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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 23,086,106 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 +2.44% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Gambia vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Malawi
2100 5,766,099 59,773,923
2099 5,764,092 59,515,624
2098 5,761,403 59,263,165
2097 5,758,064 59,015,654
2096 5,753,864 58,749,288
2095 5,748,821 58,495,699
2094 5,742,977 58,227,933
2093 5,735,465 57,954,358
2092 5,727,035 57,660,371
2091 5,717,851 57,364,786
2090 5,707,322 57,048,240
2089 5,695,590 56,727,243
2088 5,682,547 56,385,237
2087 5,668,415 56,041,651
2086 5,653,552 55,694,983
2085 5,637,112 55,336,839
2084 5,619,538 54,985,304
2083 5,600,932 54,593,349
2082 5,581,062 54,194,853
2081 5,559,781 53,783,781
2080 5,537,312 53,361,334
2079 5,513,586 52,936,889
2078 5,488,256 52,510,645
2077 5,461,819 52,052,767
2076 5,434,380 51,589,339
2075 5,405,474 51,130,762
2074 5,375,255 50,673,499
2073 5,343,873 50,218,991
2072 5,311,755 49,759,232
2071 5,278,538 49,276,570
2070 5,243,773 48,787,471
2069 5,207,961 48,291,287
2068 5,170,739 47,782,059
2067 5,132,640 47,267,335
2066 5,093,072 46,741,998
2065 5,051,871 46,218,226
2064 5,009,758 45,692,044
2063 4,966,686 45,169,634
2062 4,922,343 44,629,192
2061 4,876,639 44,067,259
2060 4,830,317 43,499,372
2059 4,783,233 42,907,491
2058 4,735,557 42,335,782
2057 4,686,764 41,753,105
2056 4,637,220 41,175,330
2055 4,586,935 40,576,247
2054 4,535,328 39,986,120
2053 4,483,472 39,369,178
2052 4,430,621 38,758,577
2051 4,376,942 38,145,141
2050 4,322,480 37,537,814
2049 4,267,374 36,928,354
2048 4,211,530 36,332,040
2047 4,154,844 35,717,466
2046 4,097,814 35,099,651
2045 4,040,118 34,484,520
2044 3,981,892 33,855,018
2043 3,923,058 33,240,675
2042 3,863,611 32,629,513
2041 3,804,282 32,012,581
2040 3,744,293 31,395,572
2039 3,684,045 30,775,878
2038 3,623,285 30,160,239
2037 3,562,776 29,521,489
2036 3,502,038 28,890,318
2035 3,441,138 28,261,909
2034 3,380,088 27,637,439
2033 3,318,743 27,012,311
2032 3,257,194 26,398,409
2031 3,195,735 25,790,366
2030 3,134,115 25,176,420
2029 3,072,145 24,561,210
2028 3,009,805 23,962,931
2027 2,947,443 23,369,575
2026 2,884,828 22,786,713
2025 2,822,093 22,216,120
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% 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 48.2% to 4,322,480 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 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 2.25% 2.59%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Gambia Malawi
Current population
2916990
23086106
Population rank 138/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.28%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
56.4 seconds
One birth every
6.38 minutes
46.8 seconds
One death every
30.5 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,537
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 23/197
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 65,157 -2,989 559,811 -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 2026-07-08).

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 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people). In Malawi 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 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
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
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 (1960–2025, 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/malawi | 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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