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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 7.91 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Gambia vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Malawi
2100 5,767,668 59,786,744
2099 5,765,660 59,528,389
2098 5,762,971 59,275,876
2097 5,759,632 59,028,312
2096 5,755,430 58,761,888
2095 5,750,385 58,508,246
2094 5,744,540 58,240,422
2093 5,737,026 57,966,788
2092 5,728,594 57,672,738
2091 5,719,408 57,377,090
2090 5,708,875 57,060,476
2089 5,697,140 56,739,410
2088 5,684,094 56,397,330
2087 5,669,958 56,053,671
2086 5,655,091 55,706,928
2085 5,638,646 55,348,708
2084 5,621,067 54,997,097
2083 5,602,456 54,605,058
2082 5,582,581 54,206,477
2081 5,561,294 53,795,317
2080 5,538,819 53,372,779
2079 5,515,086 52,948,243
2078 5,489,750 52,521,908
2077 5,463,305 52,063,931
2076 5,435,859 51,600,404
2075 5,406,946 51,141,728
2074 5,376,718 50,684,368
2073 5,345,328 50,229,762
2072 5,313,201 49,769,904
2071 5,279,975 49,287,139
2070 5,245,200 48,797,935
2069 5,209,379 48,301,644
2068 5,172,146 47,792,308
2067 5,134,037 47,277,473
2066 5,094,458 46,752,024
2065 5,053,246 46,228,139
2064 5,011,122 45,701,844
2063 4,968,038 45,179,322
2062 4,923,683 44,638,764
2061 4,877,966 44,076,711
2060 4,831,631 43,508,702
2059 4,784,535 42,916,694
2058 4,736,846 42,344,863
2057 4,688,039 41,762,060
2056 4,638,482 41,184,161
2055 4,588,184 40,584,950
2054 4,536,562 39,994,696
2053 4,484,692 39,377,622
2052 4,431,827 38,766,890
2051 4,378,133 38,153,322
2050 4,323,657 37,545,865
2049 4,268,536 36,936,275
2048 4,212,677 36,339,833
2047 4,155,975 35,725,127
2046 4,098,930 35,107,179
2045 4,041,218 34,491,916
2044 3,982,976 33,862,279
2043 3,924,126 33,247,804
2042 3,864,662 32,636,511
2041 3,805,317 32,019,447
2040 3,745,312 31,402,305
2039 3,685,048 30,782,479
2038 3,624,271 30,166,708
2037 3,563,745 29,527,821
2036 3,502,991 28,896,515
2035 3,442,074 28,267,970
2034 3,381,008 27,643,367
2033 3,319,646 27,018,105
2032 3,258,080 26,404,071
2031 3,196,605 25,795,897
2030 3,134,968 25,181,820
2029 3,072,981 24,566,478
2028 3,010,624 23,968,071
2027 2,948,246 23,374,588
2026 2,885,613 22,791,601
2025 2,822,861 22,220,885
2024 2,759,988 21,655,286
2023 2,697,845 21,104,482
2022 2,636,470 20,568,728
2021 2,576,010 20,047,258
2020 2,515,733 19,533,888
2019 2,456,844 19,025,752
2018 2,399,632 18,528,081
2017 2,342,189 18,039,715
2016 2,283,769 17,557,739
2015 2,224,529 17,085,587
2014 2,164,528 16,621,538
2013 2,103,820 16,161,816
2012 2,043,094 15,709,577
2011 1,983,784 15,265,022
2010 1,926,630 14,826,463
2009 1,871,422 14,395,788
2008 1,817,852 13,976,417
2007 1,765,774 13,576,343
2006 1,715,275 13,198,701
2005 1,667,037 12,840,031
2004 1,621,312 12,500,737
2003 1,577,611 12,181,574
2002 1,535,691 11,880,440
2001 1,495,011 11,593,058
2000 1,455,084 11,315,942
1999 1,415,779 11,047,804
1998 1,376,987 10,792,876
1997 1,338,889 10,562,035
1996 1,301,410 10,352,228
1995 1,264,313 10,150,117
1994 1,227,226 10,164,894
1993 1,188,365 10,284,024
1992 1,145,582 10,135,079
1991 1,099,959 9,844,227
1990 1,054,696 9,545,852
1989 1,011,357 9,176,220
1988 970,160 8,753,262
1987 931,091 8,293,174
1986 894,019 7,906,480
1985 858,874 7,620,508
1984 825,631 7,332,810
1983 794,525 7,051,709
1982 765,753 6,778,879
1981 739,125 6,516,454
1980 713,913 6,265,529
1979 689,781 6,028,749
1978 667,103 5,810,132
1977 645,770 5,614,983
1976 625,667 5,443,384
1975 606,821 5,287,367
1974 589,085 5,141,337
1973 571,991 5,003,938
1972 555,370 4,874,475
1971 539,388 4,751,434
1970 524,105 4,633,944
1969 509,440 4,521,184
1968 495,269 4,411,054
1967 481,588 4,303,012
1966 468,516 4,197,926
1965 455,952 4,096,157
1964 443,687 3,997,305
1963 431,757 3,900,506
1962 420,163 3,806,307
1961 408,930 3,715,534
1960 398,060 3,628,134

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/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st 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 Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Malawi
2100 0.03% 0.43%
2099 0.05% 0.43%
2098 0.06% 0.42%
2097 0.07% 0.45%
2096 0.09% 0.43%
2095 0.1% 0.46%
2094 0.13% 0.47%
2093 0.15% 0.51%
2092 0.16% 0.52%
2091 0.18% 0.55%
2090 0.21% 0.57%
2089 0.23% 0.61%
2088 0.25% 0.61%
2087 0.26% 0.62%
2086 0.29% 0.65%
2085 0.31% 0.64%
2084 0.33% 0.72%
2083 0.36% 0.74%
2082 0.38% 0.76%
2081 0.41% 0.79%
2080 0.43% 0.8%
2079 0.46% 0.81%
2078 0.48% 0.88%
2077 0.5% 0.9%
2076 0.53% 0.9%
2075 0.56% 0.9%
2074 0.59% 0.91%
2073 0.6% 0.92%
2072 0.63% 0.98%
2071 0.66% 1%
2070 0.69% 1.03%
2069 0.72% 1.07%
2068 0.74% 1.09%
2067 0.78% 1.12%
2066 0.82% 1.13%
2065 0.84% 1.15%
2064 0.87% 1.16%
2063 0.9% 1.21%
2062 0.94% 1.28%
2061 0.96% 1.31%
2060 0.98% 1.38%
2059 1.01% 1.35%
2058 1.04% 1.4%
2057 1.07% 1.4%
2056 1.1% 1.48%
2055 1.14% 1.48%
2054 1.16% 1.57%
2053 1.19% 1.58%
2052 1.23% 1.61%
2051 1.26% 1.62%
2050 1.29% 1.65%
2049 1.33% 1.64%
2048 1.36% 1.72%
2047 1.39% 1.76%
2046 1.43% 1.78%
2045 1.46% 1.86%
2044 1.5% 1.85%
2043 1.54% 1.87%
2042 1.56% 1.93%
2041 1.6% 1.97%
2040 1.64% 2.01%
2039 1.68% 2.04%
2038 1.7% 2.16%
2037 1.73% 2.18%
2036 1.77% 2.22%
2035 1.81% 2.26%
2034 1.85% 2.31%
2033 1.89% 2.33%
2032 1.92% 2.36%
2031 1.97% 2.44%
2030 2.02% 2.5%
2029 2.07% 2.5%
2028 2.12% 2.54%
2027 2.17% 2.56%
2026 2.22% 2.57%
2025 2.28% 2.61%
2024 2.3% 2.61%
2023 2.33% 2.6%
2022 2.35% 2.6%
2021 2.4% 2.63%
2020 2.4% 2.67%
2019 2.38% 2.69%
2018 2.45% 2.71%
2017 2.56% 2.75%
2016 2.66% 2.76%
2015 2.77% 2.79%
2014 2.89% 2.84%
2013 2.97% 2.88%
2012 2.99% 2.91%
2011 2.97% 2.96%
2010 2.95% 2.99%
2009 2.95% 3%
2008 2.95% 2.95%
2007 2.94% 2.86%
2006 2.89% 2.79%
2005 2.82% 2.71%
2004 2.77% 2.62%
2003 2.73% 2.53%
2002 2.72% 2.48%
2001 2.74% 2.45%
2000 2.78% 2.43%
1999 2.82% 2.36%
1998 2.85% 2.19%
1997 2.88% 2.03%
1996 2.93% 1.99%
1995 3.02% -0.15%
1994 3.27% -1.16%
1993 3.73% 1.47%
1992 4.15% 2.95%
1991 4.29% 3.13%
1990 4.29% 4.03%
1989 4.25% 4.83%
1988 4.2% 5.55%
1987 4.15% 4.89%
1986 4.09% 3.75%
1985 4.03% 3.92%
1984 3.92% 3.99%
1983 3.76% 4.02%
1982 3.6% 4.03%
1981 3.53% 4%
1980 3.5% 3.93%
1979 3.4% 3.76%
1978 3.3% 3.48%
1977 3.21% 3.15%
1976 3.11% 2.95%
1975 3.01% 2.84%
1974 2.99% 2.75%
1973 2.99% 2.66%
1972 2.96% 2.59%
1971 2.92% 2.54%
1970 2.88% 2.49%
1969 2.86% 2.5%
1968 2.84% 2.51%
1967 2.79% 2.5%
1966 2.76% 2.48%
1965 2.76% 2.47%
1964 2.76% 2.48%
1963 2.76% 2.47%
1962 2.75% 2.44%
1961 2.73% 2.41%

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/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Gambia Malawi
Current population
2902554
22949294
Population rank 138/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.28%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
57.3 seconds
One birth every
6.4 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
31 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 26/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -2,984 -5,628
Net migration rank 107/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -5,628
2024 - -2,989 - -1,507
2023 65,118 -3,000 549,096 -5,811
2022 63,634 -3,000 533,450 -5,231
2021 62,239 -1,949 517,400 -2,666
2020 62,209 -1,949 514,659 -2,655
2019 61,701 -4,186 506,104 -1,837
2018 60,854 -3,944 494,348 -3,267
2017 61,665 -3,696 484,655 982
2016 62,358 -3,486 474,779 3,505
2015 62,832 -3,224 472,484 -6,471
2014 63,185 -2,793 472,418 -10,317
2013 63,510 -2,476 470,293 -12,934
2012 62,745 -2,332 460,684 -13,561
2011 60,571 -2,360 454,149 -12,170
2010 58,554 -2,456 444,468 -9,327
2009 56,575 -2,259 434,811 -8,590
2008 55,032 -2,204 421,781 -9,264
2007 53,653 -2,320 410,290 -22,680
2006 52,335 -2,666 397,123 -29,450
2005 50,010 -3,209 381,130 -31,462
2004 48,276 -3,636 361,133 -32,221
2003 46,473 -3,713 341,133 -31,729
2002 45,156 -4,067 322,863 -30,013
2001 44,154 -3,882 310,833 -28,933
2000 43,249 -3,670 300,439 -28,098
1999 42,533 -3,493 295,629 -31,686
1998 41,842 -3,291 285,407 -39,491
1997 40,742 -3,098 277,433 -61,646
1996 40,253 -2,948 270,048 -66,212
1995 39,681 -2,797 266,745 -66,366
1994 38,880 -1,586 275,439 -505,365
1993 37,302 3,131 276,538 -284,867
1992 35,951 9,182 269,066 37,142
1991 34,584 11,530 260,193 15,291
1990 33,163 11,242 250,159 71,111
1989 31,504 10,765 237,967 180,031
1988 29,938 10,187 226,911 201,011
1987 28,452 9,563 220,566 271,693
1986 27,195 8,934 218,519 62,615
1985 25,795 8,373 216,179 74,625
1984 24,586 7,733 212,146 72,435
1983 23,175 6,713 209,422 68,197
1982 21,894 5,757 205,386 62,661
1981 20,156 5,438 199,436 57,376
1980 19,566 5,268 192,746 52,294
1979 18,543 4,898 182,123 46,388
1978 17,424 4,493 172,503 36,225
1977 16,773 3,969 161,930 19,638
1976 16,032 3,436 153,422 8,206
1975 15,256 2,979 145,254 5,162
1974 14,628 2,610 137,819 3,833
1973 14,046 2,907 131,529 1,623
1972 13,432 2,861 125,728 48
1971 12,842 2,817 121,015 -710
1970 12,128 2,777 116,822 -2,147
1969 11,670 2,757 113,120 -2,266
1968 11,215 2,705 110,329 -924
1967 10,823 2,617 106,668 0
1966 10,422 2,272 103,512 0
1965 10,162 2,272 100,040 0
1964 9,825 2,272 97,658 0
1963 9,493 2,272 95,933 0
1962 9,150 2,272 92,463 0
1961 8,778 2,272 89,091 0
1960 8,420 2,272 85,718 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

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/malawi | 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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