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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 35,064,272 people in Ghana in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 36,032,857 in Ghana.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 12.4 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Ghana is the 46th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.43% for Ghana.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.05% in Ghana.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Ghana has grown from 23M to 36M (56.4% growth).

Gambia vs Ghana: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Ghana
2100 5,766,099 68,117,614
2099 5,764,092 68,008,028
2098 5,761,403 67,888,410
2097 5,758,064 67,759,128
2096 5,753,864 67,625,262
2095 5,748,821 67,481,344
2094 5,742,977 67,325,992
2093 5,735,465 67,162,890
2092 5,727,035 66,991,846
2091 5,717,851 66,804,098
2090 5,707,322 66,605,276
2089 5,695,590 66,395,029
2088 5,682,547 66,173,453
2087 5,668,415 65,937,323
2086 5,653,552 65,699,827
2085 5,637,112 65,451,666
2084 5,619,538 65,196,037
2083 5,600,932 64,922,457
2082 5,581,062 64,638,242
2081 5,559,781 64,342,209
2080 5,537,312 64,034,249
2079 5,513,586 63,717,528
2078 5,488,256 63,384,648
2077 5,461,819 63,046,955
2076 5,434,380 62,699,375
2075 5,405,474 62,337,964
2074 5,375,255 61,974,725
2073 5,343,873 61,604,458
2072 5,311,755 61,227,111
2071 5,278,538 60,835,024
2070 5,243,773 60,442,399
2069 5,207,961 60,041,679
2068 5,170,739 59,627,097
2067 5,132,640 59,203,373
2066 5,093,072 58,774,846
2065 5,051,871 58,341,378
2064 5,009,758 57,893,305
2063 4,966,686 57,439,982
2062 4,922,343 56,974,922
2061 4,876,639 56,500,340
2060 4,830,317 56,019,906
2059 4,783,233 55,529,609
2058 4,735,557 55,031,460
2057 4,686,764 54,524,491
2056 4,637,220 54,007,205
2055 4,586,935 53,481,428
2054 4,535,328 52,949,003
2053 4,483,472 52,407,089
2052 4,430,621 51,859,418
2051 4,376,942 51,300,839
2050 4,322,480 50,730,296
2049 4,267,374 50,153,221
2048 4,211,530 49,567,895
2047 4,154,844 48,972,414
2046 4,097,814 48,373,367
2045 4,040,118 47,766,811
2044 3,981,892 47,154,486
2043 3,923,058 46,538,892
2042 3,863,611 45,916,531
2041 3,804,282 45,291,657
2040 3,744,293 44,660,573
2039 3,684,045 44,029,228
2038 3,623,285 43,393,321
2037 3,562,776 42,752,045
2036 3,502,038 42,112,269
2035 3,441,138 41,470,624
2034 3,380,088 40,823,789
2033 3,318,743 40,176,026
2032 3,257,194 39,532,216
2031 3,195,735 38,892,407
2030 3,134,115 38,251,174
2029 3,072,145 37,616,078
2028 3,009,805 36,978,847
2027 2,947,443 36,342,429
2026 2,884,828 35,705,894
2025 2,822,093 35,064,272
2024 2,759,988 34,427,414
2023 2,697,845 33,787,914
2022 2,636,470 33,149,152
2021 2,576,010 32,518,665
2020 2,515,733 31,887,809
2019 2,456,844 31,258,945
2018 2,399,632 30,637,585
2017 2,342,189 30,008,354
2016 2,283,769 29,356,742
2015 2,224,529 28,696,068
2014 2,164,528 28,041,592
2013 2,103,820 27,386,193
2012 2,043,094 26,734,268
2011 1,983,784 26,095,088
2010 1,926,630 25,474,995
2009 1,871,422 24,862,664
2008 1,817,852 24,249,946
2007 1,765,774 23,642,279
2006 1,715,275 23,040,702
2005 1,667,037 22,449,438
2004 1,621,312 21,868,298
2003 1,577,611 21,296,705
2002 1,535,691 20,729,388
2001 1,495,011 20,167,069
2000 1,455,084 19,637,087
1999 1,415,779 19,149,864
1998 1,376,987 18,688,036
1997 1,338,889 18,238,958
1996 1,301,410 17,810,181
1995 1,264,313 17,399,017
1994 1,227,226 16,993,190
1993 1,188,365 16,589,519
1992 1,145,582 16,184,855
1991 1,099,959 15,787,496
1990 1,054,696 15,394,648
1989 1,011,357 15,006,813
1988 970,160 14,636,568
1987 931,091 14,289,108
1986 894,019 13,965,217
1985 858,874 13,661,229
1984 825,631 13,370,590
1983 794,525 13,029,836
1982 765,753 12,643,819
1981 739,125 12,281,712
1980 713,913 11,941,448
1979 689,781 11,597,255
1978 667,103 11,248,450
1977 645,770 10,911,871
1976 625,667 10,594,913
1975 606,821 10,294,308
1974 589,085 10,000,523
1973 571,991 9,714,617
1972 555,370 9,438,187
1971 539,388 9,176,264
1970 524,105 8,925,813
1969 509,440 8,690,383
1968 495,269 8,475,729
1967 481,588 8,271,913
1966 468,516 8,074,521
1965 455,952 7,882,606
1964 443,687 7,695,739
1963 431,757 7,514,714
1962 420,163 7,337,375
1961 408,930 7,162,667
1960 398,060 6,961,215

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/gambia/ghana | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Ghana gained 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Ghana's population increased by 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Ghana was ranked 48th in 2006 and ranked 46th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Gambia's population will grow by 48.2% to 4,322,480 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of Ghana will increase by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people and rank change from 46th to 43rd.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 68.1M people in 2100 for Ghana.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Ghana
2100 0.03% 0.16%
2099 0.05% 0.18%
2098 0.06% 0.19%
2097 0.07% 0.2%
2096 0.09% 0.21%
2095 0.1% 0.23%
2094 0.13% 0.24%
2093 0.15% 0.26%
2092 0.16% 0.28%
2091 0.18% 0.3%
2090 0.21% 0.32%
2089 0.23% 0.33%
2088 0.25% 0.36%
2087 0.26% 0.36%
2086 0.29% 0.38%
2085 0.31% 0.39%
2084 0.33% 0.42%
2083 0.36% 0.44%
2082 0.38% 0.46%
2081 0.41% 0.48%
2080 0.43% 0.5%
2079 0.46% 0.53%
2078 0.48% 0.54%
2077 0.5% 0.55%
2076 0.53% 0.58%
2075 0.56% 0.59%
2074 0.59% 0.6%
2073 0.6% 0.62%
2072 0.63% 0.64%
2071 0.66% 0.65%
2070 0.69% 0.67%
2069 0.72% 0.7%
2068 0.74% 0.72%
2067 0.78% 0.73%
2066 0.82% 0.74%
2065 0.84% 0.77%
2064 0.87% 0.79%
2063 0.9% 0.82%
2062 0.94% 0.84%
2061 0.96% 0.86%
2060 0.98% 0.88%
2059 1.01% 0.91%
2058 1.04% 0.93%
2057 1.07% 0.96%
2056 1.1% 0.98%
2055 1.14% 1.01%
2054 1.16% 1.03%
2053 1.19% 1.06%
2052 1.23% 1.09%
2051 1.26% 1.12%
2050 1.29% 1.15%
2049 1.33% 1.18%
2048 1.36% 1.22%
2047 1.39% 1.24%
2046 1.43% 1.27%
2045 1.46% 1.3%
2044 1.5% 1.32%
2043 1.54% 1.36%
2042 1.56% 1.38%
2041 1.6% 1.41%
2040 1.64% 1.43%
2039 1.68% 1.47%
2038 1.7% 1.5%
2037 1.73% 1.52%
2036 1.77% 1.55%
2035 1.81% 1.58%
2034 1.85% 1.61%
2033 1.89% 1.63%
2032 1.92% 1.65%
2031 1.97% 1.68%
2030 2.02% 1.69%
2029 2.07% 1.72%
2028 2.12% 1.75%
2027 2.17% 1.78%
2026 2.22% 1.83%
2025 2.25% 1.85%
2024 2.3% 1.89%
2023 2.33% 1.93%
2022 2.35% 1.94%
2021 2.4% 1.98%
2020 2.4% 2.01%
2019 2.38% 2.03%
2018 2.45% 2.1%
2017 2.56% 2.22%
2016 2.66% 2.3%
2015 2.77% 2.33%
2014 2.89% 2.39%
2013 2.97% 2.44%
2012 2.99% 2.45%
2011 2.97% 2.43%
2010 2.95% 2.46%
2009 2.95% 2.53%
2008 2.95% 2.57%
2007 2.94% 2.61%
2006 2.89% 2.63%
2005 2.82% 2.66%
2004 2.77% 2.68%
2003 2.73% 2.74%
2002 2.72% 2.79%
2001 2.74% 2.7%
2000 2.78% 2.54%
1999 2.82% 2.47%
1998 2.85% 2.46%
1997 2.88% 2.41%
1996 2.93% 2.36%
1995 3.02% 2.39%
1994 3.27% 2.43%
1993 3.73% 2.5%
1992 4.15% 2.52%
1991 4.29% 2.55%
1990 4.29% 2.58%
1989 4.25% 2.53%
1988 4.2% 2.43%
1987 4.15% 2.32%
1986 4.09% 2.23%
1985 4.03% 2.17%
1984 3.92% 2.62%
1983 3.76% 3.05%
1982 3.6% 2.95%
1981 3.53% 2.85%
1980 3.5% 2.97%
1979 3.4% 3.1%
1978 3.3% 3.08%
1977 3.21% 2.99%
1976 3.11% 2.92%
1975 3.01% 2.94%
1974 2.99% 2.94%
1973 2.99% 2.93%
1972 2.96% 2.85%
1971 2.92% 2.81%
1970 2.88% 2.71%
1969 2.86% 2.53%
1968 2.84% 2.46%
1967 2.79% 2.44%
1966 2.76% 2.43%
1965 2.76% 2.43%
1964 2.76% 2.41%
1963 2.76% 2.42%
1962 2.75% 2.44%
1961 2.73% 2.89%

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/gambia/ghana | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Ghana's population grew by 1.85%.

Live population counters

Gambia Ghana
Current population
2916990
36032857
Population rank 138/197 46/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.43%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
49.7 seconds
One birth every
6.38 minutes
35.3 seconds
One death every
30.5 minutes
2.18 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,745
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +636,858
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +1.85%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 57/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
30.9 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 -17,079
Net migration rank 107/196 150/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 532,286
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 77/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 145/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Ghana
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Ghana
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -17,079
2024 65,157 -2,989 651,057 -13,114
2023 65,118 -3,000 651,094 -10,003
2022 63,634 -3,000 646,441 -10,003
2021 62,239 -1,949 635,805 -11,259
2020 62,209 -1,949 637,469 -291
2019 61,701 -4,186 642,403 -21,857
2018 60,854 -3,944 641,551 -19,375
2017 61,665 -3,696 641,218 -4,913
2016 62,358 -3,486 659,910 7,009
2015 62,832 -3,224 667,729 -13,306
2014 63,185 -2,793 660,829 -6,312
2013 63,510 -2,476 658,638 -2,377
2012 62,745 -2,332 646,595 1,005
2011 60,571 -2,360 631,501 -720
2010 58,554 -2,456 613,133 -3,726
2009 56,575 -2,259 592,825 22,416
2008 55,032 -2,204 579,695 30,506
2007 53,653 -2,320 572,332 32,813
2006 52,335 -2,666 569,474 28,536
2005 50,010 -3,209 563,234 21,272
2004 48,276 -3,636 543,339 34,433
2003 46,473 -3,713 536,656 28,768
2002 45,156 -4,067 528,620 40,573
2001 44,154 -3,882 519,382 36,050
2000 43,249 -3,670 508,738 -4,206
1999 42,533 -3,493 487,210 -17,304
1998 41,842 -3,291 471,313 -17,564
1997 40,742 -3,098 459,822 -15,409
1996 40,253 -2,948 450,259 -37,113
1995 39,681 -2,797 451,748 -42,558
1994 38,880 -1,586 449,589 -47,120
1993 37,302 3,131 454,669 -49,792
1992 35,951 9,182 452,156 -47,736
1991 34,584 11,530 448,159 -57,878
1990 33,163 11,242 442,211 -46,789
1989 31,504 10,765 432,541 -52,293
1988 29,938 10,187 425,031 -64,810
1987 28,452 9,563 419,328 -84,648
1986 27,195 8,934 411,191 -98,099
1985 25,795 8,373 401,722 -106,855
1984 24,586 7,733 392,053 -105,655
1983 23,175 6,713 379,846 15,276
1982 21,894 5,757 369,061 7,863
1981 20,156 5,438 359,572 -12,296
1980 19,566 5,268 346,816 -13,564
1979 18,543 4,898 334,848 20,291
1978 17,424 4,493 324,428 18,041
1977 16,773 3,969 315,429 15,243
1976 16,032 3,436 305,769 -2,528
1975 15,256 2,979 298,267 -292
1974 14,628 2,610 290,796 -1,197
1973 14,046 2,907 283,385 -1,168
1972 13,432 2,861 275,236 -4,589
1971 12,842 2,817 265,442 -12,238
1970 12,128 2,777 257,938 -10,233
1969 11,670 2,757 251,925 -28,752
1968 11,215 2,705 242,821 -36,683
1967 10,823 2,617 237,156 -35,666
1966 10,422 2,272 231,440 -38,143
1965 10,162 2,272 229,061 -38,519
1964 9,825 2,272 226,685 -43,480
1963 9,493 2,272 225,367 -46,516
1962 9,150 2,272 223,842 -48,017
1961 8,778 2,272 222,372 -48,777
1960 8,420 2,272 217,134 12,181

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.2% of the population change in the Gambia is from natural causes (a gain of 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people). In Ghana 98.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 532,286 people or 1.5% in Ghana.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K

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/gambia/ghana | 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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