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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 5.16 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Gambia vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Rwanda
2100 5,766,099 33,113,283
2099 5,764,092 33,008,545
2098 5,761,403 32,927,982
2097 5,758,064 32,853,307
2096 5,753,864 32,768,037
2095 5,748,821 32,635,508
2094 5,742,977 32,550,001
2093 5,735,465 32,416,870
2092 5,727,035 32,294,333
2091 5,717,851 32,191,262
2090 5,707,322 32,088,747
2089 5,695,590 31,892,591
2088 5,682,547 31,746,789
2087 5,668,415 31,553,150
2086 5,653,552 31,399,004
2085 5,637,112 31,254,597
2084 5,619,538 31,112,448
2083 5,600,932 30,937,106
2082 5,581,062 30,752,861
2081 5,559,781 30,576,992
2080 5,537,312 30,386,351
2079 5,513,586 30,195,560
2078 5,488,256 30,016,688
2077 5,461,819 29,819,259
2076 5,434,380 29,645,610
2075 5,405,474 29,441,964
2074 5,375,255 29,243,980
2073 5,343,873 29,025,977
2072 5,311,755 28,798,822
2071 5,278,538 28,578,302
2070 5,243,773 28,334,300
2069 5,207,961 28,121,174
2068 5,170,739 27,872,383
2067 5,132,640 27,609,059
2066 5,093,072 27,372,823
2065 5,051,871 27,101,698
2064 5,009,758 26,838,144
2063 4,966,686 26,559,838
2062 4,922,343 26,312,631
2061 4,876,639 26,001,660
2060 4,830,317 25,729,037
2059 4,783,233 25,453,407
2058 4,735,557 25,121,995
2057 4,686,764 24,853,512
2056 4,637,220 24,582,198
2055 4,586,935 24,281,895
2054 4,535,328 23,991,958
2053 4,483,472 23,705,290
2052 4,430,621 23,421,032
2051 4,376,942 23,113,700
2050 4,322,480 22,814,556
2049 4,267,374 22,498,806
2048 4,211,530 22,171,841
2047 4,154,844 21,848,486
2046 4,097,814 21,554,082
2045 4,040,118 21,228,573
2044 3,981,892 20,915,810
2043 3,923,058 20,548,490
2042 3,863,611 20,214,283
2041 3,804,282 19,845,021
2040 3,744,293 19,475,227
2039 3,684,045 19,108,842
2038 3,623,285 18,773,398
2037 3,562,776 18,433,422
2036 3,502,038 18,128,058
2035 3,441,138 17,765,049
2034 3,380,088 17,432,165
2033 3,318,743 17,100,072
2032 3,257,194 16,822,053
2031 3,195,735 16,495,903
2030 3,134,115 16,178,061
2029 3,072,145 15,868,812
2028 3,009,805 15,554,713
2027 2,947,443 15,217,275
2026 2,884,828 14,898,118
2025 2,822,093 14,569,341
2024 2,759,988 14,256,567
2023 2,697,845 13,954,471
2022 2,636,470 13,651,030
2021 2,576,010 13,355,260
2020 2,515,733 13,065,837
2019 2,456,844 12,776,103
2018 2,399,632 12,487,996
2017 2,342,189 12,202,060
2016 2,283,769 11,919,183
2015 2,224,529 11,640,022
2014 2,164,528 11,364,757
2013 2,103,820 11,093,340
2012 2,043,094 10,829,901
2011 1,983,784 10,573,733
2010 1,926,630 10,317,553
2009 1,871,422 10,060,432
2008 1,817,852 9,804,269
2007 1,765,774 9,549,933
2006 1,715,275 9,299,246
2005 1,667,037 9,054,528
2004 1,621,312 8,816,844
2003 1,577,611 8,586,875
2002 1,535,691 8,400,180
2001 1,495,011 8,287,094
2000 1,455,084 8,213,931
1999 1,415,779 8,147,912
1998 1,376,987 8,081,681
1997 1,338,889 7,755,238
1996 1,301,410 6,708,764
1995 1,264,313 5,674,118
1994 1,227,226 6,792,352
1993 1,188,365 7,981,132
1992 1,145,582 7,683,266
1991 1,099,959 7,526,966
1990 1,054,696 7,375,307
1989 1,011,357 7,184,706
1988 970,160 6,968,071
1987 931,091 6,749,493
1986 894,019 6,531,881
1985 858,874 6,317,228
1984 825,631 6,107,627
1983 794,525 5,905,311
1982 765,753 5,711,549
1981 739,125 5,527,230
1980 713,913 5,353,259
1979 689,781 5,189,541
1978 667,103 5,035,171
1977 645,770 4,888,240
1976 625,667 4,745,954
1975 606,821 4,607,728
1974 589,085 4,474,228
1973 571,991 4,345,047
1972 555,370 4,220,335
1971 539,388 4,100,044
1970 524,105 3,980,669
1969 509,440 3,861,271
1968 495,269 3,744,010
1967 481,588 3,629,577
1966 468,516 3,521,626
1965 455,952 3,423,210
1964 443,687 3,334,834
1963 431,757 3,258,890
1962 420,163 3,186,025
1961 408,930 3,106,779
1960 398,060 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Rwanda
2100 0.03% 0.32%
2099 0.05% 0.24%
2098 0.06% 0.23%
2097 0.07% 0.26%
2096 0.09% 0.41%
2095 0.1% 0.26%
2094 0.13% 0.41%
2093 0.15% 0.38%
2092 0.16% 0.32%
2091 0.18% 0.32%
2090 0.21% 0.62%
2089 0.23% 0.46%
2088 0.25% 0.61%
2087 0.26% 0.49%
2086 0.29% 0.46%
2085 0.31% 0.46%
2084 0.33% 0.57%
2083 0.36% 0.6%
2082 0.38% 0.58%
2081 0.41% 0.63%
2080 0.43% 0.63%
2079 0.46% 0.6%
2078 0.48% 0.66%
2077 0.5% 0.59%
2076 0.53% 0.69%
2075 0.56% 0.68%
2074 0.59% 0.75%
2073 0.6% 0.79%
2072 0.63% 0.77%
2071 0.66% 0.86%
2070 0.69% 0.76%
2069 0.72% 0.89%
2068 0.74% 0.95%
2067 0.78% 0.86%
2066 0.82% 1%
2065 0.84% 0.98%
2064 0.87% 1.05%
2063 0.9% 0.94%
2062 0.94% 1.2%
2061 0.96% 1.06%
2060 0.98% 1.08%
2059 1.01% 1.32%
2058 1.04% 1.08%
2057 1.07% 1.1%
2056 1.1% 1.24%
2055 1.14% 1.21%
2054 1.16% 1.21%
2053 1.19% 1.21%
2052 1.23% 1.33%
2051 1.26% 1.31%
2050 1.29% 1.4%
2049 1.33% 1.47%
2048 1.36% 1.48%
2047 1.39% 1.37%
2046 1.43% 1.53%
2045 1.46% 1.5%
2044 1.5% 1.79%
2043 1.54% 1.65%
2042 1.56% 1.86%
2041 1.6% 1.9%
2040 1.64% 1.92%
2039 1.68% 1.79%
2038 1.7% 1.84%
2037 1.73% 1.68%
2036 1.77% 2.04%
2035 1.81% 1.91%
2034 1.85% 1.94%
2033 1.89% 1.65%
2032 1.92% 1.98%
2031 1.97% 1.96%
2030 2.02% 1.95%
2029 2.07% 2.02%
2028 2.12% 2.22%
2027 2.17% 2.14%
2026 2.22% 2.26%
2025 2.25% 2.19%
2024 2.3% 2.16%
2023 2.33% 2.22%
2022 2.35% 2.21%
2021 2.4% 2.22%
2020 2.4% 2.27%
2019 2.38% 2.31%
2018 2.45% 2.34%
2017 2.56% 2.37%
2016 2.66% 2.4%
2015 2.77% 2.42%
2014 2.89% 2.45%
2013 2.97% 2.43%
2012 2.99% 2.42%
2011 2.97% 2.48%
2010 2.95% 2.56%
2009 2.95% 2.61%
2008 2.95% 2.66%
2007 2.94% 2.7%
2006 2.89% 2.7%
2005 2.82% 2.7%
2004 2.77% 2.68%
2003 2.73% 2.22%
2002 2.72% 1.36%
2001 2.74% 0.89%
2000 2.78% 0.81%
1999 2.82% 0.82%
1998 2.85% 4.21%
1997 2.88% 15.6%
1996 2.93% 18.2%
1995 3.02% -16.5%
1994 3.27% -14.9%
1993 3.73% 3.88%
1992 4.15% 2.08%
1991 4.29% 2.06%
1990 4.29% 2.65%
1989 4.25% 3.11%
1988 4.2% 3.24%
1987 4.15% 3.33%
1986 4.09% 3.4%
1985 4.03% 3.43%
1984 3.92% 3.43%
1983 3.76% 3.39%
1982 3.6% 3.33%
1981 3.53% 3.25%
1980 3.5% 3.15%
1979 3.4% 3.07%
1978 3.3% 3.01%
1977 3.21% 3%
1976 3.11% 3%
1975 3.01% 2.98%
1974 2.99% 2.97%
1973 2.99% 2.96%
1972 2.96% 2.93%
1971 2.92% 3%
1970 2.88% 3.09%
1969 2.86% 3.13%
1968 2.84% 3.15%
1967 2.79% 3.07%
1966 2.76% 2.87%
1965 2.76% 2.65%
1964 2.76% 2.33%
1963 2.76% 2.29%
1962 2.75% 2.55%
1961 2.73% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Gambia Rwanda
Current population
2916990
15062056
Population rank 138/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.18%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
6.38 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
30.5 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +857
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 40/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -2,984 +6,282
Net migration rank 107/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 6,282
2024 65,157 -2,989 316,025 -15,582
2023 65,118 -3,000 312,762 -9,001
2022 63,634 -3,000 312,145 -9,001
2021 62,239 -1,949 309,895 -21,492
2020 62,209 -1,949 312,692 -22,251
2019 61,701 -4,186 313,525 -24,492
2018 60,854 -3,944 312,512 -25,323
2017 61,665 -3,696 310,323 -25,634
2016 62,358 -3,486 305,549 -24,474
2015 62,832 -3,224 299,114 -21,862
2014 63,185 -2,793 292,779 -19,505
2013 63,510 -2,476 286,331 -16,779
2012 62,745 -2,332 282,584 -25,260
2011 60,571 -2,360 282,922 -27,915
2010 58,554 -2,456 286,848 -29,501
2009 56,575 -2,259 287,034 -30,128
2008 55,032 -2,204 287,334 -31,913
2007 53,653 -2,320 285,791 -32,537
2006 52,335 -2,666 282,149 -34,008
2005 50,010 -3,209 275,121 -33,830
2004 48,276 -3,636 265,273 -31,214
2003 46,473 -3,713 251,243 -25,355
2002 45,156 -4,067 239,036 -91,518
2001 44,154 -3,882 230,845 -152,197
2000 43,249 -3,670 221,276 -153,588
1999 42,533 -3,493 210,518 -146,162
1998 41,842 -3,291 197,185 -129,089
1997 40,742 -3,098 174,687 410,106
1996 40,253 -2,948 140,455 1,367,700
1995 39,681 -2,797 121,137 439,995
1994 38,880 -1,586 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 37,302 3,131 183,926 236,110
1992 35,951 9,182 188,025 -12,334
1991 34,584 11,530 196,431 -59,519
1990 33,163 11,242 207,895 -41,483
1989 31,504 10,765 217,632 -2,826
1988 29,938 10,187 223,759 -5,285
1987 28,452 9,563 225,744 -7,062
1986 27,195 8,934 225,526 -8,982
1985 25,795 8,373 223,794 -11,031
1984 24,586 7,733 219,337 -12,899
1983 23,175 6,713 212,750 -14,560
1982 21,894 5,757 205,147 -15,818
1981 20,156 5,438 195,769 -16,453
1980 19,566 5,268 184,988 -16,359
1979 18,543 4,898 174,477 -15,669
1978 17,424 4,493 163,779 -13,838
1977 16,773 3,969 155,011 -11,084
1976 16,032 3,436 147,665 -7,027
1975 15,256 2,979 140,596 -4,791
1974 14,628 2,610 135,743 -4,535
1973 14,046 2,907 131,021 -3,862
1972 13,432 2,861 126,403 -4,156
1971 12,842 2,817 122,567 -4,230
1970 12,128 2,777 119,273 1,149
1969 11,670 2,757 115,394 2,983
1968 11,215 2,705 111,422 4,728
1967 10,823 2,617 108,053 4,655
1966 10,422 2,272 105,128 -1,930
1965 10,162 2,272 103,422 -9,774
1964 9,825 2,272 102,562 -19,458
1963 9,493 2,272 94,296 -25,524
1962 9,150 2,272 102,548 -25,594
1961 8,778 2,272 102,051 -20,508
1960 8,420 2,272 100,627 -13,198

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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