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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 84 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 2.98% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Gambia vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Nigeria
2100 5,767,668 481,678,166
2099 5,765,660 481,494,914
2098 5,762,971 481,219,866
2097 5,759,632 480,876,108
2096 5,755,430 480,460,381
2095 5,750,385 479,976,454
2094 5,744,540 479,432,855
2093 5,737,026 478,807,152
2092 5,728,594 478,097,591
2091 5,719,408 477,274,569
2090 5,708,875 476,367,086
2089 5,697,140 475,363,859
2088 5,684,094 474,268,867
2087 5,669,958 473,072,894
2086 5,655,091 471,769,229
2085 5,638,646 470,365,292
2084 5,621,067 468,843,169
2083 5,602,456 467,224,322
2082 5,582,581 465,509,151
2081 5,561,294 463,679,779
2080 5,538,819 461,741,930
2079 5,515,086 459,680,797
2078 5,489,750 457,513,367
2077 5,463,305 455,254,796
2076 5,435,859 452,885,729
2075 5,406,946 450,402,898
2074 5,376,718 447,825,224
2073 5,345,328 445,152,156
2072 5,313,201 442,375,349
2071 5,279,975 439,499,004
2070 5,245,200 436,539,777
2069 5,209,379 433,472,204
2068 5,172,146 430,320,190
2067 5,134,037 427,066,199
2066 5,094,458 423,736,078
2065 5,053,246 420,318,527
2064 5,011,122 416,811,285
2063 4,968,038 413,231,409
2062 4,923,683 409,583,480
2061 4,877,966 405,859,509
2060 4,831,631 402,073,494
2059 4,784,535 398,228,736
2058 4,736,846 394,315,883
2057 4,688,039 390,341,867
2056 4,638,482 386,298,064
2055 4,588,184 382,193,151
2054 4,536,562 378,030,342
2053 4,484,692 373,799,276
2052 4,431,827 369,501,634
2051 4,378,133 365,149,555
2050 4,323,657 360,734,783
2049 4,268,536 356,271,401
2048 4,212,677 351,752,501
2047 4,155,975 347,169,674
2046 4,098,930 342,532,578
2045 4,041,218 337,834,528
2044 3,982,976 333,076,416
2043 3,924,126 328,256,555
2042 3,864,662 323,388,886
2041 3,805,317 318,469,120
2040 3,745,312 313,492,800
2039 3,685,048 308,474,350
2038 3,624,271 303,423,786
2037 3,563,745 298,351,344
2036 3,502,991 293,250,795
2035 3,442,074 288,138,368
2034 3,381,008 283,018,151
2033 3,319,646 277,897,810
2032 3,258,080 272,769,123
2031 3,196,605 267,666,779
2030 3,134,968 262,583,487
2029 3,072,981 257,504,936
2028 3,010,624 252,465,743
2027 2,948,246 247,457,208
2026 2,885,613 242,477,499
2025 2,822,861 237,546,527
2024 2,759,988 232,679,478
2023 2,697,845 227,882,945
2022 2,636,470 223,150,896
2021 2,576,010 218,529,286
2020 2,515,733 213,996,181
2019 2,456,844 209,485,641
2018 2,399,632 204,938,755
2017 2,342,189 200,254,579
2016 2,283,769 195,443,700
2015 2,224,529 190,671,878
2014 2,164,528 185,896,915
2013 2,103,820 181,049,443
2012 2,043,094 176,200,625
2011 1,983,784 171,379,598
2010 1,926,630 166,642,886
2009 1,871,422 162,049,464
2008 1,817,852 157,595,014
2007 1,765,774 153,267,261
2006 1,715,275 149,077,334
2005 1,667,037 145,017,253
2004 1,621,312 141,057,045
2003 1,577,611 137,202,644
2002 1,535,691 133,471,989
2001 1,495,011 129,862,595
2000 1,455,084 126,382,494
1999 1,415,779 123,047,320
1998 1,376,987 119,846,254
1997 1,338,889 116,754,792
1996 1,301,410 113,754,779
1995 1,264,313 110,819,428
1994 1,227,226 107,935,714
1993 1,188,365 105,122,069
1992 1,145,582 102,372,770
1991 1,099,959 99,720,162
1990 1,054,696 97,120,925
1989 1,011,357 94,531,014
1988 970,160 92,020,090
1987 931,091 89,591,716
1986 894,019 87,235,953
1985 858,874 84,897,973
1984 825,631 82,526,443
1983 794,525 80,438,260
1982 765,753 78,378,701
1981 739,125 76,068,103
1980 713,913 73,764,641
1979 689,781 71,498,242
1978 667,103 69,326,532
1977 645,770 67,234,590
1976 625,667 65,258,009
1975 606,821 63,410,815
1974 589,085 61,679,144
1973 571,991 60,082,139
1972 555,370 58,601,748
1971 539,388 57,214,684
1970 524,105 55,893,838
1969 509,440 54,631,914
1968 495,269 53,432,783
1967 481,588 52,293,065
1966 468,516 51,188,234
1965 455,952 50,086,764
1964 443,687 49,012,016
1963 431,757 47,973,575
1962 420,163 46,965,292
1961 408,930 45,989,310
1960 398,060 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Nigeria
2100 0.03% 0.04%
2099 0.05% 0.06%
2098 0.06% 0.07%
2097 0.07% 0.09%
2096 0.09% 0.1%
2095 0.1% 0.11%
2094 0.13% 0.13%
2093 0.15% 0.15%
2092 0.16% 0.17%
2091 0.18% 0.19%
2090 0.21% 0.21%
2089 0.23% 0.23%
2088 0.25% 0.25%
2087 0.26% 0.28%
2086 0.29% 0.3%
2085 0.31% 0.32%
2084 0.33% 0.35%
2083 0.36% 0.37%
2082 0.38% 0.39%
2081 0.41% 0.42%
2080 0.43% 0.45%
2079 0.46% 0.47%
2078 0.48% 0.5%
2077 0.5% 0.52%
2076 0.53% 0.55%
2075 0.56% 0.58%
2074 0.59% 0.6%
2073 0.6% 0.63%
2072 0.63% 0.65%
2071 0.66% 0.68%
2070 0.69% 0.71%
2069 0.72% 0.73%
2068 0.74% 0.76%
2067 0.78% 0.79%
2066 0.82% 0.81%
2065 0.84% 0.84%
2064 0.87% 0.87%
2063 0.9% 0.89%
2062 0.94% 0.92%
2061 0.96% 0.94%
2060 0.98% 0.97%
2059 1.01% 0.99%
2058 1.04% 1.02%
2057 1.07% 1.05%
2056 1.1% 1.07%
2055 1.14% 1.1%
2054 1.16% 1.13%
2053 1.19% 1.16%
2052 1.23% 1.19%
2051 1.26% 1.22%
2050 1.29% 1.25%
2049 1.33% 1.28%
2048 1.36% 1.32%
2047 1.39% 1.35%
2046 1.43% 1.39%
2045 1.46% 1.43%
2044 1.5% 1.47%
2043 1.54% 1.51%
2042 1.56% 1.54%
2041 1.6% 1.59%
2040 1.64% 1.63%
2039 1.68% 1.66%
2038 1.7% 1.7%
2037 1.73% 1.74%
2036 1.77% 1.77%
2035 1.81% 1.81%
2034 1.85% 1.84%
2033 1.89% 1.88%
2032 1.92% 1.91%
2031 1.97% 1.94%
2030 2.02% 1.97%
2029 2.07% 2%
2028 2.12% 2.02%
2027 2.17% 2.05%
2026 2.22% 2.08%
2025 2.28% 2.09%
2024 2.3% 2.1%
2023 2.33% 2.12%
2022 2.35% 2.11%
2021 2.4% 2.12%
2020 2.4% 2.15%
2019 2.38% 2.22%
2018 2.45% 2.34%
2017 2.56% 2.46%
2016 2.66% 2.5%
2015 2.77% 2.57%
2014 2.89% 2.68%
2013 2.97% 2.75%
2012 2.99% 2.81%
2011 2.97% 2.84%
2010 2.95% 2.83%
2009 2.95% 2.83%
2008 2.95% 2.82%
2007 2.94% 2.81%
2006 2.89% 2.8%
2005 2.82% 2.81%
2004 2.77% 2.81%
2003 2.73% 2.8%
2002 2.72% 2.78%
2001 2.74% 2.75%
2000 2.78% 2.71%
1999 2.82% 2.67%
1998 2.85% 2.65%
1997 2.88% 2.64%
1996 2.93% 2.65%
1995 3.02% 2.67%
1994 3.27% 2.68%
1993 3.73% 2.69%
1992 4.15% 2.66%
1991 4.29% 2.68%
1990 4.29% 2.74%
1989 4.25% 2.73%
1988 4.2% 2.71%
1987 4.15% 2.7%
1986 4.09% 2.75%
1985 4.03% 2.87%
1984 3.92% 2.6%
1983 3.76% 2.63%
1982 3.6% 3.04%
1981 3.53% 3.12%
1980 3.5% 3.17%
1979 3.4% 3.13%
1978 3.3% 3.11%
1977 3.21% 3.03%
1976 3.11% 2.91%
1975 3.01% 2.81%
1974 2.99% 2.66%
1973 2.99% 2.53%
1972 2.96% 2.42%
1971 2.92% 2.36%
1970 2.88% 2.31%
1969 2.86% 2.24%
1968 2.84% 2.18%
1967 2.79% 2.16%
1966 2.76% 2.2%
1965 2.76% 2.19%
1964 2.76% 2.16%
1963 2.76% 2.15%
1962 2.75% 2.12%
1961 2.73% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Gambia Nigeria
Current population
2902554
243824469
Population rank 138/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 2.94%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
6.4 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
31 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +170 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 48/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 -15,258
Net migration rank 107/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -15,258
2024 - -2,989 - -35,202
2023 65,118 -3,000 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 63,634 -3,000 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 62,239 -1,949 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 62,209 -1,949 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 61,701 -4,186 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 60,854 -3,944 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 61,665 -3,696 4,706,183 78,685
2016 62,358 -3,486 4,761,594 75,265
2015 62,832 -3,224 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 63,185 -2,793 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 63,510 -2,476 4,811,751 40,201
2012 62,745 -2,332 4,774,508 71,138
2011 60,571 -2,360 4,728,363 67,808
2010 58,554 -2,456 4,629,173 47,966
2009 56,575 -2,259 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 55,032 -2,204 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 53,653 -2,320 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 52,335 -2,666 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 50,010 -3,209 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 48,276 -3,636 3,877,376 46,370
2003 46,473 -3,713 3,751,120 33,857
2002 45,156 -4,067 3,606,814 69,594
2001 44,154 -3,882 3,478,370 64,163
2000 43,249 -3,670 3,343,196 74,535
1999 42,533 -3,493 3,155,425 97,195
1998 41,842 -3,291 3,003,946 145,575
1997 40,742 -3,098 2,936,500 96,885
1996 40,253 -2,948 2,882,205 84,448
1995 39,681 -2,797 2,830,771 73,243
1994 38,880 -1,586 2,735,198 128,134
1993 37,302 3,131 2,673,675 90,200
1992 35,951 9,182 2,596,173 138,412
1991 34,584 11,530 2,527,807 42,760
1990 33,163 11,242 2,491,928 135,959
1989 31,504 10,765 2,452,324 99,588
1988 29,938 10,187 2,376,419 93,510
1987 28,452 9,563 2,322,397 64,418
1986 27,195 8,934 2,295,003 29,682
1985 25,795 8,373 2,289,784 61,514
1984 24,586 7,733 2,278,060 113,758
1983 23,175 6,713 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 21,894 5,757 2,233,401 101,116
1981 20,156 5,438 2,179,884 106,723
1980 19,566 5,268 2,121,618 198,672
1979 18,543 4,898 2,074,807 137,721
1978 17,424 4,493 2,019,621 111,258
1977 16,773 3,969 1,923,917 129,075
1976 16,032 3,436 1,827,289 72,889
1975 15,256 2,979 1,718,623 75,603
1974 14,628 2,610 1,624,813 44,281
1973 14,046 2,907 1,525,485 -618
1972 13,432 2,861 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 12,842 2,817 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 12,128 2,777 1,295,507 7,953
1969 11,670 2,757 1,213,484 6,912
1968 11,215 2,705 1,168,254 9,615
1967 10,823 2,617 1,082,884 18,683
1966 10,422 2,272 1,095,582 12,513
1965 10,162 2,272 1,061,840 32,988
1964 9,825 2,272 1,028,272 26,411
1963 9,493 2,272 995,116 27,115
1962 9,150 2,272 966,452 27,906
1961 8,778 2,272 932,111 25,515
1960 8,420 2,272 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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