%
2037 0.77% 1.73%
2036 0.79% 1.77%
2035 0.83% 1.81%
2034 0.88% 1.85%
2033 0.88% 1.89%
2032 0.88% 1.92%
2031 0.98% 1.97%
2030 0.94% 2.02%
2029 0.97% 2.07%
2028 1.02% 2.12%
2027 1.08% 2.17%
2026 1.09% 2.22%
2025 1.07% 2.25%
2024 1% 2.3%
2023 0.95% 2.33%
2022 1.02% 2.35%
2021 1.16% 2.4%
2020 1.09% 2.4%
2019 0.94% 2.38%
2018 0.93% 2.45%
2017 0.76% 2.56%
2016 0.59% 2.66%
2015 0.57% 2.77%
2014 0.56% 2.89%
2013 0.55% 2.97%
2012 0.54% 2.99%
2011 0.56% 2.97%
2010 0.59% 2.95%
2009 0.64% 2.95%
2008 0.68% 2.95%
2007 0.58% 2.94%
2006 0.5% 2.89%
2005 0.55% 2.82%
2004 0.61% 2.77%
2003 0.69% 2.73%
2002 0.8% 2.72%
2001 0.93% 2.74%
2000 1.03% 2.78%
1999 1.09% 2.82%
1998 1.29% 2.85%
1997 1.7% 2.88%
1996 2% 2.93%
1995 -0.08% 3.02%
1994 -0.01% 3.27%
1993 2.96% 3.73%
1992 3.88% 4.15%
1991 4.1% 4.29%
1990 4.13% 4.29%
1989 4.75% 4.25%
1988 4.71% 4.2%
1987 3.96% 4.15%
1986 4.04% 4.09%
1985 3.73% 4.03%
1984 3.31% 3.92%
1983 3.34% 3.76%
1982 3.38% 3.6%
1981 3.38% 3.53%
1980 3.37% 3.5%
1979 3.36% 3.4%
1978 3.35% 3.3%
1977 3.25% 3.21%
1976 3.08% 3.11%
1975 2.98% 3.01%
1974 2.91% 2.99%
1973 2.84% 2.99%
1972 2.78% 2.96%
1971 2.71% 2.92%
1970 2.64% 2.88%
1969 2.56% 2.86%
1968 2.47% 2.84%
1967 2.57% 2.79%
1966 2.69% 2.76%
1965 2.56% 2.76%
1964 2.41% 2.76%
1963 2.32% 2.76%
1962 2.29% 2.75%
1961 2.3% 2.73%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eswatini/gambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Eswatini grew by 1.07%, while the Gambia's population grew by 2.25%.

Live population counters

Eswatini Gambia
Current population
1276995
2916990
Population rank 156/197 138/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.04%
One net population change
39.5 minutes
8.49 minutes
One birth every
17.9 minutes
6.38 minutes
One death every
54.7 minutes
30.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +37 +170
Annual growth/decline +13,352 +62,105
Annual growth/decline rate +1.07% +2.25%
Population growth rate rank 95/197 37/197
One migration net change every
1.52 hours
2.94 hours
Annual migration change -5,775 -2,984
Net migration rank 121/196 107/196
Foreign-born residents 33,268 236,137
Foreign-born residents rank 161/195 107/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.7% 8.6%
Foreign-born share rank 121/195 72/195

Natural population change vs migration

Eswatini
Natural

Migration
Gambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Eswatini Gambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,775 - -2,984
2024 19,782 -6,754 65,157 -2,989
2023 20,147 -8,549 65,118 -3,000
2022 20,125 -8,549 63,634 -3,000
2021 17,314 -4,242 62,239 -1,949
2020 18,899 -4,242 62,209 -1,949
2019 19,488 -8,439 61,701 -4,186
2018 19,392 -8,546 60,854 -3,944
2017 19,278 -8,658 61,665 -3,696
2016 19,233 -12,481 62,358 -3,486
2015 19,223 -12,582 62,832 -3,224
2014 19,107 -12,724 63,185 -2,793
2013 18,903 -12,664 63,510 -2,476
2012 18,308 -12,294 62,745 -2,332
2011 17,645 -11,596 60,571 -2,360
2010 17,652 -11,334 58,554 -2,456
2009 17,656 -10,989 56,575 -2,259
2008 17,275 -9,822 55,032 -2,204
2007 16,595 -9,271 53,653 -2,320
2006 16,133 -10,923 52,335 -2,666
2005 15,945 -10,330 50,010 -3,209
2004 15,979 -9,863 48,276 -3,636
2003 16,396 -9,595 46,473 -3,713
2002 16,924 -9,209 45,156 -4,067
2001 17,824 -8,788 44,154 -3,882
2000 18,830 -8,563 43,249 -3,670
1999 19,420 -8,421 42,533 -3,493
1998 19,762 -8,505 41,842 -3,291
1997 20,686 -5,911 40,742 -3,098
1996 21,858 -3,049 40,253 -2,948
1995 23,029 -3,023 39,681 -2,797
1994 26,703 -48,259 38,880 -1,586
1993 28,046 -6,692 37,302 3,131
1992 28,446 6,011 35,951 9,182
1991 28,497 7,496 34,584 11,530
1990 28,349 7,169 33,163 11,242
1989 28,257 5,477 31,504 10,765
1988 27,396 14,879 29,938 10,187
1987 27,285 2,417 28,452 9,563
1986 27,096 1,353 27,195 8,934
1985 26,835 1,792 25,795 8,373
1984 26,149 -3,949 24,586 7,733
1983 24,883 -3,429 23,175 6,713
1982 24,742 -3,574 21,894 5,757
1981 23,973 -3,464 20,156 5,438
1980 23,153 -3,350 19,566 5,268
1979 22,299 -3,210 18,543 4,898
1978 21,466 -3,040 17,424 4,493
1977 20,609 -2,838 16,773 3,969
1976 19,734 -3,469 16,032 3,436
1975 18,849 -3,794 15,256 2,979
1974 17,971 -3,665 14,628 2,610
1973 17,145 -3,555 14,046 2,907
1972 16,353 -3,435 13,432 2,861
1971 15,615 -3,325 12,842 2,817
1970 14,873 -3,230 12,128 2,777
1969 14,164 -3,127 11,670 2,757
1968 13,449 -3,029 11,215 2,705
1967 12,773 -2,964 10,823 2,617
1966 12,282 -1,557 10,422 2,272
1965 11,719 -1,578 10,162 2,272
1964 11,266 -2,049 9,825 2,272
1963 10,929 -2,358 9,493 2,272
1962 10,601 -2,390 9,150 2,272
1961 10,262 -2,270 8,778 2,272
1960 9,947 -2,082 8,420 2,272

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eswatini/gambia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 69.9% of the population change in Eswatini is from natural causes (a gain of 192,881 people) and 30.1% is from migration (a loss of 83,042 people). In the Gambia 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people).

As of 2024, 33,268 residents or 2.7% of the population were not native-born in Eswatini, compared to 236,137 people or 8.6% in the Gambia.

Biggest cities by population

Eswatini
City Population
Manzini 111K
Mbabane 76.2K
Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/eswatini/gambia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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