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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 245,016,045 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 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Gambia vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Nigeria
2100 5,766,099 481,640,156
2099 5,764,092 481,456,918
2098 5,761,403 481,181,892
2097 5,758,064 480,838,161
2096 5,753,864 480,422,467
2095 5,748,821 479,938,579
2094 5,742,977 479,395,022
2093 5,735,465 478,769,369
2092 5,727,035 478,059,864
2091 5,717,851 477,236,907
2090 5,707,322 476,329,495
2089 5,695,590 475,326,347
2088 5,682,547 474,231,442
2087 5,668,415 473,035,563
2086 5,653,552 471,732,001
2085 5,637,112 470,328,175
2084 5,619,538 468,806,172
2083 5,600,932 467,187,453
2082 5,581,062 465,472,417
2081 5,559,781 463,643,190
2080 5,537,312 461,705,493
2079 5,513,586 459,644,523
2078 5,488,256 457,477,264
2077 5,461,819 455,218,871
2076 5,434,380 452,849,991
2075 5,405,474 450,367,356
2074 5,375,255 447,789,885
2073 5,343,873 445,117,028
2072 5,311,755 442,340,440
2071 5,278,538 439,464,323
2070 5,243,773 436,505,329
2069 5,207,961 433,437,998
2068 5,170,739 430,286,232
2067 5,132,640 427,032,499
2066 5,093,072 423,702,640
2065 5,051,871 420,285,359
2064 5,009,758 416,778,394
2063 4,966,686 413,198,800
2062 4,922,343 409,551,159
2061 4,876,639 405,827,482
2060 4,830,317 402,041,765
2059 4,783,233 398,197,311
2058 4,735,557 394,284,767
2057 4,686,764 390,311,065
2056 4,637,220 386,267,580
2055 4,586,935 382,162,992
2054 4,535,328 378,000,511
2053 4,483,472 373,769,779
2052 4,430,621 369,472,476
2051 4,376,942 365,120,741
2050 4,322,480 360,706,317
2049 4,267,374 356,243,287
2048 4,211,530 351,724,743
2047 4,154,844 347,142,279
2046 4,097,814 342,505,549
2045 4,040,118 337,807,869
2044 3,981,892 333,050,132
2043 3,923,058 328,230,652
2042 3,863,611 323,363,366
2041 3,804,282 318,443,989
2040 3,744,293 313,468,061
2039 3,684,045 308,450,008
2038 3,623,285 303,399,842
2037 3,562,776 298,327,800
2036 3,502,038 293,227,654
2035 3,441,138 288,115,630
2034 3,380,088 282,995,818
2033 3,318,743 277,875,880
2032 3,257,194 272,747,599
2031 3,195,735 267,645,657
2030 3,134,115 262,562,767
2029 3,072,145 257,484,616
2028 3,009,805 252,445,821
2027 2,947,443 247,437,680
2026 2,884,828 242,458,365
2025 2,822,093 237,527,782
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% 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 48.2% to 4,322,480 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 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 2.25% 2.08%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Gambia Nigeria
Current population
2916990
245016045
Population rank 138/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 2.95%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
6.38 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
30.5 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +170 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 45/197
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 65,157 -2,989 4,851,833 -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 2026-07-08).

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 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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