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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 42.3 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.52% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Gambia vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Japan
2100 5,767,668 76,978,998
2099 5,765,660 77,363,458
2098 5,762,971 77,742,445
2097 5,759,632 78,118,375
2096 5,755,430 78,498,614
2095 5,750,385 78,875,245
2094 5,744,540 79,250,325
2093 5,737,026 79,628,057
2092 5,728,594 80,007,967
2091 5,719,408 80,383,529
2090 5,708,875 80,760,724
2089 5,697,140 81,140,553
2088 5,684,094 81,521,696
2087 5,669,958 81,908,373
2086 5,655,091 82,304,497
2085 5,638,646 82,709,534
2084 5,621,067 83,123,058
2083 5,602,456 83,544,006
2082 5,582,581 83,980,325
2081 5,561,294 84,429,305
2080 5,538,819 84,899,768
2079 5,515,086 85,387,247
2078 5,489,750 85,897,934
2077 5,463,305 86,434,291
2076 5,435,859 86,993,007
2075 5,406,946 87,577,777
2074 5,376,718 88,190,392
2073 5,345,328 88,834,763
2072 5,313,201 89,499,356
2071 5,279,975 90,184,464
2070 5,245,200 90,899,136
2069 5,209,379 91,625,421
2068 5,172,146 92,367,969
2067 5,134,037 93,113,499
2066 5,094,458 93,869,240
2065 5,053,246 94,633,430
2064 5,011,122 95,391,433
2063 4,968,038 96,148,081
2062 4,923,683 96,902,907
2061 4,877,966 97,654,031
2060 4,831,631 98,400,894
2059 4,784,535 99,144,216
2058 4,736,846 99,868,968
2057 4,688,039 100,585,601
2056 4,638,482 101,295,868
2055 4,588,184 101,989,736
2054 4,536,562 102,683,462
2053 4,484,692 103,359,083
2052 4,431,827 104,036,901
2051 4,378,133 104,706,698
2050 4,323,657 105,377,283
2049 4,268,536 106,053,011
2048 4,212,677 106,731,207
2047 4,155,975 107,419,237
2046 4,098,930 108,115,358
2045 4,041,218 108,820,982
2044 3,982,976 109,529,333
2043 3,924,126 110,245,586
2042 3,864,662 110,968,174
2041 3,805,317 111,704,629
2040 3,745,312 112,438,759
2039 3,685,048 113,175,948
2038 3,624,271 113,915,783
2037 3,563,745 114,662,374
2036 3,502,991 115,410,956
2035 3,442,074 116,162,381
2034 3,381,008 116,911,001
2033 3,319,646 117,652,676
2032 3,258,080 118,393,188
2031 3,196,605 119,127,425
2030 3,134,968 119,856,131
2029 3,072,981 120,574,242
2028 3,010,624 121,287,543
2027 2,948,246 121,989,133
2026 2,885,613 122,677,250
2025 2,822,861 123,339,586
2024 2,759,988 123,975,371
2023 2,697,845 124,516,650
2022 2,636,470 125,124,989
2021 2,576,010 125,681,593
2020 2,515,733 126,261,000
2019 2,456,844 126,633,000
2018 2,399,632 126,811,000
2017 2,342,189 126,972,000
2016 2,283,769 127,076,000
2015 2,224,529 127,141,000
2014 2,164,528 127,276,000
2013 2,103,820 127,445,000
2012 2,043,094 127,629,000
2011 1,983,784 127,833,000
2010 1,926,630 128,070,000
2009 1,871,422 128,047,000
2008 1,817,852 128,063,000
2007 1,765,774 128,001,000
2006 1,715,275 127,854,000
2005 1,667,037 127,773,000
2004 1,621,312 127,761,000
2003 1,577,611 127,718,000
2002 1,535,691 127,445,000
2001 1,495,011 127,149,000
2000 1,455,084 126,843,000
1999 1,415,779 126,631,000
1998 1,376,987 126,400,000
1997 1,338,889 126,057,000
1996 1,301,410 125,757,000
1995 1,264,313 125,472,000
1994 1,227,226 125,178,000
1993 1,188,365 124,829,000
1992 1,145,582 124,425,000
1991 1,099,959 123,964,000
1990 1,054,696 123,478,000
1989 1,011,357 123,069,000
1988 970,160 122,578,000
1987 931,091 122,069,000
1986 894,019 121,482,000
1985 858,874 120,837,000
1984 825,631 120,083,000
1983 794,525 119,307,000
1982 765,753 118,480,000
1981 739,125 117,661,000
1980 713,913 116,807,000
1979 689,781 115,890,000
1978 667,103 114,913,000
1977 645,770 113,872,000
1976 625,667 112,775,000
1975 606,821 111,573,000
1974 589,085 110,162,000
1973 571,991 108,707,000
1972 555,370 107,188,000
1971 539,388 105,697,000
1970 524,105 103,403,000
1969 509,440 102,219,000
1968 495,269 101,011,000
1967 481,588 99,879,000
1966 468,516 98,851,000
1965 455,952 97,952,000
1964 443,687 96,903,000
1963 431,757 95,900,000
1962 420,163 94,933,000
1961 408,930 94,055,000
1960 398,060 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Japan
2100 0.03% -0.5%
2099 0.05% -0.49%
2098 0.06% -0.48%
2097 0.07% -0.48%
2096 0.09% -0.48%
2095 0.1% -0.47%
2094 0.13% -0.47%
2093 0.15% -0.47%
2092 0.16% -0.47%
2091 0.18% -0.47%
2090 0.21% -0.47%
2089 0.23% -0.47%
2088 0.25% -0.47%
2087 0.26% -0.48%
2086 0.29% -0.49%
2085 0.31% -0.5%
2084 0.33% -0.5%
2083 0.36% -0.52%
2082 0.38% -0.53%
2081 0.41% -0.55%
2080 0.43% -0.57%
2079 0.46% -0.59%
2078 0.48% -0.62%
2077 0.5% -0.64%
2076 0.53% -0.67%
2075 0.56% -0.69%
2074 0.59% -0.73%
2073 0.6% -0.74%
2072 0.63% -0.76%
2071 0.66% -0.79%
2070 0.69% -0.79%
2069 0.72% -0.8%
2068 0.74% -0.8%
2067 0.78% -0.81%
2066 0.82% -0.81%
2065 0.84% -0.79%
2064 0.87% -0.79%
2063 0.9% -0.78%
2062 0.94% -0.77%
2061 0.96% -0.76%
2060 0.98% -0.75%
2059 1.01% -0.73%
2058 1.04% -0.71%
2057 1.07% -0.7%
2056 1.1% -0.68%
2055 1.14% -0.68%
2054 1.16% -0.65%
2053 1.19% -0.65%
2052 1.23% -0.64%
2051 1.26% -0.64%
2050 1.29% -0.64%
2049 1.33% -0.64%
2048 1.36% -0.64%
2047 1.39% -0.64%
2046 1.43% -0.65%
2045 1.46% -0.65%
2044 1.5% -0.65%
2043 1.54% -0.65%
2042 1.56% -0.66%
2041 1.6% -0.65%
2040 1.64% -0.65%
2039 1.68% -0.65%
2038 1.7% -0.65%
2037 1.73% -0.65%
2036 1.77% -0.65%
2035 1.81% -0.64%
2034 1.85% -0.63%
2033 1.89% -0.63%
2032 1.92% -0.62%
2031 1.97% -0.61%
2030 2.02% -0.6%
2029 2.07% -0.59%
2028 2.12% -0.58%
2027 2.17% -0.56%
2026 2.22% -0.54%
2025 2.28% -0.51%
2024 2.3% -0.43%
2023 2.33% -0.49%
2022 2.35% -0.44%
2021 2.4% -0.46%
2020 2.4% -0.29%
2019 2.38% -0.14%
2018 2.45% -0.13%
2017 2.56% -0.08%
2016 2.66% -0.05%
2015 2.77% -0.11%
2014 2.89% -0.13%
2013 2.97% -0.14%
2012 2.99% -0.16%
2011 2.97% -0.19%
2010 2.95% 0.02%
2009 2.95% -0.01%
2008 2.95% 0.05%
2007 2.94% 0.11%
2006 2.89% 0.06%
2005 2.82% 0.009%
2004 2.77% 0.03%
2003 2.73% 0.21%
2002 2.72% 0.23%
2001 2.74% 0.24%
2000 2.78% 0.17%
1999 2.82% 0.18%
1998 2.85% 0.27%
1997 2.88% 0.24%
1996 2.93% 0.23%
1995 3.02% 0.23%
1994 3.27% 0.28%
1993 3.73% 0.32%
1992 4.15% 0.37%
1991 4.29% 0.39%
1990 4.29% 0.33%
1989 4.25% 0.4%
1988 4.2% 0.42%
1987 4.15% 0.48%
1986 4.09% 0.53%
1985 4.03% 0.63%
1984 3.92% 0.65%
1983 3.76% 0.7%
1982 3.6% 0.7%
1981 3.53% 0.73%
1980 3.5% 0.79%
1979 3.4% 0.85%
1978 3.3% 0.91%
1977 3.21% 0.97%
1976 3.11% 1.08%
1975 3.01% 1.28%
1974 2.99% 1.34%
1973 2.99% 1.42%
1972 2.96% 1.41%
1971 2.92% 2.22%
1970 2.88% 1.16%
1969 2.86% 1.2%
1968 2.84% 1.13%
1967 2.79% 1.04%
1966 2.76% 0.92%
1965 2.76% 1.08%
1964 2.76% 1.05%
1963 2.76% 1.02%
1962 2.75% 0.93%
1961 2.73% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Gambia Japan
Current population
2902554
122677250
Population rank 138/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 1.48%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
58.3 seconds
One birth every
6.4 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
31 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +170 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +62,143 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 185/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 +140,579
Net migration rank 107/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 140,579
2024 - -2,989 - 153,357
2023 65,118 -3,000 -871,617 175,003
2022 63,634 -3,000 -825,825 175,003
2021 62,239 -1,949 -640,976 -34,996
2020 62,209 -1,949 -542,923 42,001
2019 61,701 -4,186 -531,858 318,190
2018 60,854 -3,944 -456,520 320,601
2017 61,665 -3,696 -406,310 322,564
2016 62,358 -3,486 -343,106 314,732
2015 62,832 -3,224 -292,424 168,896
2014 63,185 -2,793 -267,279 58,109
2013 63,510 -2,476 -242,146 66,449
2012 62,745 -2,332 -229,733 67,904
2011 60,571 -2,360 -204,533 97,720
2010 58,554 -2,456 -128,070 131,860
2009 56,575 -2,259 -76,828 125,450
2008 55,032 -2,204 -51,225 142,605
2007 53,653 -2,320 -25,600 138,024
2006 52,335 -2,666 12,785 130,065
2005 50,010 -3,209 -25,554 113,017
2004 48,276 -3,636 76,656 69,014
2003 46,473 -3,713 114,946 74,875
2002 45,156 -4,067 178,423 60,864
2001 44,154 -3,882 203,438 59,563
2000 43,249 -3,670 228,317 23,468
1999 42,533 -3,493 202,610 56,901
1998 41,842 -3,291 265,440 45,912
1997 40,742 -3,098 277,325 43,366
1996 40,253 -2,948 314,392 25,030
1995 39,681 -2,797 276,039 87,714
1994 38,880 -1,586 363,017 154,214
1993 37,302 3,131 312,073 168,836
1992 35,951 9,182 360,833 170,878
1991 34,584 11,530 396,685 161,331
1990 33,163 11,242 407,478 124,582
1989 31,504 10,765 467,662 31,202
1988 29,938 10,187 527,085 51,154
1987 28,452 9,563 598,138 28,001
1986 27,195 8,934 631,706 27,987
1985 25,795 8,373 676,687 -141,323
1984 24,586 7,733 756,523 -273,686
1983 23,175 6,713 775,495 -269,755
1982 21,894 5,757 805,664 -288,550
1981 20,156 5,438 811,861 -278,525
1980 19,566 5,268 864,372 -92,314
1979 18,543 4,898 950,298 -57,692
1978 17,424 4,493 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 16,773 3,969 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 16,032 3,436 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 15,256 2,979 1,204,989 107
1974 14,628 2,610 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 14,046 2,907 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 13,432 2,861 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 12,842 2,817 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 12,128 2,777 1,230,496 33,731
1969 11,670 2,757 1,195,962 49,447
1968 11,215 2,705 1,191,930 43,593
1967 10,823 2,617 1,258,475 29,632
1966 10,422 2,272 682,072 68,934
1965 10,162 2,272 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 9,825 2,272 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 9,493 2,272 987,770 -100,742
1962 9,150 2,272 901,864 -57,075
1961 8,778 2,272 893,522 -58,882
1960 8,420 2,272 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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