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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 9.02 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 +2.44% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Gambia vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Mali
2100 5,766,099 80,362,778
2099 5,764,092 80,043,103
2098 5,761,403 79,704,143
2097 5,758,064 79,354,569
2096 5,753,864 78,987,874
2095 5,748,821 78,602,449
2094 5,742,977 78,192,601
2093 5,735,465 77,771,649
2092 5,727,035 77,337,997
2091 5,717,851 76,884,320
2090 5,707,322 76,409,599
2089 5,695,590 75,916,129
2088 5,682,547 75,405,009
2087 5,668,415 74,874,565
2086 5,653,552 74,331,613
2085 5,637,112 73,769,979
2084 5,619,538 73,189,821
2083 5,600,932 72,588,675
2082 5,581,062 71,975,720
2081 5,559,781 71,340,622
2080 5,537,312 70,699,377
2079 5,513,586 70,036,857
2078 5,488,256 69,359,523
2077 5,461,819 68,668,133
2076 5,434,380 67,965,034
2075 5,405,474 67,249,105
2074 5,375,255 66,516,075
2073 5,343,873 65,768,739
2072 5,311,755 65,009,716
2071 5,278,538 64,232,600
2070 5,243,773 63,450,597
2069 5,207,961 62,657,123
2068 5,170,739 61,850,168
2067 5,132,640 61,035,806
2066 5,093,072 60,215,831
2065 5,051,871 59,394,005
2064 5,009,758 58,560,766
2063 4,966,686 57,720,905
2062 4,922,343 56,873,801
2061 4,876,639 56,020,633
2060 4,830,317 55,160,220
2059 4,783,233 54,298,509
2058 4,735,557 53,431,783
2057 4,686,764 52,559,686
2056 4,637,220 51,686,173
2055 4,586,935 50,807,502
2054 4,535,328 49,930,546
2053 4,483,472 49,048,457
2052 4,430,621 48,161,836
2051 4,376,942 47,275,159
2050 4,322,480 46,385,854
2049 4,267,374 45,500,920
2048 4,211,530 44,612,126
2047 4,154,844 43,725,546
2046 4,097,814 42,836,054
2045 4,040,118 41,946,522
2044 3,981,892 41,057,406
2043 3,923,058 40,168,481
2042 3,863,611 39,281,666
2041 3,804,282 38,402,142
2040 3,744,293 37,521,801
2039 3,684,045 36,648,491
2038 3,623,285 35,768,661
2037 3,562,776 34,898,973
2036 3,502,038 34,032,460
2035 3,441,138 33,174,985
2034 3,380,088 32,324,451
2033 3,318,743 31,482,783
2032 3,257,194 30,652,485
2031 3,195,735 29,830,213
2030 3,134,115 29,025,640
2029 3,072,145 28,232,427
2028 3,009,805 27,453,124
2027 2,947,443 26,687,226
2026 2,884,828 25,937,442
2025 2,822,093 25,198,821
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% 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 48.2% to 4,322,480 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

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

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
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 2.25% 2.94%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Gambia Mali
Current population
2916990
26322576
Population rank 138/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.32%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
43.9 seconds
One birth every
6.38 minutes
32.6 seconds
One death every
30.5 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 14/197
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

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -48,019
2024 65,157 -2,989 759,375 -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 2026-07-08).

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 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people). In Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 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

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 226K
Segou 131K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

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/mali | 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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