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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 9,090,531 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 100th.
  • 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 +2.44% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Gambia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Sierra Leone
2100 5,766,099 16,107,087
2099 5,764,092 16,121,940
2098 5,761,403 16,135,035
2097 5,758,064 16,149,905
2096 5,753,864 16,160,672
2095 5,748,821 16,169,304
2094 5,742,977 16,168,902
2093 5,735,465 16,173,609
2092 5,727,035 16,170,778
2091 5,717,851 16,163,901
2090 5,707,322 16,154,165
2089 5,695,590 16,142,526
2088 5,682,547 16,128,775
2087 5,668,415 16,112,585
2086 5,653,552 16,085,549
2085 5,637,112 16,064,212
2084 5,619,538 16,040,563
2083 5,600,932 16,006,923
2082 5,581,062 15,970,872
2081 5,559,781 15,930,880
2080 5,537,312 15,892,665
2079 5,513,586 15,850,728
2078 5,488,256 15,801,450
2077 5,461,819 15,750,408
2076 5,434,380 15,695,310
2075 5,405,474 15,635,345
2074 5,375,255 15,580,279
2073 5,343,873 15,512,655
2072 5,311,755 15,442,481
2071 5,278,538 15,370,747
2070 5,243,773 15,293,426
2069 5,207,961 15,212,664
2068 5,170,739 15,124,069
2067 5,132,640 15,028,190
2066 5,093,072 14,931,295
2065 5,051,871 14,833,794
2064 5,009,758 14,736,872
2063 4,966,686 14,638,180
2062 4,922,343 14,525,736
2061 4,876,639 14,420,068
2060 4,830,317 14,307,451
2059 4,783,233 14,194,972
2058 4,735,557 14,077,124
2057 4,686,764 13,957,197
2056 4,637,220 13,832,494
2055 4,586,935 13,702,508
2054 4,535,328 13,576,231
2053 4,483,472 13,440,929
2052 4,430,621 13,299,910
2051 4,376,942 13,152,910
2050 4,322,480 13,006,688
2049 4,267,374 12,863,637
2048 4,211,530 12,712,671
2047 4,154,844 12,566,944
2046 4,097,814 12,411,042
2045 4,040,118 12,254,651
2044 3,981,892 12,088,895
2043 3,923,058 11,928,393
2042 3,863,611 11,767,372
2041 3,804,282 11,599,942
2040 3,744,293 11,428,331
2039 3,684,045 11,259,845
2038 3,623,285 11,097,180
2037 3,562,776 10,928,754
2036 3,502,038 10,757,928
2035 3,441,138 10,582,918
2034 3,380,088 10,411,088
2033 3,318,743 10,238,503
2032 3,257,194 10,059,929
2031 3,195,735 9,881,109
2030 3,134,115 9,705,485
2029 3,072,145 9,529,493
2028 3,009,805 9,358,412
2027 2,947,443 9,177,288
2026 2,884,828 8,998,902
2025 2,822,093 8,819,794
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th 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 2.25% 2.06%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Gambia Sierra Leone
Current population
2916990
9090531
Population rank 138/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.11%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
2.96 minutes
One birth every
6.38 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
30.5 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +487
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +2.06%
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 65,157 -2,989 189,234 -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 2026-07-08).

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 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people). In Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 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 (1960–2025, 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/sierra-leone | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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