The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 240,254 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 247,495 in Sao Tome and Principe.
Population statistics:
- The Gambia's population is 11.8 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
- The countries together account for 0.04% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
- For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +1.83% in Sao Tome and Principe.
- Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 247K (49.4% growth).
Gambia vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Gambia
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 5,766,099 | 538,656 |
| 2099 | 5,764,092 | 537,257 |
| 2098 | 5,761,403 | 535,715 |
| 2097 | 5,758,064 | 534,052 |
| 2096 | 5,753,864 | 532,281 |
| 2095 | 5,748,821 | 530,505 |
| 2094 | 5,742,977 | 528,585 |
| 2093 | 5,735,465 | 526,572 |
| 2092 | 5,727,035 | 524,436 |
| 2091 | 5,717,851 | 522,255 |
| 2090 | 5,707,322 | 519,929 |
| 2089 | 5,695,590 | 517,542 |
| 2088 | 5,682,547 | 515,028 |
| 2087 | 5,668,415 | 512,499 |
| 2086 | 5,653,552 | 509,949 |
| 2085 | 5,637,112 | 507,271 |
| 2084 | 5,619,538 | 504,516 |
| 2083 | 5,600,932 | 501,611 |
| 2082 | 5,581,062 | 498,655 |
| 2081 | 5,559,781 | 495,622 |
| 2080 | 5,537,312 | 492,416 |
| 2079 | 5,513,586 | 489,178 |
| 2078 | 5,488,256 | 485,864 |
| 2077 | 5,461,819 | 482,385 |
| 2076 | 5,434,380 | 478,877 |
| 2075 | 5,405,474 | 475,315 |
| 2074 | 5,375,255 | 471,700 |
| 2073 | 5,343,873 | 468,051 |
| 2072 | 5,311,755 | 464,286 |
| 2071 | 5,278,538 | 460,447 |
| 2070 | 5,243,773 | 456,490 |
| 2069 | 5,207,961 | 452,388 |
| 2068 | 5,170,739 | 448,306 |
| 2067 | 5,132,640 | 444,092 |
| 2066 | 5,093,072 | 439,773 |
| 2065 | 5,051,871 | 435,502 |
| 2064 | 5,009,758 | 431,068 |
| 2063 | 4,966,686 | 426,645 |
| 2062 | 4,922,343 | 422,127 |
| 2061 | 4,876,639 | 417,629 |
| 2060 | 4,830,317 | 413,061 |
| 2059 | 4,783,233 | 408,522 |
| 2058 | 4,735,557 | 403,970 |
| 2057 | 4,686,764 | 399,359 |
| 2056 | 4,637,220 | 394,790 |
| 2055 | 4,586,935 | 390,100 |
| 2054 | 4,535,328 | 385,416 |
| 2053 | 4,483,472 | 380,685 |
| 2052 | 4,430,621 | 375,964 |
| 2051 | 4,376,942 | 371,143 |
| 2050 | 4,322,480 | 366,347 |
| 2049 | 4,267,374 | 361,542 |
| 2048 | 4,211,530 | 356,694 |
| 2047 | 4,154,844 | 351,813 |
| 2046 | 4,097,814 | 346,841 |
| 2045 | 4,040,118 | 341,791 |
| 2044 | 3,981,892 | 336,747 |
| 2043 | 3,923,058 | 331,669 |
| 2042 | 3,863,611 | 326,608 |
| 2041 | 3,804,282 | 321,551 |
| 2040 | 3,744,293 | 316,415 |
| 2039 | 3,684,045 | 311,237 |
| 2038 | 3,623,285 | 306,029 |
| 2037 | 3,562,776 | 300,834 |
| 2036 | 3,502,038 | 295,584 |
| 2035 | 3,441,138 | 290,361 |
| 2034 | 3,380,088 | 285,145 |
| 2033 | 3,318,743 | 279,952 |
| 2032 | 3,257,194 | 274,798 |
| 2031 | 3,195,735 | 269,704 |
| 2030 | 3,134,115 | 264,687 |
| 2029 | 3,072,145 | 259,670 |
| 2028 | 3,009,805 | 254,717 |
| 2027 | 2,947,443 | 249,827 |
| 2026 | 2,884,828 | 245,033 |
| 2025 | 2,822,093 | 240,254 |
| 2024 | 2,759,988 | 235,536 |
| 2023 | 2,697,845 | 230,871 |
| 2022 | 2,636,470 | 226,305 |
| 2021 | 2,576,010 | 221,961 |
| 2020 | 2,515,733 | 217,435 |
| 2019 | 2,456,844 | 213,392 |
| 2018 | 2,399,632 | 210,187 |
| 2017 | 2,342,189 | 206,970 |
| 2016 | 2,283,769 | 203,689 |
| 2015 | 2,224,529 | 200,291 |
| 2014 | 2,164,528 | 196,767 |
| 2013 | 2,103,820 | 193,148 |
| 2012 | 2,043,094 | 189,439 |
| 2011 | 1,983,784 | 185,649 |
| 2010 | 1,926,630 | 181,802 |
| 2009 | 1,871,422 | 177,853 |
| 2008 | 1,817,852 | 173,793 |
| 2007 | 1,765,774 | 169,700 |
| 2006 | 1,715,275 | 165,638 |
| 2005 | 1,667,037 | 161,639 |
| 2004 | 1,621,312 | 157,705 |
| 2003 | 1,577,611 | 153,814 |
| 2002 | 1,535,691 | 149,922 |
| 2001 | 1,495,011 | 146,375 |
| 2000 | 1,455,084 | 144,018 |
| 1999 | 1,415,779 | 142,442 |
| 1998 | 1,376,987 | 140,751 |
| 1997 | 1,338,889 | 138,922 |
| 1996 | 1,301,410 | 136,962 |
| 1995 | 1,264,313 | 134,895 |
| 1994 | 1,227,226 | 132,732 |
| 1993 | 1,188,365 | 130,467 |
| 1992 | 1,145,582 | 128,110 |
| 1991 | 1,099,959 | 125,697 |
| 1990 | 1,054,696 | 122,980 |
| 1989 | 1,011,357 | 119,979 |
| 1988 | 970,160 | 116,939 |
| 1987 | 931,091 | 113,919 |
| 1986 | 894,019 | 111,150 |
| 1985 | 858,874 | 108,658 |
| 1984 | 825,631 | 106,394 |
| 1983 | 794,525 | 104,380 |
| 1982 | 765,753 | 102,508 |
| 1981 | 739,125 | 100,615 |
| 1980 | 713,913 | 98,544 |
| 1979 | 689,781 | 96,252 |
| 1978 | 667,103 | 93,794 |
| 1977 | 645,770 | 91,301 |
| 1976 | 625,667 | 88,922 |
| 1975 | 606,821 | 86,708 |
| 1974 | 589,085 | 84,672 |
| 1973 | 571,991 | 82,798 |
| 1972 | 555,370 | 81,041 |
| 1971 | 539,388 | 79,330 |
| 1970 | 524,105 | 77,626 |
| 1969 | 509,440 | 76,083 |
| 1968 | 495,269 | 74,765 |
| 1967 | 481,588 | 73,596 |
| 1966 | 468,516 | 72,576 |
| 1965 | 455,952 | 71,680 |
| 1964 | 443,687 | 70,865 |
| 1963 | 431,757 | 70,112 |
| 1962 | 420,163 | 69,403 |
| 1961 | 408,930 | 68,707 |
| 1960 | 398,060 | 68,012 |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 43,806 people (a 21.5% growth).
The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48% to 366,347 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.
The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Sao Tome
|
|
| 2100 | 0.03% | 0.26% |
| 2099 | 0.05% | 0.29% |
| 2098 | 0.06% | 0.31% |
| 2097 | 0.07% | 0.33% |
| 2096 | 0.09% | 0.33% |
| 2095 | 0.1% | 0.36% |
| 2094 | 0.13% | 0.38% |
| 2093 | 0.15% | 0.41% |
| 2092 | 0.16% | 0.42% |
| 2091 | 0.18% | 0.45% |
| 2090 | 0.21% | 0.46% |
| 2089 | 0.23% | 0.49% |
| 2088 | 0.25% | 0.49% |
| 2087 | 0.26% | 0.5% |
| 2086 | 0.29% | 0.53% |
| 2085 | 0.31% | 0.55% |
| 2084 | 0.33% | 0.58% |
| 2083 | 0.36% | 0.59% |
| 2082 | 0.38% | 0.61% |
| 2081 | 0.41% | 0.65% |
| 2080 | 0.43% | 0.66% |
| 2079 | 0.46% | 0.68% |
| 2078 | 0.48% | 0.72% |
| 2077 | 0.5% | 0.73% |
| 2076 | 0.53% | 0.75% |
| 2075 | 0.56% | 0.77% |
| 2074 | 0.59% | 0.78% |
| 2073 | 0.6% | 0.81% |
| 2072 | 0.63% | 0.83% |
| 2071 | 0.66% | 0.87% |
| 2070 | 0.69% | 0.91% |
| 2069 | 0.72% | 0.91% |
| 2068 | 0.74% | 0.95% |
| 2067 | 0.78% | 0.98% |
| 2066 | 0.82% | 0.98% |
| 2065 | 0.84% | 1.03% |
| 2064 | 0.87% | 1.04% |
| 2063 | 0.9% | 1.07% |
| 2062 | 0.94% | 1.08% |
| 2061 | 0.96% | 1.11% |
| 2060 | 0.98% | 1.11% |
| 2059 | 1.01% | 1.13% |
| 2058 | 1.04% | 1.15% |
| 2057 | 1.07% | 1.16% |
| 2056 | 1.1% | 1.2% |
| 2055 | 1.14% | 1.22% |
| 2054 | 1.16% | 1.24% |
| 2053 | 1.19% | 1.26% |
| 2052 | 1.23% | 1.3% |
| 2051 | 1.26% | 1.31% |
| 2050 | 1.29% | 1.33% |
| 2049 | 1.33% | 1.36% |
| 2048 | 1.36% | 1.39% |
| 2047 | 1.39% | 1.43% |
| 2046 | 1.43% | 1.48% |
| 2045 | 1.46% | 1.5% |
| 2044 | 1.5% | 1.53% |
| 2043 | 1.54% | 1.55% |
| 2042 | 1.56% | 1.57% |
| 2041 | 1.6% | 1.62% |
| 2040 | 1.64% | 1.66% |
| 2039 | 1.68% | 1.7% |
| 2038 | 1.7% | 1.73% |
| 2037 | 1.73% | 1.78% |
| 2036 | 1.77% | 1.8% |
| 2035 | 1.81% | 1.83% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 1.85% |
| 2033 | 1.89% | 1.88% |
| 2032 | 1.92% | 1.89% |
| 2031 | 1.97% | 1.9% |
| 2030 | 2.02% | 1.93% |
| 2029 | 2.07% | 1.94% |
| 2028 | 2.12% | 1.96% |
| 2027 | 2.17% | 1.96% |
| 2026 | 2.22% | 1.99% |
| 2025 | 2.25% | 2% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | 2.02% |
| 2023 | 2.33% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | 2.35% | 1.96% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | 2.08% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 2.38% | 1.52% |
| 2018 | 2.45% | 1.55% |
| 2017 | 2.56% | 1.61% |
| 2016 | 2.66% | 1.7% |
| 2015 | 2.77% | 1.79% |
| 2014 | 2.89% | 1.87% |
| 2013 | 2.97% | 1.96% |
| 2012 | 2.99% | 2.04% |
| 2011 | 2.97% | 2.12% |
| 2010 | 2.95% | 2.22% |
| 2009 | 2.95% | 2.34% |
| 2008 | 2.95% | 2.41% |
| 2007 | 2.94% | 2.45% |
| 2006 | 2.89% | 2.47% |
| 2005 | 2.82% | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 2.77% | 2.53% |
| 2003 | 2.73% | 2.6% |
| 2002 | 2.72% | 2.42% |
| 2001 | 2.74% | 1.64% |
| 2000 | 2.78% | 1.11% |
| 1999 | 2.82% | 1.2% |
| 1998 | 2.85% | 1.32% |
| 1997 | 2.88% | 1.43% |
| 1996 | 2.93% | 1.53% |
| 1995 | 3.02% | 1.63% |
| 1994 | 3.27% | 1.74% |
| 1993 | 3.73% | 1.84% |
| 1992 | 4.15% | 1.92% |
| 1991 | 4.29% | 2.21% |
| 1990 | 4.29% | 2.5% |
| 1989 | 4.25% | 2.6% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | 2.65% |
| 1987 | 4.15% | 2.49% |
| 1986 | 4.09% | 2.29% |
| 1985 | 4.03% | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 3.92% | 1.93% |
| 1983 | 3.76% | 1.83% |
| 1982 | 3.6% | 1.88% |
| 1981 | 3.53% | 2.1% |
| 1980 | 3.5% | 2.38% |
| 1979 | 3.4% | 2.62% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | 2.73% |
| 1977 | 3.21% | 2.68% |
| 1976 | 3.11% | 2.55% |
| 1975 | 3.01% | 2.4% |
| 1974 | 2.99% | 2.26% |
| 1973 | 2.99% | 2.17% |
| 1972 | 2.96% | 2.16% |
| 1971 | 2.92% | 2.2% |
| 1970 | 2.88% | 2.03% |
| 1969 | 2.86% | 1.76% |
| 1968 | 2.84% | 1.59% |
| 1967 | 2.79% | 1.41% |
| 1966 | 2.76% | 1.25% |
| 1965 | 2.76% | 1.15% |
| 1964 | 2.76% | 1.07% |
| 1963 | 2.76% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 2.75% | 1.01% |
| 1961 | 2.73% | 1.02% |
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2%.
Live population counters
|
Gambia
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
2916990
|
247495
|
| Population rank | 138/197 | 176/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.04% | 0.003% |
| One net population change |
8.49 minutes
|
1.86 hours
|
| One birth every |
6.38 minutes
|
1.32 hours
|
| One death every |
30.5 minutes
|
6.73 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +170 | +13 |
| Annual growth/decline | +62,105 | +4,718 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.25% | +2% |
| Population growth rate rank | 37/197 | 50/197 |
| One migration net change every |
2.94 hours
|
13.5 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -2,984 | -650 |
| Net migration rank | 107/196 | 90/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 236,137 | 1,955 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 107/195 | 194/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 8.6% | 0.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 72/195 | 162/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Sao Tome
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,984 | - | -650 |
| 2024 | 65,157 | -2,989 | 5,315 | -604 |
| 2023 | 65,118 | -3,000 | 5,221 | -592 |
| 2022 | 63,634 | -3,000 | 5,102 | -592 |
| 2021 | 62,239 | -1,949 | 4,954 | -782 |
| 2020 | 62,209 | -1,949 | 4,874 | 0 |
| 2019 | 61,701 | -4,186 | 4,932 | -1,716 |
| 2018 | 60,854 | -3,944 | 4,957 | -1,757 |
| 2017 | 61,665 | -3,696 | 5,007 | -1,779 |
| 2016 | 62,358 | -3,486 | 5,125 | -1,793 |
| 2015 | 62,832 | -3,224 | 5,269 | -1,809 |
| 2014 | 63,185 | -2,793 | 5,381 | -1,801 |
| 2013 | 63,510 | -2,476 | 5,449 | -1,787 |
| 2012 | 62,745 | -2,332 | 5,501 | -1,739 |
| 2011 | 60,571 | -2,360 | 5,445 | -1,616 |
| 2010 | 58,554 | -2,456 | 5,391 | -1,529 |
| 2009 | 56,575 | -2,259 | 5,349 | -1,328 |
| 2008 | 55,032 | -2,204 | 5,297 | -1,203 |
| 2007 | 53,653 | -2,320 | 5,226 | -1,127 |
| 2006 | 52,335 | -2,666 | 5,057 | -1,031 |
| 2005 | 50,010 | -3,209 | 4,897 | -941 |
| 2004 | 48,276 | -3,636 | 4,810 | -894 |
| 2003 | 46,473 | -3,713 | 4,702 | -816 |
| 2002 | 45,156 | -4,067 | 4,591 | -690 |
| 2001 | 44,154 | -3,882 | 4,471 | -1,289 |
| 2000 | 43,249 | -3,670 | 4,334 | -2,798 |
| 1999 | 42,533 | -3,493 | 4,221 | -2,594 |
| 1998 | 41,842 | -3,291 | 4,120 | -2,364 |
| 1997 | 40,742 | -3,098 | 4,041 | -2,153 |
| 1996 | 40,253 | -2,948 | 3,993 | -1,974 |
| 1995 | 39,681 | -2,797 | 3,948 | -1,829 |
| 1994 | 38,880 | -1,586 | 3,860 | -1,644 |
| 1993 | 37,302 | 3,131 | 3,841 | -1,527 |
| 1992 | 35,951 | 9,182 | 3,822 | -1,432 |
| 1991 | 34,584 | 11,530 | 3,801 | -1,362 |
| 1990 | 33,163 | 11,242 | 3,719 | -727 |
| 1989 | 31,504 | 10,765 | 3,576 | -571 |
| 1988 | 29,938 | 10,187 | 3,544 | -465 |
| 1987 | 28,452 | 9,563 | 3,440 | -470 |
| 1986 | 27,195 | 8,934 | 3,180 | -614 |
| 1985 | 25,795 | 8,373 | 3,242 | -828 |
| 1984 | 24,586 | 7,733 | 3,163 | -1,041 |
| 1983 | 23,175 | 6,713 | 3,100 | -1,203 |
| 1982 | 21,894 | 5,757 | 3,047 | -1,203 |
| 1981 | 20,156 | 5,438 | 3,015 | -1,067 |
| 1980 | 19,566 | 5,268 | 2,965 | -770 |
| 1979 | 18,543 | 4,898 | 2,893 | -491 |
| 1978 | 17,424 | 4,493 | 2,800 | -279 |
| 1977 | 16,773 | 3,969 | 2,705 | -255 |
| 1976 | 16,032 | 3,436 | 2,608 | -302 |
| 1975 | 15,256 | 2,979 | 2,515 | -392 |
| 1974 | 14,628 | 2,610 | 2,422 | -474 |
| 1973 | 14,046 | 2,907 | 2,329 | -525 |
| 1972 | 13,432 | 2,861 | 2,232 | -517 |
| 1971 | 12,842 | 2,817 | 2,127 | -430 |
| 1970 | 12,128 | 2,777 | 1,980 | -279 |
| 1969 | 11,670 | 2,757 | 1,862 | -469 |
| 1968 | 11,215 | 2,705 | 1,767 | -520 |
| 1967 | 10,823 | 2,617 | 1,693 | -606 |
| 1966 | 10,422 | 2,272 | 1,642 | -688 |
| 1965 | 10,162 | 2,272 | 1,611 | -765 |
| 1964 | 9,825 | 2,272 | 1,600 | -819 |
| 1963 | 9,493 | 2,272 | 1,609 | -886 |
| 1962 | 9,150 | 2,272 | 1,625 | -927 |
| 1961 | 8,778 | 2,272 | 1,657 | -960 |
| 1960 | 8,420 | 2,272 | 1,547 | -860 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/gambia/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 81.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,756 people) and 18.4% is from migration (a loss of 11,424 people).
As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between the Gambia and Sao Tome and Principe
|
Gambia
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.5 years | 70.3 years |
| Average age | 23.9 years | 25.2 years |
| Median age | 19.6 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.8:50.2 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 3.91 births per woman | 3.6 births per woman |
| Population density | 738 ppl/mi² | 661 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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