The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 24,478,595 people in Mali in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 26,143,152 in Mali.
Population statistics:
- Mali's population is 9.01 times bigger than the Gambia's.
- The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
- The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.32% for Mali.
- For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +3.12% in Mali.
- Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.1M (86.9% growth).
Gambia vs Mali: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Gambia
|
Mali
|
|
| 2100 | 5,767,668 | 80,371,693 |
| 2099 | 5,765,660 | 80,051,982 |
| 2098 | 5,762,971 | 79,712,985 |
| 2097 | 5,759,632 | 79,363,373 |
| 2096 | 5,755,430 | 78,996,636 |
| 2095 | 5,750,385 | 78,611,169 |
| 2094 | 5,744,540 | 78,201,275 |
| 2093 | 5,737,026 | 77,780,277 |
| 2092 | 5,728,594 | 77,346,576 |
| 2091 | 5,719,408 | 76,892,849 |
| 2090 | 5,708,875 | 76,418,075 |
| 2089 | 5,697,140 | 75,924,551 |
| 2088 | 5,684,094 | 75,413,374 |
| 2087 | 5,669,958 | 74,882,872 |
| 2086 | 5,655,091 | 74,339,859 |
| 2085 | 5,638,646 | 73,778,163 |
| 2084 | 5,621,067 | 73,197,940 |
| 2083 | 5,602,456 | 72,596,727 |
| 2082 | 5,582,581 | 71,983,705 |
| 2081 | 5,561,294 | 71,348,537 |
| 2080 | 5,538,819 | 70,707,220 |
| 2079 | 5,515,086 | 70,044,626 |
| 2078 | 5,489,750 | 69,367,218 |
| 2077 | 5,463,305 | 68,675,750 |
| 2076 | 5,435,859 | 67,972,574 |
| 2075 | 5,406,946 | 67,256,565 |
| 2074 | 5,376,718 | 66,523,454 |
| 2073 | 5,345,328 | 65,776,035 |
| 2072 | 5,313,201 | 65,016,928 |
| 2071 | 5,279,975 | 64,239,726 |
| 2070 | 5,245,200 | 63,457,636 |
| 2069 | 5,209,379 | 62,664,074 |
| 2068 | 5,172,146 | 61,857,029 |
| 2067 | 5,134,037 | 61,042,577 |
| 2066 | 5,094,458 | 60,222,511 |
| 2065 | 5,053,246 | 59,400,594 |
| 2064 | 5,011,122 | 58,567,263 |
| 2063 | 4,968,038 | 57,727,308 |
| 2062 | 4,923,683 | 56,880,111 |
| 2061 | 4,877,966 | 56,026,848 |
| 2060 | 4,831,631 | 55,166,339 |
| 2059 | 4,784,535 | 54,304,533 |
| 2058 | 4,736,846 | 53,437,711 |
| 2057 | 4,688,039 | 52,565,517 |
| 2056 | 4,638,482 | 51,691,907 |
| 2055 | 4,588,184 | 50,813,138 |
| 2054 | 4,536,562 | 49,936,085 |
| 2053 | 4,484,692 | 49,053,898 |
| 2052 | 4,431,827 | 48,167,179 |
| 2051 | 4,378,133 | 47,280,403 |
| 2050 | 4,323,657 | 46,390,999 |
| 2049 | 4,268,536 | 45,505,968 |
| 2048 | 4,212,677 | 44,617,075 |
| 2047 | 4,155,975 | 43,730,396 |
| 2046 | 4,098,930 | 42,840,806 |
| 2045 | 4,041,218 | 41,951,176 |
| 2044 | 3,982,976 | 41,061,960 |
| 2043 | 3,924,126 | 40,172,937 |
| 2042 | 3,864,662 | 39,286,024 |
| 2041 | 3,805,317 | 38,406,403 |
| 2040 | 3,745,312 | 37,525,963 |
| 2039 | 3,685,048 | 36,652,557 |
| 2038 | 3,624,271 | 35,772,629 |
| 2037 | 3,563,745 | 34,902,845 |
| 2036 | 3,502,991 | 34,036,236 |
| 2035 | 3,442,074 | 33,178,665 |
| 2034 | 3,381,008 | 32,328,037 |
| 2033 | 3,319,646 | 31,486,276 |
| 2032 | 3,258,080 | 30,655,886 |
| 2031 | 3,196,605 | 29,833,522 |
| 2030 | 3,134,968 | 29,028,860 |
| 2029 | 3,072,981 | 28,235,559 |
| 2028 | 3,010,624 | 27,456,170 |
| 2027 | 2,948,246 | 26,690,187 |
| 2026 | 2,885,613 | 25,940,320 |
| 2025 | 2,822,861 | 25,201,616 |
| 2024 | 2,759,988 | 24,478,595 |
| 2023 | 2,697,845 | 23,769,127 |
| 2022 | 2,636,470 | 23,072,640 |
| 2021 | 2,576,010 | 22,388,630 |
| 2020 | 2,515,733 | 21,713,836 |
| 2019 | 2,456,844 | 21,068,405 |
| 2018 | 2,399,632 | 20,442,030 |
| 2017 | 2,342,189 | 19,813,011 |
| 2016 | 2,283,769 | 19,191,289 |
| 2015 | 2,224,529 | 18,593,022 |
| 2014 | 2,164,528 | 18,020,267 |
| 2013 | 2,103,820 | 17,459,615 |
| 2012 | 2,043,094 | 16,957,033 |
| 2011 | 1,983,784 | 16,469,049 |
| 2010 | 1,926,630 | 15,945,198 |
| 2009 | 1,871,422 | 15,435,539 |
| 2008 | 1,817,852 | 14,940,782 |
| 2007 | 1,765,774 | 14,457,775 |
| 2006 | 1,715,275 | 13,990,139 |
| 2005 | 1,667,037 | 13,538,647 |
| 2004 | 1,621,312 | 13,102,409 |
| 2003 | 1,577,611 | 12,684,955 |
| 2002 | 1,535,691 | 12,288,050 |
| 2001 | 1,495,011 | 11,912,158 |
| 2000 | 1,455,084 | 11,559,290 |
| 1999 | 1,415,779 | 11,227,415 |
| 1998 | 1,376,987 | 10,919,573 |
| 1997 | 1,338,889 | 10,646,495 |
| 1996 | 1,301,410 | 10,407,278 |
| 1995 | 1,264,313 | 10,185,365 |
| 1994 | 1,227,226 | 9,967,031 |
| 1993 | 1,188,365 | 9,754,786 |
| 1992 | 1,145,582 | 9,553,540 |
| 1991 | 1,099,959 | 9,362,888 |
| 1990 | 1,054,696 | 9,178,830 |
| 1989 | 1,011,357 | 8,999,938 |
| 1988 | 970,160 | 8,833,996 |
| 1987 | 931,091 | 8,681,164 |
| 1986 | 894,019 | 8,531,277 |
| 1985 | 858,874 | 8,374,663 |
| 1984 | 825,631 | 8,208,599 |
| 1983 | 794,525 | 8,034,400 |
| 1982 | 765,753 | 7,860,194 |
| 1981 | 739,125 | 7,692,766 |
| 1980 | 713,913 | 7,530,515 |
| 1979 | 689,781 | 7,375,266 |
| 1978 | 667,103 | 7,229,651 |
| 1977 | 645,770 | 7,090,979 |
| 1976 | 625,667 | 6,960,979 |
| 1975 | 606,821 | 6,837,261 |
| 1974 | 589,085 | 6,715,436 |
| 1973 | 571,991 | 6,597,106 |
| 1972 | 555,370 | 6,483,726 |
| 1971 | 539,388 | 6,377,944 |
| 1970 | 524,105 | 6,276,472 |
| 1969 | 509,440 | 6,177,704 |
| 1968 | 495,269 | 6,082,979 |
| 1967 | 481,588 | 5,990,906 |
| 1966 | 468,516 | 5,902,204 |
| 1965 | 455,952 | 5,815,487 |
| 1964 | 443,687 | 5,730,125 |
| 1963 | 431,757 | 5,646,605 |
| 1962 | 420,163 | 5,563,917 |
| 1961 | 408,930 | 5,482,283 |
| 1960 | 398,060 | 5,402,550 |
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/mali | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Mali's population increased by 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth).
The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th 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 Mali will increase by 77.4% to 46,390,999 people and rank change from 58th to 46th.
The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Mali
|
|
| 2100 | 0.03% | 0.4% |
| 2099 | 0.05% | 0.43% |
| 2098 | 0.06% | 0.44% |
| 2097 | 0.07% | 0.46% |
| 2096 | 0.09% | 0.49% |
| 2095 | 0.1% | 0.52% |
| 2094 | 0.13% | 0.54% |
| 2093 | 0.15% | 0.56% |
| 2092 | 0.16% | 0.59% |
| 2091 | 0.18% | 0.62% |
| 2090 | 0.21% | 0.65% |
| 2089 | 0.23% | 0.68% |
| 2088 | 0.25% | 0.71% |
| 2087 | 0.26% | 0.73% |
| 2086 | 0.29% | 0.76% |
| 2085 | 0.31% | 0.79% |
| 2084 | 0.33% | 0.83% |
| 2083 | 0.36% | 0.85% |
| 2082 | 0.38% | 0.89% |
| 2081 | 0.41% | 0.91% |
| 2080 | 0.43% | 0.95% |
| 2079 | 0.46% | 0.98% |
| 2078 | 0.48% | 1.01% |
| 2077 | 0.5% | 1.03% |
| 2076 | 0.53% | 1.06% |
| 2075 | 0.56% | 1.1% |
| 2074 | 0.59% | 1.14% |
| 2073 | 0.6% | 1.17% |
| 2072 | 0.63% | 1.21% |
| 2071 | 0.66% | 1.23% |
| 2070 | 0.69% | 1.27% |
| 2069 | 0.72% | 1.3% |
| 2068 | 0.74% | 1.33% |
| 2067 | 0.78% | 1.36% |
| 2066 | 0.82% | 1.38% |
| 2065 | 0.84% | 1.42% |
| 2064 | 0.87% | 1.46% |
| 2063 | 0.9% | 1.49% |
| 2062 | 0.94% | 1.52% |
| 2061 | 0.96% | 1.56% |
| 2060 | 0.98% | 1.59% |
| 2059 | 1.01% | 1.62% |
| 2058 | 1.04% | 1.66% |
| 2057 | 1.07% | 1.69% |
| 2056 | 1.1% | 1.73% |
| 2055 | 1.14% | 1.76% |
| 2054 | 1.16% | 1.8% |
| 2053 | 1.19% | 1.84% |
| 2052 | 1.23% | 1.88% |
| 2051 | 1.26% | 1.92% |
| 2050 | 1.29% | 1.94% |
| 2049 | 1.33% | 1.99% |
| 2048 | 1.36% | 2.03% |
| 2047 | 1.39% | 2.08% |
| 2046 | 1.43% | 2.12% |
| 2045 | 1.46% | 2.17% |
| 2044 | 1.5% | 2.21% |
| 2043 | 1.54% | 2.26% |
| 2042 | 1.56% | 2.29% |
| 2041 | 1.6% | 2.35% |
| 2040 | 1.64% | 2.38% |
| 2039 | 1.68% | 2.46% |
| 2038 | 1.7% | 2.49% |
| 2037 | 1.73% | 2.55% |
| 2036 | 1.77% | 2.58% |
| 2035 | 1.81% | 2.63% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 2.67% |
| 2033 | 1.89% | 2.71% |
| 2032 | 1.92% | 2.76% |
| 2031 | 1.97% | 2.77% |
| 2030 | 2.02% | 2.81% |
| 2029 | 2.07% | 2.84% |
| 2028 | 2.12% | 2.87% |
| 2027 | 2.17% | 2.89% |
| 2026 | 2.22% | 2.93% |
| 2025 | 2.28% | 2.95% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | 2.98% |
| 2023 | 2.33% | 3.02% |
| 2022 | 2.35% | 3.06% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | 3.11% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | 3.06% |
| 2019 | 2.38% | 3.06% |
| 2018 | 2.45% | 3.17% |
| 2017 | 2.56% | 3.24% |
| 2016 | 2.66% | 3.22% |
| 2015 | 2.77% | 3.18% |
| 2014 | 2.89% | 3.21% |
| 2013 | 2.97% | 2.96% |
| 2012 | 2.99% | 2.96% |
| 2011 | 2.97% | 3.29% |
| 2010 | 2.95% | 3.3% |
| 2009 | 2.95% | 3.31% |
| 2008 | 2.95% | 3.34% |
| 2007 | 2.94% | 3.34% |
| 2006 | 2.89% | 3.33% |
| 2005 | 2.82% | 3.33% |
| 2004 | 2.77% | 3.29% |
| 2003 | 2.73% | 3.23% |
| 2002 | 2.72% | 3.16% |
| 2001 | 2.74% | 3.05% |
| 2000 | 2.78% | 2.96% |
| 1999 | 2.82% | 2.82% |
| 1998 | 2.85% | 2.56% |
| 1997 | 2.88% | 2.3% |
| 1996 | 2.93% | 2.18% |
| 1995 | 3.02% | 2.19% |
| 1994 | 3.27% | 2.18% |
| 1993 | 3.73% | 2.11% |
| 1992 | 4.15% | 2.04% |
| 1991 | 4.29% | 2.01% |
| 1990 | 4.29% | 1.99% |
| 1989 | 4.25% | 1.88% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | 1.76% |
| 1987 | 4.15% | 1.76% |
| 1986 | 4.09% | 1.87% |
| 1985 | 4.03% | 2.02% |
| 1984 | 3.92% | 2.17% |
| 1983 | 3.76% | 2.22% |
| 1982 | 3.6% | 2.18% |
| 1981 | 3.53% | 2.15% |
| 1980 | 3.5% | 2.1% |
| 1979 | 3.4% | 2.01% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | 1.96% |
| 1977 | 3.21% | 1.87% |
| 1976 | 3.11% | 1.81% |
| 1975 | 3.01% | 1.81% |
| 1974 | 2.99% | 1.79% |
| 1973 | 2.99% | 1.75% |
| 1972 | 2.96% | 1.66% |
| 1971 | 2.92% | 1.62% |
| 1970 | 2.88% | 1.6% |
| 1969 | 2.86% | 1.56% |
| 1968 | 2.84% | 1.54% |
| 1967 | 2.79% | 1.5% |
| 1966 | 2.76% | 1.49% |
| 1965 | 2.76% | 1.49% |
| 1964 | 2.76% | 1.48% |
| 1963 | 2.76% | 1.49% |
| 1962 | 2.75% | 1.49% |
| 1961 | 2.73% | 1.48% |
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/mali | CC BY
In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Mali's population grew by 2.98%.
Live population counters
|
Gambia
|
Mali
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2902554
|
26143152
|
| Population rank | 138/197 | 58/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.04% | 0.32% |
| One net population change |
8.46 minutes
|
44.5 seconds
|
| One birth every |
6.4 minutes
|
33.1 seconds
|
| One death every |
31 minutes
|
2.56 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +170 | +1,944 |
| Annual growth/decline | +62,143 | +709,468 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.3% | +2.98% |
| Population growth rate rank | 37/197 | 15/197 |
| One migration net change every |
2.94 hours
|
11 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -2,984 | -48,019 |
| Net migration rank | 107/196 | 173/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 236,137 | 545,323 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 107/195 | 76/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.6% | 2.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 72/195 | 131/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Mali
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,984 | - | -48,019 |
| 2024 | - | -2,989 | - | -46,880 |
| 2023 | 65,118 | -3,000 | 746,398 | -39,953 |
| 2022 | 63,634 | -3,000 | 726,465 | -39,951 |
| 2021 | 62,239 | -1,949 | 703,674 | -22,210 |
| 2020 | 62,209 | -1,949 | 683,053 | -14,962 |
| 2019 | 61,701 | -4,186 | 667,110 | -44,373 |
| 2018 | 60,854 | -3,944 | 670,723 | -40,710 |
| 2017 | 61,665 | -3,696 | 661,973 | -33,942 |
| 2016 | 62,358 | -3,486 | 645,652 | -30,251 |
| 2015 | 62,832 | -3,224 | 630,006 | -48,872 |
| 2014 | 63,185 | -2,793 | 614,419 | -50,068 |
| 2013 | 63,510 | -2,476 | 597,887 | -40,951 |
| 2012 | 62,745 | -2,332 | 588,748 | -140,507 |
| 2011 | 60,571 | -2,360 | 570,899 | -43,160 |
| 2010 | 58,554 | -2,456 | 554,447 | -34,483 |
| 2009 | 56,575 | -2,259 | 533,730 | -34,383 |
| 2008 | 55,032 | -2,204 | 514,665 | -24,509 |
| 2007 | 53,653 | -2,320 | 495,800 | -19,945 |
| 2006 | 52,335 | -2,666 | 477,665 | -18,247 |
| 2005 | 50,010 | -3,209 | 460,964 | -17,413 |
| 2004 | 48,276 | -3,636 | 439,717 | -10,796 |
| 2003 | 46,473 | -3,713 | 417,766 | -11,768 |
| 2002 | 45,156 | -4,067 | 396,732 | -8,914 |
| 2001 | 44,154 | -3,882 | 376,472 | -12,507 |
| 2000 | 43,249 | -3,670 | 359,159 | -17,395 |
| 1999 | 42,533 | -3,493 | 343,705 | -21,702 |
| 1998 | 41,842 | -3,291 | 323,940 | -30,255 |
| 1997 | 40,742 | -3,098 | 308,429 | -55,978 |
| 1996 | 40,253 | -2,948 | 293,953 | -67,974 |
| 1995 | 39,681 | -2,797 | 285,598 | -67,763 |
| 1994 | 38,880 | -1,586 | 282,356 | -63,533 |
| 1993 | 37,302 | 3,131 | 274,480 | -68,816 |
| 1992 | 35,951 | 9,182 | 267,605 | -70,789 |
| 1991 | 34,584 | 11,530 | 261,656 | -77,172 |
| 1990 | 33,163 | 11,242 | 252,308 | -68,668 |
| 1989 | 31,504 | 10,765 | 249,929 | -75,771 |
| 1988 | 29,938 | 10,187 | 245,682 | -87,952 |
| 1987 | 28,452 | 9,563 | 238,871 | -90,940 |
| 1986 | 27,195 | 8,934 | 233,799 | -81,970 |
| 1985 | 25,795 | 8,373 | 224,734 | -63,347 |
| 1984 | 24,586 | 7,733 | 218,078 | -47,331 |
| 1983 | 23,175 | 6,713 | 211,795 | -34,132 |
| 1982 | 21,894 | 5,757 | 204,892 | -34,140 |
| 1981 | 20,156 | 5,438 | 198,227 | -34,130 |
| 1980 | 19,566 | 5,268 | 190,560 | -30,156 |
| 1979 | 18,543 | 4,898 | 182,449 | -32,353 |
| 1978 | 17,424 | 4,493 | 172,652 | -31,520 |
| 1977 | 16,773 | 3,969 | 165,071 | -28,853 |
| 1976 | 16,032 | 3,436 | 157,778 | -33,999 |
| 1975 | 15,256 | 2,979 | 150,222 | -26,572 |
| 1974 | 14,628 | 2,610 | 142,448 | -22,449 |
| 1973 | 14,046 | 2,907 | 135,801 | -19,137 |
| 1972 | 13,432 | 2,861 | 129,687 | -19,594 |
| 1971 | 12,842 | 2,817 | 123,591 | -22,127 |
| 1970 | 12,128 | 2,777 | 118,952 | -17,479 |
| 1969 | 11,670 | 2,757 | 114,361 | -18,302 |
| 1968 | 11,215 | 2,705 | 111,403 | -18,015 |
| 1967 | 10,823 | 2,617 | 107,650 | -16,900 |
| 1966 | 10,422 | 2,272 | 103,684 | -17,032 |
| 1965 | 10,162 | 2,272 | 100,451 | -13,662 |
| 1964 | 9,825 | 2,272 | 97,166 | -13,226 |
| 1963 | 9,493 | 2,272 | 95,055 | -11,951 |
| 1962 | 9,150 | 2,272 | 93,101 | -10,821 |
| 1961 | 8,778 | 2,272 | 91,115 | -10,139 |
| 1960 | 8,420 | 2,272 | 88,802 | -10,314 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/gambia/mali | 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 Mali 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 people).
As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between the Gambia and Mali
|
Gambia
|
Mali
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.5 years | 61.1 years |
| Average age | 23.7 years | 21.3 years |
| Median age | 19.4 years | 16.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.8:50.2 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 4.01 births per woman | 5.61 births per woman |
| Population density | 739 ppl/mi² | 55.1 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/mali | 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)
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