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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 3.68 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Gambia vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Portugal
2100 5,767,668 8,977,781
2099 5,765,660 8,983,042
2098 5,762,971 8,987,129
2097 5,759,632 8,992,549
2096 5,755,430 8,998,689
2095 5,750,385 9,006,394
2094 5,744,540 9,011,158
2093 5,737,026 9,016,023
2092 5,728,594 9,021,257
2091 5,719,408 9,025,345
2090 5,708,875 9,029,722
2089 5,697,140 9,034,399
2088 5,684,094 9,039,122
2087 5,669,958 9,045,400
2086 5,655,091 9,050,153
2085 5,638,646 9,055,552
2084 5,621,067 9,062,369
2083 5,602,456 9,068,714
2082 5,582,581 9,077,003
2081 5,561,294 9,087,394
2080 5,538,819 9,098,423
2079 5,515,086 9,111,057
2078 5,489,750 9,125,056
2077 5,463,305 9,140,039
2076 5,435,859 9,158,661
2075 5,406,946 9,178,289
2074 5,376,718 9,201,245
2073 5,345,328 9,225,478
2072 5,313,201 9,248,867
2071 5,279,975 9,275,782
2070 5,245,200 9,304,137
2069 5,209,379 9,334,425
2068 5,172,146 9,367,211
2067 5,134,037 9,399,389
2066 5,094,458 9,432,609
2065 5,053,246 9,466,860
2064 5,011,122 9,503,941
2063 4,968,038 9,540,829
2062 4,923,683 9,578,098
2061 4,877,966 9,614,549
2060 4,831,631 9,652,893
2059 4,784,535 9,691,151
2058 4,736,846 9,731,557
2057 4,688,039 9,769,285
2056 4,638,482 9,807,403
2055 4,588,184 9,847,280
2054 4,536,562 9,885,446
2053 4,484,692 9,924,814
2052 4,431,827 9,963,090
2051 4,378,133 9,999,372
2050 4,323,657 10,035,796
2049 4,268,536 10,072,922
2048 4,212,677 10,106,403
2047 4,155,975 10,140,325
2046 4,098,930 10,173,871
2045 4,041,218 10,206,046
2044 3,982,976 10,237,224
2043 3,924,126 10,268,090
2042 3,864,662 10,296,167
2041 3,805,317 10,322,968
2040 3,745,312 10,351,965
2039 3,685,048 10,379,824
2038 3,624,271 10,405,843
2037 3,563,745 10,430,143
2036 3,502,991 10,454,779
2035 3,442,074 10,478,501
2034 3,381,008 10,502,828
2033 3,319,646 10,525,638
2032 3,258,080 10,548,736
2031 3,196,605 10,569,489
2030 3,134,968 10,588,717
2029 3,072,981 10,609,556
2028 3,010,624 10,631,437
2027 2,948,246 10,649,916
2026 2,885,613 10,667,081
2025 2,822,861 10,683,692
2024 2,759,988 10,694,681
2023 2,697,845 10,578,174
2022 2,636,470 10,434,332
2021 2,576,010 10,361,831
2020 2,515,733 10,297,081
2019 2,456,844 10,286,263
2018 2,399,632 10,283,822
2017 2,342,189 10,300,300
2016 2,283,769 10,325,452
2015 2,224,529 10,358,076
2014 2,164,528 10,401,062
2013 2,103,820 10,457,295
2012 2,043,094 10,514,844
2011 1,983,784 10,557,560
2010 1,926,630 10,573,100
2009 1,871,422 10,568,247
2008 1,817,852 10,558,177
2007 1,765,774 10,542,964
2006 1,715,275 10,522,288
2005 1,667,037 10,503,330
2004 1,621,312 10,483,861
2003 1,577,611 10,458,821
2002 1,535,691 10,419,631
2001 1,495,011 10,362,722
2000 1,455,084 10,289,898
1999 1,415,779 10,217,828
1998 1,376,987 10,160,196
1997 1,338,889 10,108,977
1996 1,301,410 10,063,945
1995 1,264,313 10,026,176
1994 1,227,226 9,991,525
1993 1,188,365 9,964,675
1992 1,145,582 9,952,494
1991 1,099,959 9,960,235
1990 1,054,696 9,983,218
1989 1,011,357 10,005,000
1988 970,160 10,019,610
1987 931,091 10,030,031
1986 894,019 10,032,734
1985 858,874 10,023,613
1984 825,631 9,996,232
1983 794,525 9,957,865
1982 765,753 9,911,771
1981 739,125 9,851,362
1980 713,913 9,766,312
1979 689,781 9,661,265
1978 667,103 9,558,250
1977 645,770 9,455,675
1976 625,667 9,355,810
1975 606,821 9,093,470
1974 589,085 8,754,365
1973 571,991 8,633,100
1972 555,370 8,630,430
1971 539,388 8,643,756
1970 524,105 8,680,431
1969 509,440 8,757,705
1968 495,269 8,836,650
1967 481,588 8,874,520
1966 468,516 8,930,990
1965 455,952 8,998,595
1964 443,687 9,035,365
1963 431,757 9,030,355
1962 420,163 8,993,985
1961 408,930 8,929,316
1960 398,060 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Portugal
2100 0.03% -0.06%
2099 0.05% -0.05%
2098 0.06% -0.06%
2097 0.07% -0.07%
2096 0.09% -0.09%
2095 0.1% -0.05%
2094 0.13% -0.05%
2093 0.15% -0.06%
2092 0.16% -0.05%
2091 0.18% -0.05%
2090 0.21% -0.05%
2089 0.23% -0.05%
2088 0.25% -0.07%
2087 0.26% -0.05%
2086 0.29% -0.06%
2085 0.31% -0.08%
2084 0.33% -0.07%
2083 0.36% -0.09%
2082 0.38% -0.11%
2081 0.41% -0.12%
2080 0.43% -0.14%
2079 0.46% -0.15%
2078 0.48% -0.16%
2077 0.5% -0.2%
2076 0.53% -0.21%
2075 0.56% -0.25%
2074 0.59% -0.26%
2073 0.6% -0.25%
2072 0.63% -0.29%
2071 0.66% -0.3%
2070 0.69% -0.32%
2069 0.72% -0.35%
2068 0.74% -0.34%
2067 0.78% -0.35%
2066 0.82% -0.36%
2065 0.84% -0.39%
2064 0.87% -0.39%
2063 0.9% -0.39%
2062 0.94% -0.38%
2061 0.96% -0.4%
2060 0.98% -0.39%
2059 1.01% -0.42%
2058 1.04% -0.39%
2057 1.07% -0.39%
2056 1.1% -0.4%
2055 1.14% -0.39%
2054 1.16% -0.4%
2053 1.19% -0.38%
2052 1.23% -0.36%
2051 1.26% -0.36%
2050 1.29% -0.37%
2049 1.33% -0.33%
2048 1.36% -0.33%
2047 1.39% -0.33%
2046 1.43% -0.32%
2045 1.46% -0.3%
2044 1.5% -0.3%
2043 1.54% -0.27%
2042 1.56% -0.26%
2041 1.6% -0.28%
2040 1.64% -0.27%
2039 1.68% -0.25%
2038 1.7% -0.23%
2037 1.73% -0.24%
2036 1.77% -0.23%
2035 1.81% -0.23%
2034 1.85% -0.22%
2033 1.89% -0.22%
2032 1.92% -0.2%
2031 1.97% -0.18%
2030 2.02% -0.2%
2029 2.07% -0.21%
2028 2.12% -0.17%
2027 2.17% -0.16%
2026 2.22% -0.16%
2025 2.28% -0.1%
2024 2.3% 1.1%
2023 2.33% 1.38%
2022 2.35% 0.7%
2021 2.4% 0.63%
2020 2.4% 0.11%
2019 2.38% 0.02%
2018 2.45% -0.16%
2017 2.56% -0.24%
2016 2.66% -0.31%
2015 2.77% -0.41%
2014 2.89% -0.54%
2013 2.97% -0.55%
2012 2.99% -0.4%
2011 2.97% -0.15%
2010 2.95% 0.05%
2009 2.95% 0.1%
2008 2.95% 0.14%
2007 2.94% 0.2%
2006 2.89% 0.18%
2005 2.82% 0.19%
2004 2.77% 0.24%
2003 2.73% 0.38%
2002 2.72% 0.55%
2001 2.74% 0.71%
2000 2.78% 0.71%
1999 2.82% 0.57%
1998 2.85% 0.51%
1997 2.88% 0.45%
1996 2.93% 0.38%
1995 3.02% 0.35%
1994 3.27% 0.27%
1993 3.73% 0.12%
1992 4.15% -0.08%
1991 4.29% -0.23%
1990 4.29% -0.22%
1989 4.25% -0.15%
1988 4.2% -0.1%
1987 4.15% -0.03%
1986 4.09% 0.09%
1985 4.03% 0.27%
1984 3.92% 0.39%
1983 3.76% 0.47%
1982 3.6% 0.61%
1981 3.53% 0.87%
1980 3.5% 1.09%
1979 3.4% 1.08%
1978 3.3% 1.08%
1977 3.21% 1.07%
1976 3.11% 2.88%
1975 3.01% 3.87%
1974 2.99% 1.4%
1973 2.99% 0.03%
1972 2.96% -0.15%
1971 2.92% -0.42%
1970 2.88% -0.88%
1969 2.86% -0.89%
1968 2.84% -0.43%
1967 2.79% -0.63%
1966 2.76% -0.75%
1965 2.76% -0.41%
1964 2.76% 0.06%
1963 2.76% 0.4%
1962 2.75% 0.72%
1961 2.73% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Gambia Portugal
Current population
2902554
10667081
Population rank 138/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.13%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
4.51 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
6.13 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +319
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 94/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 +16,472
Net migration rank 107/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 16,472
2024 - -2,989 - 20,648
2023 65,118 -3,000 -32,792 29,102
2022 63,634 -3,000 -40,694 68,696
2021 62,239 -1,949 -45,592 69,606
2020 62,209 -1,949 -39,129 54,076
2019 61,701 -4,186 -24,687 63,031
2018 60,854 -3,944 -25,709 22,495
2017 61,665 -3,696 -23,691 13,979
2016 62,358 -3,486 -23,749 -775
2015 62,832 -3,224 -23,823 -3,209
2014 63,185 -2,793 -22,882 -26,447
2013 63,510 -2,476 -24,052 -36,342
2012 62,745 -2,332 -17,875 -37,083
2011 60,571 -2,360 -5,279 -31,513
2010 58,554 -2,456 -4,230 -5,627
2009 56,575 -2,259 -5,284 14,532
2008 55,032 -2,204 0 9,478
2007 53,653 -2,320 -1,055 21,064
2006 52,335 -2,666 3,156 16,754
2005 50,010 -3,209 2,101 15,537
2004 48,276 -3,636 7,339 13,928
2003 46,473 -3,713 4,184 24,740
2002 45,156 -4,067 8,335 42,169
2001 44,154 -3,882 8,290 55,565
2000 43,249 -3,670 15,435 60,586
1999 42,533 -3,493 8,175 49,572
1998 41,842 -3,291 7,112 40,931
1997 40,742 -3,098 8,087 36,922
1996 40,253 -2,948 4,026 32,640
1995 39,681 -2,797 4,011 26,971
1994 38,880 -1,586 9,991 20,761
1993 37,302 3,131 7,972 8,561
1992 35,951 9,182 13,933 -11,847
1991 34,584 11,530 12,948 -37,914
1990 33,163 11,242 13,976 -34,855
1989 31,504 10,765 22,011 -30,615
1988 29,938 10,187 24,047 -26,595
1987 28,452 9,563 28,084 -23,142
1986 27,195 8,934 31,102 -20,000
1985 25,795 8,373 33,077 -19,183
1984 24,586 7,733 45,983 -16,658
1983 23,175 6,713 47,798 -16,568
1982 21,894 5,757 58,479 -15,006
1981 20,156 5,438 56,152 -7,938
1980 19,566 5,268 63,481 29,881
1979 18,543 4,898 67,628 32,434
1978 17,424 4,493 70,731 34,345
1977 16,773 3,969 84,156 37,779
1976 16,032 3,436 85,138 40,490
1975 15,256 2,979 81,841 42,262
1974 14,628 2,610 74,412 41,254
1973 14,046 2,907 76,835 39,748
1972 13,432 2,861 83,715 39,058
1971 12,842 2,817 82,980 48,944
1970 12,128 2,777 87,672 -191,862
1969 11,670 2,757 89,329 -161,114
1968 11,215 2,705 100,737 -145,200
1967 10,823 2,617 106,495 -136,232
1966 10,422 2,272 107,171 -129,233
1965 10,162 2,272 115,182 -123,855
1964 9,825 2,272 120,170 -118,763
1963 9,493 2,272 113,783 -116,874
1962 9,150 2,272 123,217 -113,947
1961 8,778 2,272 117,867 -112,768
1960 8,420 2,272 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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