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Population in the Gambia compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 12.7 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Gambia vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Saudi Arabia
2100 5,767,668 74,230,118
2099 5,765,660 73,760,045
2098 5,762,971 73,287,526
2097 5,759,632 72,813,125
2096 5,755,430 72,336,039
2095 5,750,385 71,858,206
2094 5,744,540 71,379,928
2093 5,737,026 70,900,460
2092 5,728,594 70,420,464
2091 5,719,408 69,940,749
2090 5,708,875 69,462,214
2089 5,697,140 68,985,976
2088 5,684,094 68,510,277
2087 5,669,958 68,035,545
2086 5,655,091 67,562,521
2085 5,638,646 67,091,615
2084 5,621,067 66,621,667
2083 5,602,456 66,152,653
2082 5,582,581 65,684,321
2081 5,561,294 65,216,102
2080 5,538,819 64,749,128
2079 5,515,086 64,282,393
2078 5,489,750 63,815,918
2077 5,463,305 63,348,712
2076 5,435,859 62,880,120
2075 5,406,946 62,409,793
2074 5,376,718 61,937,628
2073 5,345,328 61,462,662
2072 5,313,201 60,984,202
2071 5,279,975 60,502,791
2070 5,245,200 60,018,216
2069 5,209,379 59,529,456
2068 5,172,146 59,036,086
2067 5,134,037 58,539,487
2066 5,094,458 58,039,687
2065 5,053,246 57,537,106
2064 5,011,122 57,032,172
2063 4,968,038 56,524,331
2062 4,923,683 56,014,549
2061 4,877,966 55,501,467
2060 4,831,631 54,986,901
2059 4,784,535 54,469,809
2058 4,736,846 53,950,469
2057 4,688,039 53,430,639
2056 4,638,482 52,909,061
2055 4,588,184 52,386,571
2054 4,536,562 51,862,312
2053 4,484,692 51,336,335
2052 4,431,827 50,809,100
2051 4,378,133 50,280,719
2050 4,323,657 49,751,739
2049 4,268,536 49,221,828
2048 4,212,677 48,690,143
2047 4,155,975 48,157,605
2046 4,098,930 47,623,246
2045 4,041,218 47,087,215
2044 3,982,976 46,550,306
2043 3,924,126 46,013,232
2042 3,864,662 45,475,200
2041 3,805,317 44,936,131
2040 3,745,312 44,396,093
2039 3,685,048 43,856,006
2038 3,624,271 43,314,707
2037 3,563,745 42,773,375
2036 3,502,991 42,231,639
2035 3,442,074 41,690,245
2034 3,381,008 41,150,029
2033 3,319,646 40,611,021
2032 3,258,080 40,073,144
2031 3,196,605 39,535,357
2030 3,134,968 38,998,581
2029 3,072,981 38,417,447
2028 3,010,624 37,810,902
2027 2,948,246 37,189,969
2026 2,885,613 36,566,201
2025 2,822,861 35,932,673
2024 2,759,988 35,300,280
2023 2,697,845 33,702,731
2022 2,636,470 32,175,224
2021 2,576,010 30,784,383
2020 2,515,733 31,552,510
2019 2,456,844 30,063,799
2018 2,399,632 30,196,281
2017 2,342,189 30,977,355
2016 2,283,769 30,954,198
2015 2,224,529 29,816,382
2014 2,164,528 28,309,273
2013 2,103,820 27,624,004
2012 2,043,094 26,168,861
2011 1,983,784 25,091,867
2010 1,926,630 23,978,487
2009 1,871,422 24,217,654
2008 1,817,852 23,287,877
2007 1,765,774 22,368,313
2006 1,715,275 21,459,144
2005 1,667,037 20,559,890
2004 1,621,312 19,669,480
2003 1,577,611 18,786,767
2002 1,535,691 17,910,910
2001 1,495,011 17,041,397
2000 1,455,084 16,177,722
1999 1,415,779 15,472,075
1998 1,376,987 14,922,185
1997 1,338,889 14,374,943
1996 1,301,410 13,831,009
1995 1,264,313 13,289,245
1994 1,227,226 12,750,040
1993 1,188,365 12,215,862
1992 1,145,582 11,686,676
1991 1,099,959 11,160,744
1990 1,054,696 10,640,691
1989 1,011,357 10,128,394
1988 970,160 9,629,165
1987 931,091 9,130,194
1986 894,019 8,628,639
1985 858,874 8,151,779
1984 825,631 7,697,307
1983 794,525 7,252,941
1982 765,753 6,824,486
1981 739,125 6,420,551
1980 713,913 6,047,997
1979 689,781 5,703,698
1978 667,103 5,381,902
1977 645,770 5,083,048
1976 625,667 4,807,933
1975 606,821 4,556,287
1974 589,085 4,323,632
1973 571,991 4,106,344
1972 555,370 3,905,722
1971 539,388 3,724,031
1970 524,105 3,562,470
1969 509,440 3,417,114
1968 495,269 3,282,711
1967 481,588 3,157,242
1966 468,516 3,039,887
1965 455,952 2,928,771
1964 443,687 2,821,968
1963 431,757 2,719,341
1962 420,163 2,620,910
1961 408,930 2,526,347
1960 398,060 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Saudi Arabia
2100 0.03% 0.64%
2099 0.05% 0.64%
2098 0.06% 0.65%
2097 0.07% 0.66%
2096 0.09% 0.66%
2095 0.1% 0.67%
2094 0.13% 0.68%
2093 0.15% 0.68%
2092 0.16% 0.69%
2091 0.18% 0.69%
2090 0.21% 0.69%
2089 0.23% 0.69%
2088 0.25% 0.7%
2087 0.26% 0.7%
2086 0.29% 0.7%
2085 0.31% 0.71%
2084 0.33% 0.71%
2083 0.36% 0.71%
2082 0.38% 0.72%
2081 0.41% 0.72%
2080 0.43% 0.73%
2079 0.46% 0.73%
2078 0.48% 0.74%
2077 0.5% 0.75%
2076 0.53% 0.75%
2075 0.56% 0.76%
2074 0.59% 0.77%
2073 0.6% 0.78%
2072 0.63% 0.8%
2071 0.66% 0.81%
2070 0.69% 0.82%
2069 0.72% 0.84%
2068 0.74% 0.85%
2067 0.78% 0.86%
2066 0.82% 0.87%
2065 0.84% 0.89%
2064 0.87% 0.9%
2063 0.9% 0.91%
2062 0.94% 0.92%
2061 0.96% 0.94%
2060 0.98% 0.95%
2059 1.01% 0.96%
2058 1.04% 0.97%
2057 1.07% 0.99%
2056 1.1% 1%
2055 1.14% 1.01%
2054 1.16% 1.02%
2053 1.19% 1.04%
2052 1.23% 1.05%
2051 1.26% 1.06%
2050 1.29% 1.08%
2049 1.33% 1.09%
2048 1.36% 1.11%
2047 1.39% 1.12%
2046 1.43% 1.14%
2045 1.46% 1.15%
2044 1.5% 1.17%
2043 1.54% 1.18%
2042 1.56% 1.2%
2041 1.6% 1.22%
2040 1.64% 1.23%
2039 1.68% 1.25%
2038 1.7% 1.27%
2037 1.73% 1.28%
2036 1.77% 1.3%
2035 1.81% 1.31%
2034 1.85% 1.33%
2033 1.89% 1.34%
2032 1.92% 1.36%
2031 1.97% 1.38%
2030 2.02% 1.51%
2029 2.07% 1.6%
2028 2.12% 1.67%
2027 2.17% 1.71%
2026 2.22% 1.76%
2025 2.28% 1.79%
2024 2.3% 4.74%
2023 2.33% 4.75%
2022 2.35% 4.52%
2021 2.4% -2.43%
2020 2.4% 4.95%
2019 2.38% -0.44%
2018 2.45% -2.52%
2017 2.56% 0.07%
2016 2.66% 3.82%
2015 2.77% 5.32%
2014 2.89% 2.48%
2013 2.97% 5.56%
2012 2.99% 4.29%
2011 2.97% 4.64%
2010 2.95% -0.99%
2009 2.95% 3.99%
2008 2.95% 4.11%
2007 2.94% 4.24%
2006 2.89% 4.37%
2005 2.82% 4.53%
2004 2.77% 4.7%
2003 2.73% 4.89%
2002 2.72% 5.1%
2001 2.74% 5.34%
2000 2.78% 4.56%
1999 2.82% 3.69%
1998 2.85% 3.81%
1997 2.88% 3.93%
1996 2.93% 4.08%
1995 3.02% 4.23%
1994 3.27% 4.37%
1993 3.73% 4.53%
1992 4.15% 4.71%
1991 4.29% 4.89%
1990 4.29% 5.06%
1989 4.25% 5.18%
1988 4.2% 5.47%
1987 4.15% 5.81%
1986 4.09% 5.85%
1985 4.03% 5.9%
1984 3.92% 6.13%
1983 3.76% 6.28%
1982 3.6% 6.29%
1981 3.53% 6.16%
1980 3.5% 6.04%
1979 3.4% 5.98%
1978 3.3% 5.88%
1977 3.21% 5.72%
1976 3.11% 5.52%
1975 3.01% 5.38%
1974 2.99% 5.29%
1973 2.99% 5.14%
1972 2.96% 4.88%
1971 2.92% 4.54%
1970 2.88% 4.25%
1969 2.86% 4.09%
1968 2.84% 3.97%
1967 2.79% 3.86%
1966 2.76% 3.79%
1965 2.76% 3.78%
1964 2.76% 3.77%
1963 2.76% 3.76%
1962 2.75% 3.74%
1961 2.73% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Gambia Saudi Arabia
Current population
2902554
36734925
Population rank 138/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.44%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
6.4 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
31 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 4/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 +119,738
Net migration rank 107/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 119,738
2024 - -2,989 - 122,170
2023 65,118 -3,000 474,366 325,691
2022 63,634 -3,000 406,920 977,072
2021 62,239 -1,949 409,032 -106,287
2020 62,209 -1,949 447,036 -74,725
2019 61,701 -4,186 474,407 191,582
2018 60,854 -3,944 528,767 -988,751
2017 61,665 -3,696 546,751 -920,812
2016 62,358 -3,486 537,829 -26,997
2015 62,832 -3,224 511,023 465,292
2014 63,185 -2,793 493,431 469,144
2013 63,510 -2,476 475,299 485,794
2012 62,745 -2,332 465,649 479,206
2011 60,571 -2,360 443,675 491,253
2010 58,554 -2,456 418,641 504,955
2009 56,575 -2,259 438,557 496,229
2008 55,032 -2,204 433,457 491,337
2007 53,653 -2,320 425,199 489,136
2006 52,335 -2,666 399,333 504,661
2005 50,010 -3,209 375,938 518,565
2004 48,276 -3,636 362,843 523,472
2003 46,473 -3,713 364,520 514,606
2002 45,156 -4,067 372,099 500,508
2001 44,154 -3,882 382,153 484,252
2000 43,249 -3,670 392,407 468,515
1999 42,533 -3,493 390,112 160,263
1998 41,842 -3,291 389,499 159,898
1997 40,742 -3,098 385,033 160,066
1996 40,253 -2,948 382,248 160,532
1995 39,681 -2,797 380,231 160,512
1994 38,880 -1,586 377,351 160,306
1993 37,302 3,131 372,621 158,074
1992 35,951 9,182 366,763 160,908
1991 34,584 11,530 361,329 162,857
1990 33,163 11,242 355,495 160,416
1989 31,504 10,765 349,399 159,273
1988 29,938 10,187 342,865 146,918
1987 28,452 9,563 333,088 175,075
1986 27,195 8,934 322,340 172,606
1985 25,795 8,373 310,558 148,208
1984 24,586 7,733 296,615 153,562
1983 23,175 6,713 280,616 157,930
1982 21,894 5,757 264,831 153,528
1981 20,156 5,438 249,156 140,355
1980 19,566 5,268 234,372 121,220
1979 18,543 4,898 220,186 112,826
1978 17,424 4,493 205,331 105,263
1977 16,773 3,969 191,103 96,015
1976 16,032 3,436 178,024 85,083
1975 15,256 2,979 166,223 73,960
1974 14,628 2,610 155,478 69,653
1973 14,046 2,907 145,450 63,995
1972 13,432 2,861 136,360 55,439
1971 12,842 2,817 127,600 43,989
1970 12,128 2,777 120,440 31,097
1969 11,670 2,757 113,859 25,312
1968 11,215 2,705 108,281 21,366
1967 10,823 2,617 103,343 17,947
1966 10,422 2,272 98,361 15,054
1965 10,162 2,272 93,820 15,000
1964 9,825 2,272 89,776 15,000
1963 9,493 2,272 85,480 15,000
1962 9,150 2,272 81,393 15,000
1961 8,778 2,272 77,743 15,000
1960 8,420 2,272 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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