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Population in the Gambia compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 3.79 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Gambia vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Papua New Guinea
2100 5,767,668 18,802,138
2099 5,765,660 18,790,040
2098 5,762,971 18,776,265
2097 5,759,632 18,758,897
2096 5,755,430 18,737,707
2095 5,750,385 18,714,219
2094 5,744,540 18,687,257
2093 5,737,026 18,658,233
2092 5,728,594 18,625,772
2091 5,719,408 18,590,001
2090 5,708,875 18,549,501
2089 5,697,140 18,510,463
2088 5,684,094 18,468,827
2087 5,669,958 18,424,378
2086 5,655,091 18,376,043
2085 5,638,646 18,325,641
2084 5,621,067 18,274,394
2083 5,602,456 18,218,709
2082 5,582,581 18,163,177
2081 5,561,294 18,104,285
2080 5,538,819 18,039,008
2079 5,515,086 17,975,778
2078 5,489,750 17,908,670
2077 5,463,305 17,840,781
2076 5,435,859 17,771,791
2075 5,406,946 17,699,428
2074 5,376,718 17,625,044
2073 5,345,328 17,548,128
2072 5,313,201 17,466,649
2071 5,279,975 17,381,598
2070 5,245,200 17,295,105
2069 5,209,379 17,205,503
2068 5,172,146 17,112,154
2067 5,134,037 17,015,090
2066 5,094,458 16,915,436
2065 5,053,246 16,812,946
2064 5,011,122 16,708,669
2063 4,968,038 16,604,296
2062 4,923,683 16,497,292
2061 4,877,966 16,386,905
2060 4,831,631 16,270,535
2059 4,784,535 16,152,614
2058 4,736,846 16,032,684
2057 4,688,039 15,909,649
2056 4,638,482 15,784,519
2055 4,588,184 15,656,542
2054 4,536,562 15,523,143
2053 4,484,692 15,389,244
2052 4,431,827 15,250,715
2051 4,378,133 15,110,389
2050 4,323,657 14,968,530
2049 4,268,536 14,821,865
2048 4,212,677 14,673,459
2047 4,155,975 14,522,926
2046 4,098,930 14,370,120
2045 4,041,218 14,213,585
2044 3,982,976 14,056,036
2043 3,924,126 13,897,765
2042 3,864,662 13,738,690
2041 3,805,317 13,577,382
2040 3,745,312 13,413,396
2039 3,685,048 13,247,486
2038 3,624,271 13,079,352
2037 3,563,745 12,909,735
2036 3,502,991 12,738,223
2035 3,442,074 12,566,543
2034 3,381,008 12,392,476
2033 3,319,646 12,218,246
2032 3,258,080 12,042,345
2031 3,196,605 11,865,316
2030 3,134,968 11,685,599
2029 3,072,981 11,504,890
2028 3,010,624 11,322,573
2027 2,948,246 11,138,409
2026 2,885,613 10,952,454
2025 2,822,861 10,765,048
2024 2,759,988 10,576,502
2023 2,697,845 10,389,635
2022 2,636,470 10,203,169
2021 2,576,010 10,012,896
2020 2,515,733 9,815,746
2019 2,456,844 9,609,010
2018 2,399,632 9,394,513
2017 2,342,189 9,178,714
2016 2,283,769 8,961,718
2015 2,224,529 8,743,246
2014 2,164,528 8,523,441
2013 2,103,820 8,302,698
2012 2,043,094 8,081,390
2011 1,983,784 7,859,346
2010 1,926,630 7,633,523
2009 1,871,422 7,406,438
2008 1,817,852 7,183,002
2007 1,765,774 6,963,345
2006 1,715,275 6,747,720
2005 1,667,037 6,535,905
2004 1,621,312 6,328,041
2003 1,577,611 6,123,997
2002 1,535,691 5,924,003
2001 1,495,011 5,728,435
2000 1,455,084 5,537,064
1999 1,415,779 5,349,333
1998 1,376,987 5,166,390
1997 1,338,889 4,987,883
1996 1,301,410 4,813,361
1995 1,264,313 4,644,278
1994 1,227,226 4,480,208
1993 1,188,365 4,320,872
1992 1,145,582 4,166,699
1991 1,099,959 4,021,837
1990 1,054,696 3,896,481
1989 1,011,357 3,796,078
1988 970,160 3,711,880
1987 931,091 3,632,543
1986 894,019 3,554,793
1985 858,874 3,478,936
1984 825,631 3,405,198
1983 794,525 3,333,633
1982 765,753 3,264,291
1981 739,125 3,197,019
1980 713,913 3,131,512
1979 689,781 3,067,341
1978 667,103 3,003,714
1977 645,770 2,940,327
1976 625,667 2,877,327
1975 606,821 2,814,820
1974 589,085 2,752,671
1973 571,991 2,690,629
1972 555,370 2,628,432
1971 539,388 2,566,421
1970 524,105 2,505,628
1969 509,440 2,446,927
1968 495,269 2,390,803
1967 481,588 2,337,532
1966 468,516 2,285,774
1965 455,952 2,235,820
1964 443,687 2,188,325
1963 431,757 2,141,376
1962 420,163 2,093,919
1961 408,930 2,046,127
1960 398,060 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Papua New Guinea
2100 0.03% 0.06%
2099 0.05% 0.07%
2098 0.06% 0.09%
2097 0.07% 0.11%
2096 0.09% 0.13%
2095 0.1% 0.14%
2094 0.13% 0.16%
2093 0.15% 0.17%
2092 0.16% 0.19%
2091 0.18% 0.22%
2090 0.21% 0.21%
2089 0.23% 0.23%
2088 0.25% 0.24%
2087 0.26% 0.26%
2086 0.29% 0.28%
2085 0.31% 0.28%
2084 0.33% 0.31%
2083 0.36% 0.31%
2082 0.38% 0.33%
2081 0.41% 0.36%
2080 0.43% 0.35%
2079 0.46% 0.37%
2078 0.48% 0.38%
2077 0.5% 0.39%
2076 0.53% 0.41%
2075 0.56% 0.42%
2074 0.59% 0.44%
2073 0.6% 0.47%
2072 0.63% 0.49%
2071 0.66% 0.5%
2070 0.69% 0.52%
2069 0.72% 0.55%
2068 0.74% 0.57%
2067 0.78% 0.59%
2066 0.82% 0.61%
2065 0.84% 0.62%
2064 0.87% 0.63%
2063 0.9% 0.65%
2062 0.94% 0.67%
2061 0.96% 0.72%
2060 0.98% 0.73%
2059 1.01% 0.75%
2058 1.04% 0.77%
2057 1.07% 0.79%
2056 1.1% 0.82%
2055 1.14% 0.86%
2054 1.16% 0.87%
2053 1.19% 0.91%
2052 1.23% 0.93%
2051 1.26% 0.95%
2050 1.29% 0.99%
2049 1.33% 1.01%
2048 1.36% 1.04%
2047 1.39% 1.06%
2046 1.43% 1.1%
2045 1.46% 1.12%
2044 1.5% 1.14%
2043 1.54% 1.16%
2042 1.56% 1.19%
2041 1.6% 1.22%
2040 1.64% 1.25%
2039 1.68% 1.29%
2038 1.7% 1.31%
2037 1.73% 1.35%
2036 1.77% 1.37%
2035 1.81% 1.4%
2034 1.85% 1.43%
2033 1.89% 1.46%
2032 1.92% 1.49%
2031 1.97% 1.54%
2030 2.02% 1.57%
2029 2.07% 1.61%
2028 2.12% 1.65%
2027 2.17% 1.7%
2026 2.22% 1.74%
2025 2.28% 1.78%
2024 2.3% 1.8%
2023 2.33% 1.83%
2022 2.35% 1.9%
2021 2.4% 2.01%
2020 2.4% 2.15%
2019 2.38% 2.28%
2018 2.45% 2.35%
2017 2.56% 2.42%
2016 2.66% 2.5%
2015 2.77% 2.58%
2014 2.89% 2.66%
2013 2.97% 2.74%
2012 2.99% 2.83%
2011 2.97% 2.96%
2010 2.95% 3.07%
2009 2.95% 3.11%
2008 2.95% 3.15%
2007 2.94% 3.2%
2006 2.89% 3.24%
2005 2.82% 3.28%
2004 2.77% 3.33%
2003 2.73% 3.38%
2002 2.72% 3.41%
2001 2.74% 3.46%
2000 2.78% 3.51%
1999 2.82% 3.54%
1998 2.85% 3.58%
1997 2.88% 3.63%
1996 2.93% 3.64%
1995 3.02% 3.66%
1994 3.27% 3.69%
1993 3.73% 3.7%
1992 4.15% 3.6%
1991 4.29% 3.22%
1990 4.29% 2.64%
1989 4.25% 2.27%
1988 4.2% 2.18%
1987 4.15% 2.19%
1986 4.09% 2.18%
1985 4.03% 2.17%
1984 3.92% 2.15%
1983 3.76% 2.12%
1982 3.6% 2.1%
1981 3.53% 2.09%
1980 3.5% 2.09%
1979 3.4% 2.12%
1978 3.3% 2.16%
1977 3.21% 2.19%
1976 3.11% 2.22%
1975 3.01% 2.26%
1974 2.99% 2.31%
1973 2.99% 2.37%
1972 2.96% 2.42%
1971 2.92% 2.43%
1970 2.88% 2.4%
1969 2.86% 2.35%
1968 2.84% 2.28%
1967 2.79% 2.26%
1966 2.76% 2.23%
1965 2.76% 2.17%
1964 2.76% 2.19%
1963 2.76% 2.27%
1962 2.75% 2.34%
1961 2.73% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Gambia Papua New Guinea
Current population
2902554
11002753
Population rank 138/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.13%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +512
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 59/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -2,984 -284
Net migration rank 107/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -284
2024 - -2,989 - -707
2023 65,118 -3,000 187,637 -787
2022 63,634 -3,000 186,861 -787
2021 62,239 -1,949 183,766 10,703
2020 62,209 -1,949 189,130 10,703
2019 61,701 -4,186 190,662 22,978
2018 60,854 -3,944 190,662 24,684
2017 61,665 -3,696 189,715 26,513
2016 62,358 -3,486 189,281 28,473
2015 62,832 -3,224 188,600 30,580
2014 63,185 -2,793 187,592 32,840
2013 63,510 -2,476 185,790 35,280
2012 62,745 -2,332 183,658 37,893
2011 60,571 -2,360 181,842 40,690
2010 58,554 -2,456 178,998 50,106
2009 56,575 -2,259 175,421 49,647
2008 55,032 -2,204 172,823 48,985
2007 53,653 -2,320 169,306 48,203
2006 52,335 -2,666 166,540 47,191
2005 50,010 -3,209 163,888 46,014
2004 48,276 -3,636 161,023 44,811
2003 46,473 -3,713 158,611 43,639
2002 45,156 -4,067 155,091 42,657
2001 44,154 -3,882 151,431 41,962
2000 43,249 -3,670 147,496 41,855
1999 42,533 -3,493 143,592 42,519
1998 41,842 -3,291 136,677 43,091
1997 40,742 -3,098 134,458 42,787
1996 40,253 -2,948 129,802 41,994
1995 39,681 -2,797 125,410 40,962
1994 38,880 -1,586 122,113 39,669
1993 37,302 3,131 118,668 38,220
1992 35,951 9,182 114,818 36,622
1991 34,584 11,530 111,453 26,830
1990 33,163 11,242 110,033 2,398
1989 31,504 10,765 108,199 -19,824
1988 29,938 10,187 106,256 -26,232
1987 28,452 9,563 104,367 -25,720
1986 27,195 8,934 102,346 -25,495
1985 25,795 8,373 100,333 -25,470
1984 24,586 7,733 98,103 -25,487
1983 23,175 6,713 95,982 -25,465
1982 21,894 5,757 93,522 -25,355
1981 20,156 5,438 91,767 -25,383
1980 19,566 5,268 90,266 -25,638
1979 18,543 4,898 89,330 -25,618
1978 17,424 4,493 88,747 -25,208
1977 16,773 3,969 87,954 -24,722
1976 16,032 3,436 86,965 -24,198
1975 15,256 2,979 85,809 -23,562
1974 14,628 2,610 84,829 -22,771
1973 14,046 2,907 83,821 -21,803
1972 13,432 2,861 82,672 -20,303
1971 12,842 2,817 80,599 -18,945
1970 12,128 2,777 78,712 -18,773
1969 11,670 2,757 76,454 -18,994
1968 11,215 2,705 73,983 -19,188
1967 10,823 2,617 71,519 -19,767
1966 10,422 2,272 69,206 -17,454
1965 10,162 2,272 66,693 -18,532
1964 9,825 2,272 64,558 -17,730
1963 9,493 2,272 62,260 -15,189
1962 9,150 2,272 59,974 -12,141
1961 8,778 2,272 58,151 -10,409
1960 8,420 2,272 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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