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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 14,975,051 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 +2.5% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Gambia vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Rwanda
2100 5,767,668 33,092,520
2099 5,765,660 32,987,847
2098 5,762,971 32,907,335
2097 5,759,632 32,832,706
2096 5,755,430 32,747,490
2095 5,750,385 32,615,044
2094 5,744,540 32,529,590
2093 5,737,026 32,396,544
2092 5,728,594 32,274,083
2091 5,719,408 32,171,077
2090 5,708,875 32,068,626
2089 5,697,140 31,872,593
2088 5,684,094 31,726,882
2087 5,669,958 31,533,364
2086 5,655,091 31,379,315
2085 5,638,646 31,235,000
2084 5,621,067 31,092,940
2083 5,602,456 30,917,707
2082 5,582,581 30,733,578
2081 5,561,294 30,557,819
2080 5,538,819 30,367,298
2079 5,515,086 30,176,627
2078 5,489,750 29,997,866
2077 5,463,305 29,800,561
2076 5,435,859 29,627,021
2075 5,406,946 29,423,503
2074 5,376,718 29,225,643
2073 5,345,328 29,007,777
2072 5,313,201 28,780,763
2071 5,279,975 28,560,382
2070 5,245,200 28,316,533
2069 5,209,379 28,103,541
2068 5,172,146 27,854,906
2067 5,134,037 27,591,747
2066 5,094,458 27,355,659
2065 5,053,246 27,084,704
2064 5,011,122 26,821,315
2063 4,968,038 26,543,184
2062 4,923,683 26,296,132
2061 4,877,966 25,985,356
2060 4,831,631 25,712,904
2059 4,784,535 25,437,446
2058 4,736,846 25,106,242
2057 4,688,039 24,837,928
2056 4,638,482 24,566,784
2055 4,588,184 24,266,669
2054 4,536,562 23,976,914
2053 4,484,692 23,690,426
2052 4,431,827 23,406,346
2051 4,378,133 23,099,207
2050 4,323,657 22,800,250
2049 4,268,536 22,484,698
2048 4,212,677 22,157,938
2047 4,155,975 21,834,786
2046 4,098,930 21,540,566
2045 4,041,218 21,215,262
2044 3,982,976 20,902,695
2043 3,924,126 20,535,605
2042 3,864,662 20,201,608
2041 3,805,317 19,832,577
2040 3,745,312 19,463,015
2039 3,685,048 19,096,860
2038 3,624,271 18,761,626
2037 3,563,745 18,421,864
2036 3,502,991 18,116,691
2035 3,442,074 17,753,910
2034 3,381,008 17,421,234
2033 3,319,646 17,089,349
2032 3,258,080 16,811,505
2031 3,196,605 16,485,559
2030 3,134,968 16,167,916
2029 3,072,981 15,858,862
2028 3,010,624 15,544,959
2027 2,948,246 15,207,733
2026 2,885,613 14,888,776
2025 2,822,861 14,560,205
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% 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 49% to 4,323,657 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 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 2.28% 2.13%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Gambia Rwanda
Current population
2902554
14975051
Population rank 138/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.18%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +828
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 45/197
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 - -2,989 - -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 2026-04-06).

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 625,795 people) and 4.75% is from migration (a loss of 31,227 people). In Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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 (1960–2024, 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/rwanda | 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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