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Population in the Gambia compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 3.12 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Gambia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Sierra Leone
2100 5,767,668 16,111,324
2099 5,765,660 16,126,181
2098 5,762,971 16,139,280
2097 5,759,632 16,154,153
2096 5,755,430 16,164,923
2095 5,750,385 16,173,557
2094 5,744,540 16,173,155
2093 5,737,026 16,177,864
2092 5,728,594 16,175,032
2091 5,719,408 16,168,153
2090 5,708,875 16,158,415
2089 5,697,140 16,146,773
2088 5,684,094 16,133,018
2087 5,669,958 16,116,823
2086 5,655,091 16,089,780
2085 5,638,646 16,068,438
2084 5,621,067 16,044,782
2083 5,602,456 16,011,134
2082 5,582,581 15,975,073
2081 5,561,294 15,935,071
2080 5,538,819 15,896,846
2079 5,515,086 15,854,898
2078 5,489,750 15,805,607
2077 5,463,305 15,754,551
2076 5,435,859 15,699,439
2075 5,406,946 15,639,458
2074 5,376,718 15,584,377
2073 5,345,328 15,516,736
2072 5,313,201 15,446,543
2071 5,279,975 15,374,790
2070 5,245,200 15,297,449
2069 5,209,379 15,216,666
2068 5,172,146 15,128,048
2067 5,134,037 15,032,144
2066 5,094,458 14,935,222
2065 5,053,246 14,837,697
2064 5,011,122 14,740,749
2063 4,968,038 14,642,031
2062 4,923,683 14,529,557
2061 4,877,966 14,423,861
2060 4,831,631 14,311,215
2059 4,784,535 14,198,706
2058 4,736,846 14,080,827
2057 4,688,039 13,960,869
2056 4,638,482 13,836,132
2055 4,588,184 13,706,113
2054 4,536,562 13,579,802
2053 4,484,692 13,444,465
2052 4,431,827 13,303,409
2051 4,378,133 13,156,370
2050 4,323,657 13,010,109
2049 4,268,536 12,867,021
2048 4,212,677 12,716,015
2047 4,155,975 12,570,250
2046 4,098,930 12,414,307
2045 4,041,218 12,257,874
2044 3,982,976 12,092,075
2043 3,924,126 11,931,531
2042 3,864,662 11,770,467
2041 3,805,317 11,602,993
2040 3,745,312 11,431,337
2039 3,685,048 11,262,807
2038 3,624,271 11,100,099
2037 3,563,745 10,931,629
2036 3,502,991 10,760,758
2035 3,442,074 10,585,702
2034 3,381,008 10,413,826
2033 3,319,646 10,241,196
2032 3,258,080 10,062,575
2031 3,196,605 9,883,708
2030 3,134,968 9,708,038
2029 3,072,981 9,532,000
2028 3,010,624 9,360,873
2027 2,948,246 9,179,702
2026 2,885,613 9,001,269
2025 2,822,861 8,822,114
2024 2,759,988 8,642,022
2023 2,697,845 8,460,512
2022 2,636,470 8,276,807
2021 2,576,010 8,094,602
2020 2,515,733 7,912,558
2019 2,456,844 7,731,991
2018 2,399,632 7,554,563
2017 2,342,189 7,379,299
2016 2,283,769 7,205,328
2015 2,224,529 7,037,655
2014 2,164,528 6,876,385
2013 2,103,820 6,714,051
2012 2,043,094 6,551,080
2011 1,983,784 6,387,251
2010 1,926,630 6,222,714
2009 1,871,422 6,055,646
2008 1,817,852 5,894,722
2007 1,765,774 5,749,352
2006 1,715,275 5,624,466
2005 1,667,037 5,501,712
2004 1,621,312 5,355,717
2003 1,577,611 5,177,687
2002 1,535,691 4,971,435
2001 1,495,011 4,692,716
2000 1,455,084 4,423,611
1999 1,415,779 4,318,043
1998 1,376,987 4,295,785
1997 1,338,889 4,253,716
1996 1,301,410 4,199,210
1995 1,264,313 4,179,179
1994 1,227,226 4,173,105
1993 1,188,365 4,157,130
1992 1,145,582 4,166,366
1991 1,099,959 4,246,267
1990 1,054,696 4,196,828
1989 1,011,357 4,034,037
1988 970,160 3,934,517
1987 931,091 3,829,718
1986 894,019 3,728,380
1985 858,874 3,638,438
1984 825,631 3,558,758
1983 794,525 3,481,646
1982 765,753 3,408,183
1981 739,125 3,338,940
1980 713,913 3,272,089
1979 689,781 3,207,499
1978 667,103 3,145,517
1977 645,770 3,085,354
1976 625,667 3,028,820
1975 606,821 2,974,657
1974 589,085 2,920,459
1973 571,991 2,866,955
1972 555,370 2,814,388
1971 539,388 2,763,222
1970 524,105 2,712,286
1969 509,440 2,661,365
1968 495,269 2,611,532
1967 481,588 2,562,384
1966 468,516 2,514,638
1965 455,952 2,468,666
1964 443,687 2,424,390
1963 431,757 2,382,258
1962 420,163 2,342,242
1961 408,930 2,304,227
1960 398,060 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Sierra Leone
2100 0.03% -0.09%
2099 0.05% -0.08%
2098 0.06% -0.09%
2097 0.07% -0.07%
2096 0.09% -0.05%
2095 0.1% 0.002%
2094 0.13% -0.03%
2093 0.15% 0.02%
2092 0.16% 0.04%
2091 0.18% 0.06%
2090 0.21% 0.07%
2089 0.23% 0.09%
2088 0.25% 0.1%
2087 0.26% 0.17%
2086 0.29% 0.13%
2085 0.31% 0.15%
2084 0.33% 0.21%
2083 0.36% 0.23%
2082 0.38% 0.25%
2081 0.41% 0.24%
2080 0.43% 0.26%
2079 0.46% 0.31%
2078 0.48% 0.32%
2077 0.5% 0.35%
2076 0.53% 0.38%
2075 0.56% 0.35%
2074 0.59% 0.44%
2073 0.6% 0.45%
2072 0.63% 0.47%
2071 0.66% 0.51%
2070 0.69% 0.53%
2069 0.72% 0.59%
2068 0.74% 0.64%
2067 0.78% 0.65%
2066 0.82% 0.66%
2065 0.84% 0.66%
2064 0.87% 0.67%
2063 0.9% 0.77%
2062 0.94% 0.73%
2061 0.96% 0.79%
2060 0.98% 0.79%
2059 1.01% 0.84%
2058 1.04% 0.86%
2057 1.07% 0.9%
2056 1.1% 0.95%
2055 1.14% 0.93%
2054 1.16% 1.01%
2053 1.19% 1.06%
2052 1.23% 1.12%
2051 1.26% 1.12%
2050 1.29% 1.11%
2049 1.33% 1.19%
2048 1.36% 1.16%
2047 1.39% 1.26%
2046 1.43% 1.28%
2045 1.46% 1.37%
2044 1.5% 1.35%
2043 1.54% 1.37%
2042 1.56% 1.44%
2041 1.6% 1.5%
2040 1.64% 1.5%
2039 1.68% 1.47%
2038 1.7% 1.54%
2037 1.73% 1.59%
2036 1.77% 1.65%
2035 1.81% 1.65%
2034 1.85% 1.69%
2033 1.89% 1.78%
2032 1.92% 1.81%
2031 1.97% 1.81%
2030 2.02% 1.85%
2029 2.07% 1.83%
2028 2.12% 1.97%
2027 2.17% 1.98%
2026 2.22% 2.03%
2025 2.28% 2.08%
2024 2.3% 2.15%
2023 2.33% 2.22%
2022 2.35% 2.25%
2021 2.4% 2.3%
2020 2.4% 2.34%
2019 2.38% 2.35%
2018 2.45% 2.38%
2017 2.56% 2.41%
2016 2.66% 2.38%
2015 2.77% 2.35%
2014 2.89% 2.42%
2013 2.97% 2.49%
2012 2.99% 2.56%
2011 2.97% 2.64%
2010 2.95% 2.76%
2009 2.95% 2.73%
2008 2.95% 2.53%
2007 2.94% 2.22%
2006 2.89% 2.23%
2005 2.82% 2.73%
2004 2.77% 3.44%
2003 2.73% 4.15%
2002 2.72% 5.94%
2001 2.74% 6.08%
2000 2.78% 2.44%
1999 2.82% 0.52%
1998 2.85% 0.99%
1997 2.88% 1.3%
1996 2.93% 0.48%
1995 3.02% 0.15%
1994 3.27% 0.38%
1993 3.73% -0.22%
1992 4.15% -1.88%
1991 4.29% 1.18%
1990 4.29% 4.04%
1989 4.25% 2.53%
1988 4.2% 2.74%
1987 4.15% 2.72%
1986 4.09% 2.47%
1985 4.03% 2.24%
1984 3.92% 2.21%
1983 3.76% 2.16%
1982 3.6% 2.07%
1981 3.53% 2.04%
1980 3.5% 2.01%
1979 3.4% 1.97%
1978 3.3% 1.95%
1977 3.21% 1.87%
1976 3.11% 1.82%
1975 3.01% 1.86%
1974 2.99% 1.87%
1973 2.99% 1.87%
1972 2.96% 1.85%
1971 2.92% 1.88%
1970 2.88% 1.91%
1969 2.86% 1.91%
1968 2.84% 1.92%
1967 2.79% 1.9%
1966 2.76% 1.86%
1965 2.76% 1.83%
1964 2.76% 1.77%
1963 2.76% 1.71%
1962 2.75% 1.65%
1961 2.73% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Gambia Sierra Leone
Current population
2902554
9049533
Population rank 138/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.11%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +497
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 47/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 -11,309
Net migration rank 107/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -11,309
2024 - -2,989 - -11,000
2023 65,118 -3,000 188,788 -4,000
2022 63,634 -3,000 186,625 -4,000
2021 62,239 -1,949 183,326 -1,544
2020 62,209 -1,949 181,015 1,292
2019 61,701 -4,186 181,068 -2,238
2018 60,854 -3,944 178,772 -2,741
2017 61,665 -3,696 173,259 1,234
2016 62,358 -3,486 168,784 4,657
2015 62,832 -3,224 162,275 -356
2014 63,185 -2,793 160,137 485
2013 63,510 -2,476 161,265 2,773
2012 62,745 -2,332 160,915 988
2011 60,571 -2,360 158,858 6,895
2010 58,554 -2,456 155,338 7,983
2009 56,575 -2,259 152,669 18,145
2008 55,032 -2,204 149,855 1,182
2007 53,653 -2,320 145,740 -6,042
2006 52,335 -2,666 144,127 -34,052
2005 50,010 -3,209 137,234 -1,805
2004 48,276 -3,636 132,661 23,897
2003 46,473 -3,713 130,312 69,185
2002 45,156 -4,067 126,429 86,578
2001 44,154 -3,882 116,647 227,791
2000 43,249 -3,670 110,754 83,013
1999 42,533 -3,493 102,295 -84,926
1998 41,842 -3,291 103,906 -76,766
1997 40,742 -3,098 105,433 -48,437
1996 40,253 -2,948 104,140 -52,110
1995 39,681 -2,797 100,885 -112,857
1994 38,880 -1,586 101,486 -77,371
1993 37,302 3,131 103,317 -95,476
1992 35,951 9,182 103,251 -129,565
1991 34,584 11,530 105,477 -238,965
1990 33,163 11,242 100,778 131,587
1989 31,504 10,765 98,298 -5,079
1988 29,938 10,187 96,344 9,470
1987 28,452 9,563 94,235 9,558
1986 27,195 8,934 90,902 7,992
1985 25,795 8,373 88,869 -7,873
1984 24,586 7,733 87,072 -8,708
1983 23,175 6,713 84,628 -8,783
1982 21,894 5,757 82,457 -11,379
1981 20,156 5,438 80,111 -12,699
1980 19,566 5,268 77,932 -11,641
1979 18,543 4,898 75,992 -13,095
1978 17,424 4,493 74,130 -13,073
1977 16,773 3,969 71,663 -12,399
1976 16,032 3,436 69,506 -15,686
1975 15,256 2,979 67,560 -13,058
1974 14,628 2,610 65,357 -11,473
1973 14,046 2,907 62,443 -9,322
1972 13,432 2,861 60,279 -8,267
1971 12,842 2,817 58,484 -8,162
1970 12,128 2,777 56,513 -4,957
1969 11,670 2,757 54,768 -4,485
1968 11,215 2,705 53,126 -3,743
1967 10,823 2,617 51,734 -2,819
1966 10,422 2,272 49,486 -2,911
1965 10,162 2,272 47,223 -1,851
1964 9,825 2,272 45,487 -2,308
1963 9,493 2,272 43,569 -2,480
1962 9,150 2,272 41,603 -2,658
1961 8,778 2,272 40,022 -2,947
1960 8,420 2,272 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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