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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 16.6 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Gambia vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Iraq
2100 5,767,668 101,632,594
2099 5,765,660 101,421,266
2098 5,762,971 101,212,536
2097 5,759,632 100,980,835
2096 5,755,430 100,724,441
2095 5,750,385 100,464,590
2094 5,744,540 100,194,041
2093 5,737,026 99,876,174
2092 5,728,594 99,532,041
2091 5,719,408 99,203,830
2090 5,708,875 98,886,956
2089 5,697,140 98,513,025
2088 5,684,094 98,144,039
2087 5,669,958 97,767,537
2086 5,655,091 97,325,026
2085 5,638,646 96,873,007
2084 5,621,067 96,448,602
2083 5,602,456 95,991,166
2082 5,582,581 95,509,663
2081 5,561,294 95,009,326
2080 5,538,819 94,507,216
2079 5,515,086 93,960,228
2078 5,489,750 93,417,384
2077 5,463,305 92,903,983
2076 5,435,859 92,359,592
2075 5,406,946 91,825,254
2074 5,376,718 91,229,266
2073 5,345,328 90,571,021
2072 5,313,201 89,918,374
2071 5,279,975 89,265,548
2070 5,245,200 88,596,492
2069 5,209,379 87,909,474
2068 5,172,146 87,220,494
2067 5,134,037 86,513,996
2066 5,094,458 85,734,530
2065 5,053,246 84,971,898
2064 5,011,122 84,191,350
2063 4,968,038 83,387,951
2062 4,923,683 82,604,577
2061 4,877,966 81,800,637
2060 4,831,631 80,951,008
2059 4,784,535 80,141,868
2058 4,736,846 79,319,543
2057 4,688,039 78,477,339
2056 4,638,482 77,609,202
2055 4,588,184 76,739,924
2054 4,536,562 75,857,125
2053 4,484,692 74,952,948
2052 4,431,827 74,072,580
2051 4,378,133 73,150,234
2050 4,323,657 72,235,938
2049 4,268,536 71,272,122
2048 4,212,677 70,316,860
2047 4,155,975 69,347,823
2046 4,098,930 68,400,664
2045 4,041,218 67,435,953
2044 3,982,976 66,447,309
2043 3,924,126 65,453,565
2042 3,864,662 64,433,831
2041 3,805,317 63,408,709
2040 3,745,312 62,360,117
2039 3,685,048 61,289,355
2038 3,624,271 60,253,073
2037 3,563,745 59,221,658
2036 3,502,991 58,155,990
2035 3,442,074 57,127,999
2034 3,381,008 56,087,695
2033 3,319,646 55,051,140
2032 3,258,080 54,002,289
2031 3,196,605 52,991,443
2030 3,134,968 51,986,773
2029 3,072,981 50,982,563
2028 3,010,624 50,001,133
2027 2,948,246 49,014,822
2026 2,885,613 48,020,334
2025 2,822,861 47,020,527
2024 2,759,988 46,042,015
2023 2,697,845 45,074,049
2022 2,636,470 44,070,551
2021 2,576,010 43,071,211
2020 2,515,733 42,116,605
2019 2,456,844 41,192,171
2018 2,399,632 40,265,624
2017 2,342,189 39,337,353
2016 2,283,769 38,469,627
2015 2,224,529 37,560,535
2014 2,164,528 36,550,059
2013 2,103,820 35,281,989
2012 2,043,094 33,654,842
2011 1,983,784 32,161,424
2010 1,926,630 31,045,366
2009 1,871,422 30,058,206
2008 1,817,852 28,971,036
2007 1,765,774 28,391,607
2006 1,715,275 28,616,515
2005 1,667,037 28,407,448
2004 1,621,312 27,577,878
2003 1,577,611 26,802,659
2002 1,535,691 26,006,559
2001 1,495,011 25,197,840
2000 1,455,084 24,424,056
1999 1,415,779 23,636,527
1998 1,376,987 22,884,399
1997 1,338,889 22,176,593
1996 1,301,410 21,501,321
1995 1,264,313 20,825,860
1994 1,227,226 20,139,807
1993 1,188,365 19,201,195
1992 1,145,582 18,300,845
1991 1,099,959 17,767,253
1990 1,054,696 17,581,206
1989 1,011,357 17,364,542
1988 970,160 16,908,819
1987 931,091 16,521,049
1986 894,019 16,074,145
1985 858,874 15,683,430
1984 825,631 15,310,733
1983 794,525 14,840,555
1982 765,753 14,406,083
1981 739,125 14,006,381
1980 713,913 13,591,992
1979 689,781 13,170,365
1978 667,103 12,753,355
1977 645,770 12,331,046
1976 625,667 11,927,651
1975 606,821 11,543,639
1974 589,085 11,167,761
1973 571,991 10,795,869
1972 555,370 10,430,164
1971 539,388 10,077,809
1970 524,105 9,735,611
1969 509,440 9,403,356
1968 495,269 9,085,016
1967 481,588 8,778,869
1966 468,516 8,485,104
1965 455,952 8,202,140
1964 443,687 7,929,566
1963 431,757 7,667,928
1962 420,163 7,413,875
1961 408,930 7,194,553
1960 398,060 7,022,052

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) the Gambia's population will grow by 49% to 4,323,657 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Iraq
2100 0.03% 0.21%
2099 0.05% 0.21%
2098 0.06% 0.23%
2097 0.07% 0.25%
2096 0.09% 0.26%
2095 0.1% 0.27%
2094 0.13% 0.32%
2093 0.15% 0.35%
2092 0.16% 0.33%
2091 0.18% 0.32%
2090 0.21% 0.38%
2089 0.23% 0.38%
2088 0.25% 0.39%
2087 0.26% 0.45%
2086 0.29% 0.47%
2085 0.31% 0.44%
2084 0.33% 0.48%
2083 0.36% 0.5%
2082 0.38% 0.53%
2081 0.41% 0.53%
2080 0.43% 0.58%
2079 0.46% 0.58%
2078 0.48% 0.55%
2077 0.5% 0.59%
2076 0.53% 0.58%
2075 0.56% 0.65%
2074 0.59% 0.73%
2073 0.6% 0.73%
2072 0.63% 0.73%
2071 0.66% 0.76%
2070 0.69% 0.78%
2069 0.72% 0.79%
2068 0.74% 0.82%
2067 0.78% 0.91%
2066 0.82% 0.9%
2065 0.84% 0.93%
2064 0.87% 0.96%
2063 0.9% 0.95%
2062 0.94% 0.98%
2061 0.96% 1.05%
2060 0.98% 1.01%
2059 1.01% 1.04%
2058 1.04% 1.07%
2057 1.07% 1.12%
2056 1.1% 1.13%
2055 1.14% 1.16%
2054 1.16% 1.21%
2053 1.19% 1.19%
2052 1.23% 1.26%
2051 1.26% 1.27%
2050 1.29% 1.35%
2049 1.33% 1.36%
2048 1.36% 1.4%
2047 1.39% 1.38%
2046 1.43% 1.43%
2045 1.46% 1.49%
2044 1.5% 1.52%
2043 1.54% 1.58%
2042 1.56% 1.62%
2041 1.6% 1.68%
2040 1.64% 1.75%
2039 1.68% 1.72%
2038 1.7% 1.74%
2037 1.73% 1.83%
2036 1.77% 1.8%
2035 1.81% 1.85%
2034 1.85% 1.88%
2033 1.89% 1.94%
2032 1.92% 1.91%
2031 1.97% 1.93%
2030 2.02% 1.97%
2029 2.07% 1.96%
2028 2.12% 2.01%
2027 2.17% 2.07%
2026 2.22% 2.13%
2025 2.28% 2.13%
2024 2.3% 2.15%
2023 2.33% 2.28%
2022 2.35% 2.32%
2021 2.4% 2.27%
2020 2.4% 2.24%
2019 2.38% 2.3%
2018 2.45% 2.36%
2017 2.56% 2.26%
2016 2.66% 2.42%
2015 2.77% 2.76%
2014 2.89% 3.59%
2013 2.97% 4.83%
2012 2.99% 4.64%
2011 2.97% 3.59%
2010 2.95% 3.28%
2009 2.95% 3.75%
2008 2.95% 2.04%
2007 2.94% -0.79%
2006 2.89% 0.74%
2005 2.82% 3.01%
2004 2.77% 2.89%
2003 2.73% 3.06%
2002 2.72% 3.21%
2001 2.74% 3.17%
2000 2.78% 3.33%
1999 2.82% 3.29%
1998 2.85% 3.19%
1997 2.88% 3.14%
1996 2.93% 3.24%
1995 3.02% 3.41%
1994 3.27% 4.89%
1993 3.73% 4.92%
1992 4.15% 3%
1991 4.29% 1.06%
1990 4.29% 1.25%
1989 4.25% 2.7%
1988 4.2% 2.35%
1987 4.15% 2.78%
1986 4.09% 2.49%
1985 4.03% 2.43%
1984 3.92% 3.17%
1983 3.76% 3.02%
1982 3.6% 2.85%
1981 3.53% 3.05%
1980 3.5% 3.2%
1979 3.4% 3.27%
1978 3.3% 3.42%
1977 3.21% 3.38%
1976 3.11% 3.33%
1975 3.01% 3.37%
1974 2.99% 3.44%
1973 2.99% 3.51%
1972 2.96% 3.5%
1971 2.92% 3.51%
1970 2.88% 3.53%
1969 2.86% 3.5%
1968 2.84% 3.49%
1967 2.79% 3.46%
1966 2.76% 3.45%
1965 2.76% 3.44%
1964 2.76% 3.41%
1963 2.76% 3.43%
1962 2.75% 3.05%
1961 2.73% 2.46%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Gambia Iraq
Current population
2902554
48289334
Population rank 138/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.58%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
32.6 seconds
One birth every
6.4 minutes
27.2 seconds
One death every
31 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 46/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -2,984 -1,064
Net migration rank 107/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -1,064
2024 - -2,989 - -17,735
2023 65,118 -3,000 973,420 -5,710
2022 63,634 -3,000 962,501 76,821
2021 62,239 -1,949 941,924 17,474
2020 62,209 -1,949 919,953 29,858
2019 61,701 -4,186 942,972 -43,919
2018 60,854 -3,944 938,310 15,775
2017 61,665 -3,696 924,507 -21,998
2016 62,358 -3,486 946,968 -113,980
2015 62,832 -3,224 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 63,185 -2,793 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 63,510 -2,476 1,026,036 474,379
2012 62,745 -2,332 999,987 753,907
2011 60,571 -2,360 971,082 261,880
2010 58,554 -2,456 906,369 92,779
2009 56,575 -2,259 855,096 120,092
2008 55,032 -2,204 802,382 396,792
2007 53,653 -2,320 784,119 -824,428
2006 52,335 -2,666 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 50,010 -3,209 776,603 51,019
2004 48,276 -3,636 761,563 69,948
2003 46,473 -3,713 746,159 -27,236
2002 45,156 -4,067 739,419 133,839
2001 44,154 -3,882 729,704 14,451
2000 43,249 -3,670 715,771 87,624
1999 42,533 -3,493 702,170 69,491
1998 41,842 -3,291 684,152 48,446
1997 40,742 -3,098 667,582 15,429
1996 40,253 -2,948 652,866 14,652
1995 39,681 -2,797 642,977 40,424
1994 38,880 -1,586 634,344 54,355
1993 37,302 3,131 606,700 581,818
1992 35,951 9,182 591,886 20,292
1991 34,584 11,530 550,146 -95,155
1990 33,163 11,242 518,575 -601,469
1989 31,504 10,765 496,852 19,392
1988 29,938 10,187 476,778 -81,562
1987 28,452 9,563 488,742 -108,426
1986 27,195 8,934 474,348 39,136
1985 25,795 8,373 467,445 -199,505
1984 24,586 7,733 455,740 21,709
1983 23,175 6,713 439,800 23,115
1982 21,894 5,757 428,336 -22,302
1981 20,156 5,438 416,998 -23,640
1980 19,566 5,268 419,653 15,757
1979 18,543 4,898 428,458 -20,617
1978 17,424 4,493 418,756 7,434
1977 16,773 3,969 410,229 8,204
1976 16,032 3,436 402,260 -13,915
1975 15,256 2,979 385,916 -6,237
1974 14,628 2,610 376,197 -4,090
1973 14,046 2,907 373,191 -1,507
1972 13,432 2,861 362,334 -2,600
1971 12,842 2,817 351,464 -6,479
1970 12,128 2,777 338,030 1,377
1969 11,670 2,757 324,792 312
1968 11,215 2,705 310,644 928
1967 10,823 2,617 298,192 2,531
1966 10,422 2,272 285,507 1,298
1965 10,162 2,272 274,551 4,555
1964 9,825 2,272 262,825 3,224
1963 9,493 2,272 254,046 3,197
1962 9,150 2,272 247,520 3,343
1961 8,778 2,272 184,792 2,981
1960 8,420 2,272 155,651 1,573

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.2% of the population change in the Gambia is from natural causes (a gain of 625,795 people) and 4.75% is from migration (a loss of 31,227 people). In Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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