The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.
Population statistics:
- The Gambia's population is 1.21 times bigger than Lesotho's.
- The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
- The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
- For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
- Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).
Gambia vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Gambia
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2100 | 5,767,668 | 3,280,784 |
| 2099 | 5,765,660 | 3,286,697 |
| 2098 | 5,762,971 | 3,292,498 |
| 2097 | 5,759,632 | 3,298,102 |
| 2096 | 5,755,430 | 3,303,027 |
| 2095 | 5,750,385 | 3,307,947 |
| 2094 | 5,744,540 | 3,312,002 |
| 2093 | 5,737,026 | 3,315,757 |
| 2092 | 5,728,594 | 3,319,661 |
| 2091 | 5,719,408 | 3,322,573 |
| 2090 | 5,708,875 | 3,324,769 |
| 2089 | 5,697,140 | 3,326,847 |
| 2088 | 5,684,094 | 3,328,480 |
| 2087 | 5,669,958 | 3,329,964 |
| 2086 | 5,655,091 | 3,330,456 |
| 2085 | 5,638,646 | 3,331,259 |
| 2084 | 5,621,067 | 3,331,485 |
| 2083 | 5,602,456 | 3,331,492 |
| 2082 | 5,582,581 | 3,331,234 |
| 2081 | 5,561,294 | 3,330,412 |
| 2080 | 5,538,819 | 3,329,267 |
| 2079 | 5,515,086 | 3,327,166 |
| 2078 | 5,489,750 | 3,324,646 |
| 2077 | 5,463,305 | 3,321,422 |
| 2076 | 5,435,859 | 3,317,850 |
| 2075 | 5,406,946 | 3,314,237 |
| 2074 | 5,376,718 | 3,309,174 |
| 2073 | 5,345,328 | 3,303,860 |
| 2072 | 5,313,201 | 3,298,181 |
| 2071 | 5,279,975 | 3,291,492 |
| 2070 | 5,245,200 | 3,283,654 |
| 2069 | 5,209,379 | 3,275,244 |
| 2068 | 5,172,146 | 3,266,152 |
| 2067 | 5,134,037 | 3,256,626 |
| 2066 | 5,094,458 | 3,246,903 |
| 2065 | 5,053,246 | 3,237,153 |
| 2064 | 5,011,122 | 3,226,489 |
| 2063 | 4,968,038 | 3,215,103 |
| 2062 | 4,923,683 | 3,202,287 |
| 2061 | 4,877,966 | 3,188,933 |
| 2060 | 4,831,631 | 3,174,998 |
| 2059 | 4,784,535 | 3,160,204 |
| 2058 | 4,736,846 | 3,145,053 |
| 2057 | 4,688,039 | 3,129,261 |
| 2056 | 4,638,482 | 3,113,129 |
| 2055 | 4,588,184 | 3,095,904 |
| 2054 | 4,536,562 | 3,078,567 |
| 2053 | 4,484,692 | 3,060,152 |
| 2052 | 4,431,827 | 3,040,649 |
| 2051 | 4,378,133 | 3,020,109 |
| 2050 | 4,323,657 | 2,999,457 |
| 2049 | 4,268,536 | 2,978,037 |
| 2048 | 4,212,677 | 2,955,727 |
| 2047 | 4,155,975 | 2,932,688 |
| 2046 | 4,098,930 | 2,909,307 |
| 2045 | 4,041,218 | 2,885,537 |
| 2044 | 3,982,976 | 2,861,372 |
| 2043 | 3,924,126 | 2,836,777 |
| 2042 | 3,864,662 | 2,811,663 |
| 2041 | 3,805,317 | 2,786,147 |
| 2040 | 3,745,312 | 2,760,391 |
| 2039 | 3,685,048 | 2,734,400 |
| 2038 | 3,624,271 | 2,708,216 |
| 2037 | 3,563,745 | 2,681,863 |
| 2036 | 3,502,991 | 2,654,755 |
| 2035 | 3,442,074 | 2,627,701 |
| 2034 | 3,381,008 | 2,600,880 |
| 2033 | 3,319,646 | 2,574,065 |
| 2032 | 3,258,080 | 2,547,344 |
| 2031 | 3,196,605 | 2,520,831 |
| 2030 | 3,134,968 | 2,494,646 |
| 2029 | 3,072,981 | 2,468,268 |
| 2028 | 3,010,624 | 2,441,871 |
| 2027 | 2,948,246 | 2,415,830 |
| 2026 | 2,885,613 | 2,389,516 |
| 2025 | 2,822,861 | 2,363,516 |
| 2024 | 2,759,988 | 2,337,423 |
| 2023 | 2,697,845 | 2,311,472 |
| 2022 | 2,636,470 | 2,286,110 |
| 2021 | 2,576,010 | 2,261,542 |
| 2020 | 2,515,733 | 2,235,727 |
| 2019 | 2,456,844 | 2,209,405 |
| 2018 | 2,399,632 | 2,183,603 |
| 2017 | 2,342,189 | 2,157,110 |
| 2016 | 2,283,769 | 2,130,422 |
| 2015 | 2,224,529 | 2,104,611 |
| 2014 | 2,164,528 | 2,080,089 |
| 2013 | 2,103,820 | 2,056,504 |
| 2012 | 2,043,094 | 2,034,354 |
| 2011 | 1,983,784 | 2,014,009 |
| 2010 | 1,926,630 | 1,996,251 |
| 2009 | 1,871,422 | 1,980,883 |
| 2008 | 1,817,852 | 1,966,541 |
| 2007 | 1,765,774 | 1,953,268 |
| 2006 | 1,715,275 | 1,945,063 |
| 2005 | 1,667,037 | 1,953,076 |
| 2004 | 1,621,312 | 1,971,129 |
| 2003 | 1,577,611 | 1,985,059 |
| 2002 | 1,535,691 | 1,994,679 |
| 2001 | 1,495,011 | 2,000,853 |
| 2000 | 1,455,084 | 2,003,913 |
| 1999 | 1,415,779 | 2,003,234 |
| 1998 | 1,376,987 | 1,998,049 |
| 1997 | 1,338,889 | 1,988,130 |
| 1996 | 1,301,410 | 1,972,418 |
| 1995 | 1,264,313 | 1,951,437 |
| 1994 | 1,227,226 | 1,927,707 |
| 1993 | 1,188,365 | 1,901,793 |
| 1992 | 1,145,582 | 1,873,274 |
| 1991 | 1,099,959 | 1,842,379 |
| 1990 | 1,054,696 | 1,809,696 |
| 1989 | 1,011,357 | 1,775,436 |
| 1988 | 970,160 | 1,739,841 |
| 1987 | 931,091 | 1,703,390 |
| 1986 | 894,019 | 1,666,138 |
| 1985 | 858,874 | 1,624,379 |
| 1984 | 825,631 | 1,578,986 |
| 1983 | 794,525 | 1,534,413 |
| 1982 | 765,753 | 1,490,732 |
| 1981 | 739,125 | 1,448,069 |
| 1980 | 713,913 | 1,406,521 |
| 1979 | 689,781 | 1,366,169 |
| 1978 | 667,103 | 1,327,240 |
| 1977 | 645,770 | 1,289,967 |
| 1976 | 625,667 | 1,253,214 |
| 1975 | 606,821 | 1,213,643 |
| 1974 | 589,085 | 1,172,420 |
| 1973 | 571,991 | 1,132,697 |
| 1972 | 555,370 | 1,094,063 |
| 1971 | 539,388 | 1,056,246 |
| 1970 | 524,105 | 1,019,273 |
| 1969 | 509,440 | 983,202 |
| 1968 | 495,269 | 948,105 |
| 1967 | 481,588 | 913,982 |
| 1966 | 468,516 | 881,870 |
| 1965 | 455,952 | 854,090 |
| 1964 | 443,687 | 829,437 |
| 1963 | 431,757 | 805,373 |
| 1962 | 420,163 | 781,814 |
| 1961 | 408,930 | 758,824 |
| 1960 | 398,060 | 736,500 |
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/lesotho | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).
The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.
The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 2100 | 0.03% | -0.18% |
| 2099 | 0.05% | -0.18% |
| 2098 | 0.06% | -0.17% |
| 2097 | 0.07% | -0.15% |
| 2096 | 0.09% | -0.15% |
| 2095 | 0.1% | -0.12% |
| 2094 | 0.13% | -0.11% |
| 2093 | 0.15% | -0.12% |
| 2092 | 0.16% | -0.09% |
| 2091 | 0.18% | -0.07% |
| 2090 | 0.21% | -0.06% |
| 2089 | 0.23% | -0.05% |
| 2088 | 0.25% | -0.04% |
| 2087 | 0.26% | -0.01% |
| 2086 | 0.29% | -0.02% |
| 2085 | 0.31% | -0.007% |
| 2084 | 0.33% | -0% |
| 2083 | 0.36% | 0.008% |
| 2082 | 0.38% | 0.02% |
| 2081 | 0.41% | 0.03% |
| 2080 | 0.43% | 0.06% |
| 2079 | 0.46% | 0.08% |
| 2078 | 0.48% | 0.1% |
| 2077 | 0.5% | 0.11% |
| 2076 | 0.53% | 0.11% |
| 2075 | 0.56% | 0.15% |
| 2074 | 0.59% | 0.16% |
| 2073 | 0.6% | 0.17% |
| 2072 | 0.63% | 0.2% |
| 2071 | 0.66% | 0.24% |
| 2070 | 0.69% | 0.26% |
| 2069 | 0.72% | 0.28% |
| 2068 | 0.74% | 0.29% |
| 2067 | 0.78% | 0.3% |
| 2066 | 0.82% | 0.3% |
| 2065 | 0.84% | 0.33% |
| 2064 | 0.87% | 0.35% |
| 2063 | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| 2062 | 0.94% | 0.42% |
| 2061 | 0.96% | 0.44% |
| 2060 | 0.98% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | 1.01% | 0.48% |
| 2058 | 1.04% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | 1.07% | 0.52% |
| 2056 | 1.1% | 0.56% |
| 2055 | 1.14% | 0.56% |
| 2054 | 1.16% | 0.6% |
| 2053 | 1.19% | 0.64% |
| 2052 | 1.23% | 0.68% |
| 2051 | 1.26% | 0.69% |
| 2050 | 1.29% | 0.72% |
| 2049 | 1.33% | 0.75% |
| 2048 | 1.36% | 0.79% |
| 2047 | 1.39% | 0.8% |
| 2046 | 1.43% | 0.82% |
| 2045 | 1.46% | 0.84% |
| 2044 | 1.5% | 0.87% |
| 2043 | 1.54% | 0.89% |
| 2042 | 1.56% | 0.92% |
| 2041 | 1.6% | 0.93% |
| 2040 | 1.64% | 0.95% |
| 2039 | 1.68% | 0.97% |
| 2038 | 1.7% | 0.98% |
| 2037 | 1.73% | 1.02% |
| 2036 | 1.77% | 1.03% |
| 2035 | 1.81% | 1.03% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 1.04% |
| 2033 | 1.89% | 1.05% |
| 2032 | 1.92% | 1.05% |
| 2031 | 1.97% | 1.05% |
| 2030 | 2.02% | 1.07% |
| 2029 | 2.07% | 1.08% |
| 2028 | 2.12% | 1.08% |
| 2027 | 2.17% | 1.1% |
| 2026 | 2.22% | 1.1% |
| 2025 | 2.28% | 1.12% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | 1.12% |
| 2023 | 2.33% | 1.11% |
| 2022 | 2.35% | 1.09% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | 1.15% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | 1.19% |
| 2019 | 2.38% | 1.18% |
| 2018 | 2.45% | 1.23% |
| 2017 | 2.56% | 1.25% |
| 2016 | 2.66% | 1.23% |
| 2015 | 2.77% | 1.18% |
| 2014 | 2.89% | 1.15% |
| 2013 | 2.97% | 1.09% |
| 2012 | 2.99% | 1.01% |
| 2011 | 2.97% | 0.89% |
| 2010 | 2.95% | 0.78% |
| 2009 | 2.95% | 0.73% |
| 2008 | 2.95% | 0.68% |
| 2007 | 2.94% | 0.42% |
| 2006 | 2.89% | -0.41% |
| 2005 | 2.82% | -0.92% |
| 2004 | 2.77% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 2.73% | -0.48% |
| 2002 | 2.72% | -0.31% |
| 2001 | 2.74% | -0.15% |
| 2000 | 2.78% | 0.03% |
| 1999 | 2.82% | 0.26% |
| 1998 | 2.85% | 0.5% |
| 1997 | 2.88% | 0.8% |
| 1996 | 2.93% | 1.08% |
| 1995 | 3.02% | 1.23% |
| 1994 | 3.27% | 1.36% |
| 1993 | 3.73% | 1.52% |
| 1992 | 4.15% | 1.68% |
| 1991 | 4.29% | 1.81% |
| 1990 | 4.29% | 1.93% |
| 1989 | 4.25% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | 2.14% |
| 1987 | 4.15% | 2.24% |
| 1986 | 4.09% | 2.57% |
| 1985 | 4.03% | 2.87% |
| 1984 | 3.92% | 2.9% |
| 1983 | 3.76% | 2.93% |
| 1982 | 3.6% | 2.95% |
| 1981 | 3.53% | 2.95% |
| 1980 | 3.5% | 2.95% |
| 1979 | 3.4% | 2.93% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | 2.89% |
| 1977 | 3.21% | 2.93% |
| 1976 | 3.11% | 3.26% |
| 1975 | 3.01% | 3.52% |
| 1974 | 2.99% | 3.51% |
| 1973 | 2.99% | 3.53% |
| 1972 | 2.96% | 3.58% |
| 1971 | 2.92% | 3.63% |
| 1970 | 2.88% | 3.67% |
| 1969 | 2.86% | 3.7% |
| 1968 | 2.84% | 3.73% |
| 1967 | 2.79% | 3.64% |
| 1966 | 2.76% | 3.25% |
| 1965 | 2.76% | 2.97% |
| 1964 | 2.76% | 2.99% |
| 1963 | 2.76% | 3.01% |
| 1962 | 2.75% | 3.03% |
| 1961 | 2.73% | 3.03% |
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/lesotho | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.
Live population counters
|
Gambia
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2902554
|
2396633
|
| Population rank | 138/197 | 143/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| One net population change |
8.46 minutes
|
20.3 minutes
|
| One birth every |
6.4 minutes
|
9.43 minutes
|
| One death every |
31 minutes
|
21.4 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +170 | +71 |
| Annual growth/decline | +62,143 | +25,951 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.3% | +1.12% |
| Population growth rate rank | 37/197 | 93/197 |
| One migration net change every |
2.94 hours
|
1.69 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -2,984 | -5,192 |
| Net migration rank | 107/196 | 117/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 236,137 | 15,039 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 107/195 | 173/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.6% | 0.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 72/195 | 170/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Lesotho
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,984 | - | -5,192 |
| 2024 | - | -2,989 | - | -5,107 |
| 2023 | 65,118 | -3,000 | 31,115 | -5,168 |
| 2022 | 63,634 | -3,000 | 30,803 | -6,023 |
| 2021 | 62,239 | -1,949 | 27,806 | -3,449 |
| 2020 | 62,209 | -1,949 | 30,721 | -3,449 |
| 2019 | 61,701 | -4,186 | 32,279 | -6,896 |
| 2018 | 60,854 | -3,944 | 33,112 | -6,892 |
| 2017 | 61,665 | -3,696 | 33,601 | -6,850 |
| 2016 | 62,358 | -3,486 | 33,390 | -6,766 |
| 2015 | 62,832 | -3,224 | 32,087 | -7,087 |
| 2014 | 63,185 | -2,793 | 30,922 | -6,877 |
| 2013 | 63,510 | -2,476 | 29,789 | -6,659 |
| 2012 | 62,745 | -2,332 | 27,592 | -6,425 |
| 2011 | 60,571 | -2,360 | 25,647 | -6,118 |
| 2010 | 58,554 | -2,456 | 21,877 | -5,886 |
| 2009 | 56,575 | -2,259 | 20,335 | -5,599 |
| 2008 | 55,032 | -2,204 | 19,349 | -5,392 |
| 2007 | 53,653 | -2,320 | 17,763 | -5,179 |
| 2006 | 52,335 | -2,666 | 15,234 | -11,416 |
| 2005 | 50,010 | -3,209 | 15,831 | -35,679 |
| 2004 | 48,276 | -3,636 | 17,271 | -33,530 |
| 2003 | 46,473 | -3,713 | 20,133 | -31,723 |
| 2002 | 45,156 | -4,067 | 22,274 | -29,924 |
| 2001 | 44,154 | -3,882 | 23,190 | -27,874 |
| 2000 | 43,249 | -3,670 | 24,786 | -26,220 |
| 1999 | 42,533 | -3,493 | 27,393 | -24,610 |
| 1998 | 41,842 | -3,291 | 30,889 | -23,299 |
| 1997 | 40,742 | -3,098 | 34,637 | -22,396 |
| 1996 | 40,253 | -2,948 | 36,228 | -17,042 |
| 1995 | 39,681 | -2,797 | 37,370 | -14,588 |
| 1994 | 38,880 | -1,586 | 38,629 | -13,953 |
| 1993 | 37,302 | 3,131 | 40,505 | -13,347 |
| 1992 | 35,951 | 9,182 | 42,579 | -12,707 |
| 1991 | 34,584 | 11,530 | 44,026 | -12,114 |
| 1990 | 33,163 | 11,242 | 45,060 | -11,598 |
| 1989 | 31,504 | 10,765 | 46,264 | -11,207 |
| 1988 | 29,938 | 10,187 | 47,158 | -11,028 |
| 1987 | 28,452 | 9,563 | 47,718 | -10,946 |
| 1986 | 27,195 | 8,934 | 45,232 | -7,501 |
| 1985 | 25,795 | 8,373 | 44,575 | 1,222 |
| 1984 | 24,586 | 7,733 | 43,785 | 1,199 |
| 1983 | 23,175 | 6,713 | 42,899 | 1,253 |
| 1982 | 21,894 | 5,757 | 41,941 | 1,281 |
| 1981 | 20,156 | 5,438 | 40,808 | 1,307 |
| 1980 | 19,566 | 5,268 | 39,617 | 1,361 |
| 1979 | 18,543 | 4,898 | 38,440 | 1,285 |
| 1978 | 17,424 | 4,493 | 37,084 | 1,047 |
| 1977 | 16,773 | 3,969 | 35,654 | 746 |
| 1976 | 16,032 | 3,436 | 34,117 | 2,986 |
| 1975 | 15,256 | 2,979 | 32,311 | 9,723 |
| 1974 | 14,628 | 2,610 | 30,444 | 9,972 |
| 1973 | 14,046 | 2,907 | 28,859 | 10,183 |
| 1972 | 13,432 | 2,861 | 27,841 | 10,386 |
| 1971 | 12,842 | 2,817 | 26,838 | 10,563 |
| 1970 | 12,128 | 2,777 | 25,935 | 10,605 |
| 1969 | 11,670 | 2,757 | 25,137 | 10,465 |
| 1968 | 11,215 | 2,705 | 24,490 | 10,108 |
| 1967 | 10,823 | 2,617 | 23,911 | 9,734 |
| 1966 | 10,422 | 2,272 | 23,326 | 7,248 |
| 1965 | 10,162 | 2,272 | 22,755 | 2,239 |
| 1964 | 9,825 | 2,272 | 22,116 | 2,198 |
| 1963 | 9,493 | 2,272 | 21,585 | 2,220 |
| 1962 | 9,150 | 2,272 | 21,132 | 2,172 |
| 1961 | 8,778 | 2,272 | 20,581 | 2,100 |
| 1960 | 8,420 | 2,272 | 19,981 | 1,989 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/gambia/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).
As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between the Gambia and Lesotho
|
Gambia
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.5 years | 58.6 years |
| Average age | 23.7 years | 25.8 years |
| Median age | 19.4 years | 22.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.8:50.2 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 4.01 births per woman | 2.69 births per woman |
| Population density | 739 ppl/mi² | 203.8 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/lesotho | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.