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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 12.6 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Gambia vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Malaysia
2100 5,767,668 44,353,615
2099 5,765,660 44,467,475
2098 5,762,971 44,579,971
2097 5,759,632 44,695,979
2096 5,755,430 44,814,885
2095 5,750,385 44,932,404
2094 5,744,540 45,047,479
2093 5,737,026 45,165,126
2092 5,728,594 45,278,674
2091 5,719,408 45,390,002
2090 5,708,875 45,501,495
2089 5,697,140 45,610,046
2088 5,684,094 45,717,882
2087 5,669,958 45,823,085
2086 5,655,091 45,926,712
2085 5,638,646 46,020,742
2084 5,621,067 46,111,490
2083 5,602,456 46,202,286
2082 5,582,581 46,284,929
2081 5,561,294 46,359,700
2080 5,538,819 46,435,482
2079 5,515,086 46,496,102
2078 5,489,750 46,549,167
2077 5,463,305 46,594,188
2076 5,435,859 46,619,045
2075 5,406,946 46,643,115
2074 5,376,718 46,658,350
2073 5,345,328 46,670,848
2072 5,313,201 46,670,426
2071 5,279,975 46,660,436
2070 5,245,200 46,645,623
2069 5,209,379 46,623,238
2068 5,172,146 46,600,060
2067 5,134,037 46,569,264
2066 5,094,458 46,530,377
2065 5,053,246 46,481,890
2064 5,011,122 46,417,369
2063 4,968,038 46,350,674
2062 4,923,683 46,272,105
2061 4,877,966 46,178,092
2060 4,831,631 46,075,877
2059 4,784,535 45,958,718
2058 4,736,846 45,837,407
2057 4,688,039 45,707,213
2056 4,638,482 45,566,357
2055 4,588,184 45,418,953
2054 4,536,562 45,252,995
2053 4,484,692 45,069,089
2052 4,431,827 44,873,927
2051 4,378,133 44,668,767
2050 4,323,657 44,445,677
2049 4,268,536 44,217,593
2048 4,212,677 43,974,925
2047 4,155,975 43,712,325
2046 4,098,930 43,438,283
2045 4,041,218 43,157,909
2044 3,982,976 42,866,716
2043 3,924,126 42,557,941
2042 3,864,662 42,239,980
2041 3,805,317 41,922,379
2040 3,745,312 41,598,231
2039 3,685,048 41,270,953
2038 3,624,271 40,929,067
2037 3,563,745 40,584,773
2036 3,502,991 40,234,128
2035 3,442,074 39,876,375
2034 3,381,008 39,515,857
2033 3,319,646 39,152,086
2032 3,258,080 38,772,414
2031 3,196,605 38,386,293
2030 3,134,968 37,995,617
2029 3,072,981 37,606,753
2028 3,010,624 37,207,852
2027 2,948,246 36,806,585
2026 2,885,613 36,403,076
2025 2,822,861 35,987,113
2024 2,759,988 35,557,673
2023 2,697,845 35,126,298
2022 2,636,470 34,695,493
2021 2,576,010 34,282,399
2020 2,515,733 33,889,558
2019 2,456,844 33,440,596
2018 2,399,632 32,910,967
2017 2,342,189 32,355,644
2016 2,283,769 31,789,685
2015 2,224,529 31,232,798
2014 2,164,528 30,696,137
2013 2,103,820 30,174,265
2012 2,043,094 29,662,831
2011 1,983,784 29,162,039
2010 1,926,630 28,655,776
2009 1,871,422 28,124,778
2008 1,817,852 27,570,059
2007 1,765,774 26,998,389
2006 1,715,275 26,417,909
2005 1,667,037 25,836,071
2004 1,621,312 25,256,772
2003 1,577,611 24,679,602
2002 1,535,691 24,102,477
2001 1,495,011 23,526,538
2000 1,455,084 22,967,816
1999 1,415,779 22,435,531
1998 1,376,987 21,906,713
1997 1,338,889 21,375,218
1996 1,301,410 20,850,087
1995 1,264,313 20,330,599
1994 1,227,226 19,820,446
1993 1,188,365 19,322,664
1992 1,145,582 18,834,572
1991 1,099,959 18,342,464
1990 1,054,696 17,833,171
1989 1,011,357 17,314,997
1988 970,160 16,796,605
1987 931,091 16,276,737
1986 894,019 15,760,419
1985 858,874 15,252,258
1984 825,631 14,759,009
1983 794,525 14,285,907
1982 765,753 13,832,798
1981 739,125 13,399,203
1980 713,913 12,983,363
1979 689,781 12,627,862
1978 667,103 12,328,157
1977 645,770 12,035,713
1976 625,667 11,750,097
1975 606,821 11,471,914
1974 589,085 11,200,906
1973 571,991 10,935,621
1972 555,370 10,676,835
1971 539,388 10,423,453
1970 524,105 10,178,802
1969 509,440 9,947,597
1968 495,269 9,725,281
1967 481,588 9,507,099
1966 468,516 9,284,688
1965 455,952 9,056,408
1964 443,687 8,828,406
1963 431,757 8,602,160
1962 420,163 8,380,172
1961 408,930 8,164,443
1960 398,060 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Malaysia
2100 0.03% -0.26%
2099 0.05% -0.25%
2098 0.06% -0.26%
2097 0.07% -0.27%
2096 0.09% -0.26%
2095 0.1% -0.26%
2094 0.13% -0.26%
2093 0.15% -0.25%
2092 0.16% -0.25%
2091 0.18% -0.25%
2090 0.21% -0.24%
2089 0.23% -0.24%
2088 0.25% -0.23%
2087 0.26% -0.23%
2086 0.29% -0.2%
2085 0.31% -0.2%
2084 0.33% -0.2%
2083 0.36% -0.18%
2082 0.38% -0.16%
2081 0.41% -0.16%
2080 0.43% -0.13%
2079 0.46% -0.11%
2078 0.48% -0.1%
2077 0.5% -0.05%
2076 0.53% -0.05%
2075 0.56% -0.03%
2074 0.59% -0.03%
2073 0.6% 0.001%
2072 0.63% 0.02%
2071 0.66% 0.03%
2070 0.69% 0.05%
2069 0.72% 0.05%
2068 0.74% 0.07%
2067 0.78% 0.08%
2066 0.82% 0.1%
2065 0.84% 0.14%
2064 0.87% 0.14%
2063 0.9% 0.17%
2062 0.94% 0.2%
2061 0.96% 0.22%
2060 0.98% 0.25%
2059 1.01% 0.26%
2058 1.04% 0.28%
2057 1.07% 0.31%
2056 1.1% 0.32%
2055 1.14% 0.37%
2054 1.16% 0.41%
2053 1.19% 0.43%
2052 1.23% 0.46%
2051 1.26% 0.5%
2050 1.29% 0.52%
2049 1.33% 0.55%
2048 1.36% 0.6%
2047 1.39% 0.63%
2046 1.43% 0.65%
2045 1.46% 0.68%
2044 1.5% 0.73%
2043 1.54% 0.75%
2042 1.56% 0.76%
2041 1.6% 0.78%
2040 1.64% 0.79%
2039 1.68% 0.84%
2038 1.7% 0.85%
2037 1.73% 0.87%
2036 1.77% 0.9%
2035 1.81% 0.91%
2034 1.85% 0.93%
2033 1.89% 0.98%
2032 1.92% 1.01%
2031 1.97% 1.03%
2030 2.02% 1.03%
2029 2.07% 1.07%
2028 2.12% 1.09%
2027 2.17% 1.11%
2026 2.22% 1.16%
2025 2.28% 1.21%
2024 2.3% 1.23%
2023 2.33% 1.24%
2022 2.35% 1.2%
2021 2.4% 1.16%
2020 2.4% 1.34%
2019 2.38% 1.61%
2018 2.45% 1.72%
2017 2.56% 1.78%
2016 2.66% 1.78%
2015 2.77% 1.75%
2014 2.89% 1.73%
2013 2.97% 1.72%
2012 2.99% 1.72%
2011 2.97% 1.77%
2010 2.95% 1.89%
2009 2.95% 2.01%
2008 2.95% 2.12%
2007 2.94% 2.2%
2006 2.89% 2.25%
2005 2.82% 2.29%
2004 2.77% 2.34%
2003 2.73% 2.39%
2002 2.72% 2.45%
2001 2.74% 2.43%
2000 2.78% 2.37%
1999 2.82% 2.41%
1998 2.85% 2.49%
1997 2.88% 2.52%
1996 2.93% 2.56%
1995 3.02% 2.57%
1994 3.27% 2.58%
1993 3.73% 2.59%
1992 4.15% 2.68%
1991 4.29% 2.86%
1990 4.29% 2.99%
1989 4.25% 3.09%
1988 4.2% 3.19%
1987 4.15% 3.28%
1986 4.09% 3.33%
1985 4.03% 3.34%
1984 3.92% 3.31%
1983 3.76% 3.28%
1982 3.6% 3.24%
1981 3.53% 3.2%
1980 3.5% 2.82%
1979 3.4% 2.43%
1978 3.3% 2.43%
1977 3.21% 2.43%
1976 3.11% 2.42%
1975 3.01% 2.42%
1974 2.99% 2.43%
1973 2.99% 2.42%
1972 2.96% 2.43%
1971 2.92% 2.4%
1970 2.88% 2.32%
1969 2.86% 2.29%
1968 2.84% 2.29%
1967 2.79% 2.4%
1966 2.76% 2.52%
1965 2.76% 2.58%
1964 2.76% 2.63%
1963 2.76% 2.65%
1962 2.75% 2.64%
1961 2.73% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Gambia Malaysia
Current population
2902554
36512221
Population rank 138/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.44%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
1.22 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 89/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 +166,615
Net migration rank 107/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 166,615
2024 - -2,989 - 174,770
2023 65,118 -3,000 254,806 181,071
2022 63,634 -3,000 237,560 188,154
2021 62,239 -1,949 212,002 188,506
2020 62,209 -1,949 283,282 101,907
2019 61,701 -4,186 309,426 203,284
2018 60,854 -3,944 324,568 221,965
2017 61,665 -3,696 336,434 227,677
2016 62,358 -3,486 345,681 222,141
2015 62,832 -3,224 358,302 187,663
2014 63,185 -2,793 367,587 159,791
2013 63,510 -2,476 366,738 149,637
2012 62,745 -2,332 371,497 134,975
2011 60,571 -2,360 372,836 122,269
2010 58,554 -2,456 360,260 157,164
2009 56,575 -2,259 366,157 178,410
2008 55,032 -2,204 362,380 202,481
2007 53,653 -2,320 348,711 229,784
2006 52,335 -2,666 349,509 232,971
2005 50,010 -3,209 355,324 225,864
2004 48,276 -3,636 365,138 212,278
2003 46,473 -3,713 377,425 199,510
2002 45,156 -4,067 381,084 196,227
2001 44,154 -3,882 400,939 173,613
2000 43,249 -3,670 417,371 125,499
1999 42,533 -3,493 432,355 89,335
1998 41,842 -3,291 436,316 99,639
1997 40,742 -3,098 447,768 79,266
1996 40,253 -2,948 450,174 73,040
1995 39,681 -2,797 443,349 72,393
1994 38,880 -1,586 437,873 66,685
1993 37,302 3,131 429,910 61,079
1992 35,951 9,182 418,900 66,286
1991 34,584 11,530 401,938 97,111
1990 33,163 11,242 384,518 135,020
1989 31,504 10,765 373,277 143,544
1988 29,938 10,187 386,507 133,478
1987 28,452 9,563 381,999 137,759
1986 27,195 8,934 385,799 127,081
1985 25,795 8,373 383,243 120,215
1984 24,586 7,733 376,797 106,248
1983 23,175 6,713 365,290 97,862
1982 21,894 5,757 353,138 89,942
1981 20,156 5,438 339,991 84,142
1980 19,566 5,268 326,947 80,617
1979 18,543 4,898 317,439 -13,980
1978 17,424 4,493 311,027 -15,059
1977 16,773 3,969 305,515 -16,601
1976 16,032 3,436 300,615 -18,316
1975 15,256 2,979 294,541 -20,480
1974 14,628 2,610 289,880 -21,919
1973 14,046 2,907 284,611 -21,995
1972 13,432 2,861 276,263 -21,305
1971 12,842 2,817 272,323 -20,535
1970 12,128 2,777 269,341 -31,839
1969 11,670 2,757 264,327 -39,420
1968 11,215 2,705 260,705 -40,996
1967 10,823 2,617 258,764 -42,108
1966 10,422 2,272 262,162 -33,993
1965 10,162 2,272 264,836 -36,456
1964 9,825 2,272 266,406 -38,785
1963 9,493 2,272 265,815 -40,952
1962 9,150 2,272 262,140 -43,033
1961 8,778 2,272 257,270 -44,916
1960 8,420 2,272 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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