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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 18,501,984 people in Senegal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 19,491,599 in Senegal.

Population statistics:

  • Senegal's population is 6.72 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Senegal is the 68th.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.24% for Senegal.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +2.76% in Senegal.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Senegal has grown from 11.5M to 19.5M (69.5% growth).

Gambia vs Senegal: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Senegal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Senegal
2100 5,767,668 47,481,703
2099 5,765,660 47,309,204
2098 5,762,971 47,131,505
2097 5,759,632 46,942,831
2096 5,755,430 46,749,318
2095 5,750,385 46,548,519
2094 5,744,540 46,338,777
2093 5,737,026 46,124,372
2092 5,728,594 45,903,819
2091 5,719,408 45,676,277
2090 5,708,875 45,442,218
2089 5,697,140 45,197,486
2088 5,684,094 44,949,158
2087 5,669,958 44,692,601
2086 5,655,091 44,425,160
2085 5,638,646 44,150,556
2084 5,621,067 43,871,406
2083 5,602,456 43,579,072
2082 5,582,581 43,285,560
2081 5,561,294 42,984,866
2080 5,538,819 42,679,614
2079 5,515,086 42,366,808
2078 5,489,750 42,044,826
2077 5,463,305 41,716,837
2076 5,435,859 41,379,705
2075 5,406,946 41,030,232
2074 5,376,718 40,674,683
2073 5,345,328 40,312,726
2072 5,313,201 39,943,067
2071 5,279,975 39,568,028
2070 5,245,200 39,187,711
2069 5,209,379 38,795,322
2068 5,172,146 38,398,147
2067 5,134,037 37,996,983
2066 5,094,458 37,584,328
2065 5,053,246 37,167,637
2064 5,011,122 36,744,279
2063 4,968,038 36,318,015
2062 4,923,683 35,884,713
2061 4,877,966 35,448,776
2060 4,831,631 35,010,231
2059 4,784,535 34,571,669
2058 4,736,846 34,122,702
2057 4,688,039 33,673,448
2056 4,638,482 33,219,406
2055 4,588,184 32,765,741
2054 4,536,562 32,313,613
2053 4,484,692 31,859,051
2052 4,431,827 31,405,418
2051 4,378,133 30,949,633
2050 4,323,657 30,490,614
2049 4,268,536 30,032,811
2048 4,212,677 29,570,773
2047 4,155,975 29,111,688
2046 4,098,930 28,648,672
2045 4,041,218 28,187,838
2044 3,982,976 27,724,585
2043 3,924,126 27,260,926
2042 3,864,662 26,796,927
2041 3,805,317 26,332,270
2040 3,745,312 25,866,240
2039 3,685,048 25,398,425
2038 3,624,271 24,928,471
2037 3,563,745 24,457,649
2036 3,502,991 23,986,892
2035 3,442,074 23,515,497
2034 3,381,008 23,046,885
2033 3,319,646 22,578,286
2032 3,258,080 22,110,230
2031 3,196,605 21,643,047
2030 3,134,968 21,178,414
2029 3,072,981 20,719,234
2028 3,010,624 20,263,713
2027 2,948,246 19,814,138
2026 2,885,613 19,372,006
2025 2,822,861 18,934,809
2024 2,759,988 18,501,984
2023 2,697,845 18,077,573
2022 2,636,470 17,651,103
2021 2,576,010 17,220,867
2020 2,515,733 16,789,219
2019 2,456,844 16,352,922
2018 2,399,632 15,914,498
2017 2,342,189 15,475,002
2016 2,283,769 15,034,521
2015 2,224,529 14,593,331
2014 2,164,528 14,152,102
2013 2,103,820 13,710,849
2012 2,043,094 13,310,495
2011 1,983,784 12,958,897
2010 1,926,630 12,635,413
2009 1,871,422 12,337,389
2008 1,817,852 12,048,959
2007 1,765,774 11,770,344
2006 1,715,275 11,500,094
2005 1,667,037 11,235,472
2004 1,621,312 10,975,704
2003 1,577,611 10,721,176
2002 1,535,691 10,466,214
2001 1,495,011 10,212,942
2000 1,455,084 9,968,260
1999 1,415,779 9,730,887
1998 1,376,987 9,502,952
1997 1,338,889 9,283,495
1996 1,301,410 9,067,014
1995 1,264,313 8,848,101
1994 1,227,226 8,624,078
1993 1,188,365 8,396,288
1992 1,145,582 8,168,395
1991 1,099,959 7,943,085
1990 1,054,696 7,720,523
1989 1,011,357 7,502,207
1988 970,160 7,289,618
1987 931,091 7,081,530
1986 894,019 6,878,192
1985 858,874 6,683,287
1984 825,631 6,499,364
1983 794,525 6,324,504
1982 765,753 6,156,961
1981 739,125 5,997,160
1980 713,913 5,845,638
1979 689,781 5,702,895
1978 667,103 5,568,096
1977 645,770 5,439,549
1976 625,667 5,308,564
1975 606,821 5,170,810
1974 589,085 5,029,437
1973 571,991 4,885,181
1972 555,370 4,741,631
1971 539,388 4,601,864
1970 524,105 4,466,328
1969 509,440 4,334,974
1968 495,269 4,207,587
1967 481,588 4,083,870
1966 468,516 3,964,299
1965 455,952 3,849,788
1964 443,687 3,740,535
1963 431,757 3,635,876
1962 420,163 3,534,686
1961 408,930 3,436,375
1960 398,060 3,340,907

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/senegal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Senegal gained 3,534,427 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Senegal's population increased by 4,457,078 people (a 29.6% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Senegal was ranked 72nd in 2006 and ranked 68th 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 Senegal will increase by 56.4% to 30,490,614 people and rank change from 68th to 63rd.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 47.5M people in 2100 for Senegal.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Senegal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Senegal
2100 0.03% 0.36%
2099 0.05% 0.38%
2098 0.06% 0.4%
2097 0.07% 0.41%
2096 0.09% 0.43%
2095 0.1% 0.45%
2094 0.13% 0.46%
2093 0.15% 0.48%
2092 0.16% 0.5%
2091 0.18% 0.52%
2090 0.21% 0.54%
2089 0.23% 0.55%
2088 0.25% 0.57%
2087 0.26% 0.6%
2086 0.29% 0.62%
2085 0.31% 0.64%
2084 0.33% 0.67%
2083 0.36% 0.68%
2082 0.38% 0.7%
2081 0.41% 0.72%
2080 0.43% 0.74%
2079 0.46% 0.77%
2078 0.48% 0.79%
2077 0.5% 0.81%
2076 0.53% 0.85%
2075 0.56% 0.87%
2074 0.59% 0.9%
2073 0.6% 0.93%
2072 0.63% 0.95%
2071 0.66% 0.97%
2070 0.69% 1.01%
2069 0.72% 1.03%
2068 0.74% 1.06%
2067 0.78% 1.1%
2066 0.82% 1.12%
2065 0.84% 1.15%
2064 0.87% 1.17%
2063 0.9% 1.21%
2062 0.94% 1.23%
2061 0.96% 1.25%
2060 0.98% 1.27%
2059 1.01% 1.32%
2058 1.04% 1.33%
2057 1.07% 1.37%
2056 1.1% 1.38%
2055 1.14% 1.4%
2054 1.16% 1.43%
2053 1.19% 1.44%
2052 1.23% 1.47%
2051 1.26% 1.51%
2050 1.29% 1.52%
2049 1.33% 1.56%
2048 1.36% 1.58%
2047 1.39% 1.62%
2046 1.43% 1.63%
2045 1.46% 1.67%
2044 1.5% 1.7%
2043 1.54% 1.73%
2042 1.56% 1.76%
2041 1.6% 1.8%
2040 1.64% 1.84%
2039 1.68% 1.89%
2038 1.7% 1.93%
2037 1.73% 1.96%
2036 1.77% 2%
2035 1.81% 2.03%
2034 1.85% 2.08%
2033 1.89% 2.12%
2032 1.92% 2.16%
2031 1.97% 2.19%
2030 2.02% 2.22%
2029 2.07% 2.25%
2028 2.12% 2.27%
2027 2.17% 2.28%
2026 2.22% 2.31%
2025 2.28% 2.34%
2024 2.3% 2.35%
2023 2.33% 2.42%
2022 2.35% 2.5%
2021 2.4% 2.57%
2020 2.4% 2.67%
2019 2.38% 2.75%
2018 2.45% 2.84%
2017 2.56% 2.93%
2016 2.66% 3.02%
2015 2.77% 3.12%
2014 2.89% 3.22%
2013 2.97% 3.01%
2012 2.99% 2.71%
2011 2.97% 2.56%
2010 2.95% 2.42%
2009 2.95% 2.39%
2008 2.95% 2.37%
2007 2.94% 2.35%
2006 2.89% 2.36%
2005 2.82% 2.37%
2004 2.77% 2.37%
2003 2.73% 2.44%
2002 2.72% 2.48%
2001 2.74% 2.45%
2000 2.78% 2.44%
1999 2.82% 2.4%
1998 2.85% 2.36%
1997 2.88% 2.39%
1996 2.93% 2.47%
1995 3.02% 2.6%
1994 3.27% 2.71%
1993 3.73% 2.79%
1992 4.15% 2.84%
1991 4.29% 2.88%
1990 4.29% 2.91%
1989 4.25% 2.92%
1988 4.2% 2.94%
1987 4.15% 2.96%
1986 4.09% 2.92%
1985 4.03% 2.83%
1984 3.92% 2.76%
1983 3.76% 2.72%
1982 3.6% 2.66%
1981 3.53% 2.59%
1980 3.5% 2.5%
1979 3.4% 2.42%
1978 3.3% 2.36%
1977 3.21% 2.47%
1976 3.11% 2.66%
1975 3.01% 2.81%
1974 2.99% 2.95%
1973 2.99% 3.03%
1972 2.96% 3.04%
1971 2.92% 3.03%
1970 2.88% 3.03%
1969 2.86% 3.03%
1968 2.84% 3.03%
1967 2.79% 3.02%
1966 2.76% 2.97%
1965 2.76% 2.92%
1964 2.76% 2.88%
1963 2.76% 2.86%
1962 2.75% 2.86%
1961 2.73% 2.86%

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/senegal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Senegal's population grew by 2.35%.

Live population counters

Gambia Senegal
Current population
2902554
19491599
Population rank 138/197 68/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.24%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
1.24 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
59.3 seconds
One death every
31 minutes
5.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,163
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +424,411
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +2.35%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 35/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
41.7 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 -12,636
Net migration rank 107/196 138/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 281,867
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 100/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 146/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Senegal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Senegal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -12,636
2024 - -2,989 - -10,307
2023 65,118 -3,000 431,006 -9,999
2022 63,634 -3,000 415,507 16,425
2021 62,239 -1,949 403,019 25,519
2020 62,209 -1,949 400,910 33,848
2019 61,701 -4,186 399,436 38,386
2018 60,854 -3,944 405,454 33,567
2017 61,665 -3,696 410,366 29,605
2016 62,358 -3,486 411,480 29,498
2015 62,832 -3,224 407,008 34,387
2014 63,185 -2,793 405,019 36,030
2013 63,510 -2,476 406,582 34,878
2012 62,745 -2,332 402,243 -42,978
2011 60,571 -2,360 387,290 -43,350
2010 58,554 -2,456 372,934 -69,888
2009 56,575 -2,259 362,238 -69,239
2008 55,032 -2,204 351,661 -67,812
2007 53,653 -2,320 339,963 -66,580
2006 52,335 -2,666 331,364 -64,254
2005 50,010 -3,209 323,908 -61,781
2004 48,276 -3,636 317,286 -59,879
2003 46,473 -3,713 308,856 -57,213
2002 45,156 -4,067 298,842 -40,554
2001 44,154 -3,882 289,690 -41,422
2000 43,249 -3,670 283,946 -42,854
1999 42,533 -3,493 277,944 -44,284
1998 41,842 -3,291 267,404 -45,189
1997 40,742 -3,098 261,200 -44,506
1996 40,253 -2,948 255,418 -39,162
1995 39,681 -2,797 252,552 -31,001
1994 38,880 -1,586 249,115 -22,633
1993 37,302 3,131 245,742 -16,649
1992 35,951 9,182 241,482 -14,796
1991 34,584 11,530 237,713 -13,783
1990 33,163 11,242 234,155 -12,959
1989 31,504 10,765 227,797 -12,362
1988 29,938 10,187 221,772 -12,036
1987 28,452 9,563 218,522 -12,086
1986 27,195 8,934 212,887 -12,655
1985 25,795 8,373 208,218 -18,644
1984 24,586 7,733 203,125 -24,858
1983 23,175 6,713 197,673 -26,222
1982 21,894 5,757 191,309 -27,672
1981 20,156 5,438 185,917 -29,959
1980 19,566 5,268 179,707 -32,616
1979 18,543 4,898 173,425 -35,022
1978 17,424 4,493 167,744 -36,559
1977 16,773 3,969 161,636 -35,731
1976 16,032 3,436 154,776 -18,716
1975 15,256 2,979 147,311 -7,870
1974 14,628 2,610 139,974 3,347
1973 14,046 2,907 133,834 11,382
1972 13,432 2,861 128,024 13,852
1971 12,842 2,817 122,511 15,131
1970 12,128 2,777 117,264 16,168
1969 11,670 2,757 112,393 16,887
1968 11,215 2,705 108,240 17,264
1967 10,823 2,617 104,824 17,107
1966 10,422 2,272 101,359 15,849
1965 10,162 2,272 97,912 13,913
1964 9,825 2,272 94,797 11,892
1963 9,493 2,272 92,264 10,371
1962 9,150 2,272 89,937 9,809
1961 8,778 2,272 87,322 9,549
1960 8,420 2,272 84,735 9,337

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/senegal | 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 Senegal 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,089,205 people) and 6.13% is from migration (a gain of 267,266 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 281,867 people or 1.5% in Senegal.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Senegal
City Population
Dakar 1.44M
Thies 391K
Rufisque 295K
Saint-Louis 259K
Ziguinchor 205K
Kaolack 172K
Louga 113K
Kolda 62.3K
Fatick 39.4K

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/senegal | 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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