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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 7.06 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Gambia vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Somalia
2100 5,767,668 68,384,185
2099 5,765,660 68,040,371
2098 5,762,971 67,702,230
2097 5,759,632 67,362,336
2096 5,755,430 66,972,933
2095 5,750,385 66,585,659
2094 5,744,540 66,179,819
2093 5,737,026 65,760,590
2092 5,728,594 65,324,261
2091 5,719,408 64,852,843
2090 5,708,875 64,362,727
2089 5,697,140 63,922,797
2088 5,684,094 63,464,036
2087 5,669,958 62,987,028
2086 5,655,091 62,447,029
2085 5,638,646 61,873,597
2084 5,621,067 61,318,916
2083 5,602,456 60,761,800
2082 5,582,581 60,187,980
2081 5,561,294 59,676,722
2080 5,538,819 59,100,915
2079 5,515,086 58,477,428
2078 5,489,750 57,852,528
2077 5,463,305 57,211,821
2076 5,435,859 56,602,463
2075 5,406,946 56,005,600
2074 5,376,718 55,330,165
2073 5,345,328 54,651,918
2072 5,313,201 53,978,548
2071 5,279,975 53,284,016
2070 5,245,200 52,573,210
2069 5,209,379 51,878,214
2068 5,172,146 51,197,653
2067 5,134,037 50,493,028
2066 5,094,458 49,779,172
2065 5,053,246 49,024,665
2064 5,011,122 48,265,876
2063 4,968,038 47,522,361
2062 4,923,683 46,785,920
2061 4,877,966 46,037,526
2060 4,831,631 45,220,507
2059 4,784,535 44,397,936
2058 4,736,846 43,659,021
2057 4,688,039 42,897,422
2056 4,638,482 42,121,542
2055 4,588,184 41,318,179
2054 4,536,562 40,513,141
2053 4,484,692 39,744,995
2052 4,431,827 38,992,177
2051 4,378,133 38,228,872
2050 4,323,657 37,471,735
2049 4,268,536 36,739,905
2048 4,212,677 35,984,999
2047 4,155,975 35,218,863
2046 4,098,930 34,462,403
2045 4,041,218 33,717,596
2044 3,982,976 32,977,674
2043 3,924,126 32,247,710
2042 3,864,662 31,537,272
2041 3,805,317 30,794,853
2040 3,745,312 30,032,324
2039 3,685,048 29,312,883
2038 3,624,271 28,583,386
2037 3,563,745 27,838,646
2036 3,502,991 27,114,453
2035 3,442,074 26,385,421
2034 3,381,008 25,687,629
2033 3,319,646 25,018,509
2032 3,258,080 24,338,597
2031 3,196,605 23,657,353
2030 3,134,968 22,965,742
2029 3,072,981 22,299,610
2028 3,010,624 21,651,582
2027 2,948,246 20,991,860
2026 2,885,613 20,322,668
2025 2,822,861 19,666,990
2024 2,759,988 19,009,151
2023 2,697,845 18,358,615
2022 2,636,470 17,801,897
2021 2,576,010 17,271,431
2020 2,515,733 16,651,191
2019 2,456,844 16,030,971
2018 2,399,632 15,452,487
2017 2,342,189 14,916,629
2016 2,283,769 14,348,740
2015 2,224,529 13,806,963
2014 2,164,528 13,339,491
2013 2,103,820 12,869,594
2012 2,043,094 12,461,160
2011 1,983,784 12,348,830
2010 1,926,630 12,261,756
2009 1,871,422 11,961,201
2008 1,817,852 11,663,084
2007 1,765,774 11,322,582
2006 1,715,275 10,975,502
2005 1,667,037 10,644,228
2004 1,621,312 10,280,998
2003 1,577,611 9,909,157
2002 1,535,691 9,550,063
2001 1,495,011 9,198,493
2000 1,455,084 8,838,713
1999 1,415,779 8,492,059
1998 1,376,987 8,155,417
1997 1,338,889 7,824,525
1996 1,301,410 7,554,474
1995 1,264,313 7,285,007
1994 1,227,226 7,026,797
1993 1,188,365 6,681,399
1992 1,145,582 6,495,107
1991 1,099,959 6,813,760
1990 1,054,696 7,082,811
1989 1,011,357 7,114,817
1988 970,160 7,235,360
1987 931,091 7,228,302
1986 894,019 6,974,788
1985 858,874 6,693,289
1984 825,631 6,428,389
1983 794,525 6,198,430
1982 765,753 6,003,840
1981 739,125 5,982,849
1980 713,913 5,936,154
1979 689,781 5,449,117
1978 667,103 4,814,892
1977 645,770 4,484,050
1976 625,667 4,365,812
1975 606,821 4,257,535
1974 589,085 4,151,842
1973 571,991 4,045,592
1972 555,370 3,939,436
1971 539,388 3,837,691
1970 524,105 3,738,448
1969 509,440 3,641,015
1968 495,269 3,546,590
1967 481,588 3,454,537
1966 468,516 3,365,106
1965 455,952 3,277,874
1964 443,687 3,192,796
1963 431,757 3,110,361
1962 420,163 3,030,091
1961 408,930 2,952,054
1960 398,060 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 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 Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Somalia
2100 0.03% 0.51%
2099 0.05% 0.5%
2098 0.06% 0.5%
2097 0.07% 0.58%
2096 0.09% 0.58%
2095 0.1% 0.61%
2094 0.13% 0.64%
2093 0.15% 0.67%
2092 0.16% 0.73%
2091 0.18% 0.76%
2090 0.21% 0.69%
2089 0.23% 0.72%
2088 0.25% 0.76%
2087 0.26% 0.86%
2086 0.29% 0.93%
2085 0.31% 0.9%
2084 0.33% 0.92%
2083 0.36% 0.95%
2082 0.38% 0.86%
2081 0.41% 0.97%
2080 0.43% 1.07%
2079 0.46% 1.08%
2078 0.48% 1.12%
2077 0.5% 1.08%
2076 0.53% 1.07%
2075 0.56% 1.22%
2074 0.59% 1.24%
2073 0.6% 1.25%
2072 0.63% 1.3%
2071 0.66% 1.35%
2070 0.69% 1.34%
2069 0.72% 1.33%
2068 0.74% 1.4%
2067 0.78% 1.43%
2066 0.82% 1.54%
2065 0.84% 1.57%
2064 0.87% 1.56%
2063 0.9% 1.57%
2062 0.94% 1.63%
2061 0.96% 1.81%
2060 0.98% 1.85%
2059 1.01% 1.69%
2058 1.04% 1.78%
2057 1.07% 1.84%
2056 1.1% 1.94%
2055 1.14% 1.99%
2054 1.16% 1.93%
2053 1.19% 1.93%
2052 1.23% 2%
2051 1.26% 2.02%
2050 1.29% 1.99%
2049 1.33% 2.1%
2048 1.36% 2.18%
2047 1.39% 2.2%
2046 1.43% 2.21%
2045 1.46% 2.24%
2044 1.5% 2.26%
2043 1.54% 2.25%
2042 1.56% 2.41%
2041 1.6% 2.54%
2040 1.64% 2.45%
2039 1.68% 2.55%
2038 1.7% 2.68%
2037 1.73% 2.67%
2036 1.77% 2.76%
2035 1.81% 2.72%
2034 1.85% 2.67%
2033 1.89% 2.79%
2032 1.92% 2.88%
2031 1.97% 3.01%
2030 2.02% 2.99%
2029 2.07% 2.99%
2028 2.12% 3.14%
2027 2.17% 3.29%
2026 2.22% 3.33%
2025 2.28% 3.46%
2024 2.3% 3.54%
2023 2.33% 3.13%
2022 2.35% 3.07%
2021 2.4% 3.72%
2020 2.4% 3.87%
2019 2.38% 3.74%
2018 2.45% 3.59%
2017 2.56% 3.96%
2016 2.66% 3.92%
2015 2.77% 3.5%
2014 2.89% 3.65%
2013 2.97% 3.28%
2012 2.99% 0.91%
2011 2.97% 0.71%
2010 2.95% 2.51%
2009 2.95% 2.56%
2008 2.95% 3.01%
2007 2.94% 3.16%
2006 2.89% 3.11%
2005 2.82% 3.53%
2004 2.77% 3.75%
2003 2.73% 3.76%
2002 2.72% 3.82%
2001 2.74% 4.07%
2000 2.78% 4.08%
1999 2.82% 4.13%
1998 2.85% 4.23%
1997 2.88% 3.57%
1996 2.93% 3.7%
1995 3.02% 3.67%
1994 3.27% 5.17%
1993 3.73% 2.87%
1992 4.15% -4.68%
1991 4.29% -3.8%
1990 4.29% -0.45%
1989 4.25% -1.67%
1988 4.2% 0.1%
1987 4.15% 3.63%
1986 4.09% 4.21%
1985 4.03% 4.12%
1984 3.92% 3.71%
1983 3.76% 3.24%
1982 3.6% 0.35%
1981 3.53% 0.79%
1980 3.5% 8.94%
1979 3.4% 13.2%
1978 3.3% 7.38%
1977 3.21% 2.71%
1976 3.11% 2.54%
1975 3.01% 2.55%
1974 2.99% 2.63%
1973 2.99% 2.69%
1972 2.96% 2.65%
1971 2.92% 2.65%
1970 2.88% 2.68%
1969 2.86% 2.66%
1968 2.84% 2.66%
1967 2.79% 2.66%
1966 2.76% 2.66%
1965 2.76% 2.66%
1964 2.76% 2.65%
1963 2.76% 2.65%
1962 2.75% 2.64%
1961 2.73% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Gambia Somalia
Current population
2902554
20503678
Population rank 138/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.25%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
6.4 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
31 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 8/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 +12,077
Net migration rank 107/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 12,077
2024 - -2,989 - 26,859
2023 65,118 -3,000 608,203 46,217
2022 63,634 -3,000 551,450 -92,434
2021 62,239 -1,949 566,399 35,506
2020 62,209 -1,949 561,311 77,259
2019 61,701 -4,186 548,756 53,124
2018 60,854 -3,944 514,244 40,844
2017 61,665 -3,696 478,556 38,067
2016 62,358 -3,486 495,132 124,017
2015 62,832 -3,224 481,573 -17,178
2014 63,185 -2,793 464,481 6,065
2013 63,510 -2,476 448,518 20,723
2012 62,745 -2,332 399,468 -51,833
2011 60,571 -2,360 203,213 -326,192
2010 58,554 -2,456 385,571 -88,448
2009 56,575 -2,259 405,784 -101,795
2008 55,032 -2,204 394,258 -102,035
2007 53,653 -2,320 380,303 8,476
2006 52,335 -2,666 372,597 -67,200
2005 50,010 -3,209 363,117 -5,955
2004 48,276 -3,636 351,959 17,353
2003 46,473 -3,713 341,192 33,174
2002 45,156 -4,067 331,215 12,603
2001 44,154 -3,882 319,059 40,274
2000 43,249 -3,670 306,651 53,580
1999 42,533 -3,493 295,523 37,548
1998 41,842 -3,291 284,779 55,426
1997 40,742 -3,098 271,894 49,692
1996 40,253 -2,948 264,807 -46,291
1995 39,681 -2,797 254,509 65,888
1994 38,880 -1,586 246,950 -50,921
1993 37,302 3,131 232,960 261,815
1992 35,951 9,182 57,495 -179,675
1991 34,584 11,530 53,052 -568,166
1990 33,163 11,242 225,162 -248,155
1989 31,504 10,765 225,255 -266,281
1988 29,938 10,187 215,599 -415,660
1987 28,452 9,563 231,580 -17,391
1986 27,195 8,934 218,416 74,424
1985 25,795 8,373 207,960 62,183
1984 24,586 7,733 199,017 60,630
1983 23,175 6,713 190,775 9,505
1982 21,894 5,757 182,793 6,115
1981 20,156 5,438 185,211 -332,129
1980 19,566 5,268 174,790 65,519
1979 18,543 4,898 151,016 582,746
1978 17,424 4,493 132,689 402,005
1977 16,773 3,969 124,818 2,170
1976 16,032 3,436 113,319 -3,831
1975 15,256 2,979 108,998 -1,934
1974 14,628 2,610 104,813 -495
1973 14,046 2,907 108,038 143
1972 13,432 2,861 104,493 -351
1971 12,842 2,817 101,196 -1,850
1970 12,128 2,777 98,025 1,104
1969 11,670 2,757 95,045 690
1968 11,215 2,705 92,208 906
1967 10,823 2,617 89,497 1,498
1966 10,422 2,272 86,930 941
1965 10,162 2,272 84,448 2,142
1964 9,825 2,272 82,042 1,518
1963 9,493 2,272 79,859 1,449
1962 9,150 2,272 77,737 1,496
1961 8,778 2,272 75,513 1,336
1960 8,420 2,272 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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