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Population in the Gambia compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 22.6 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.83% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Gambia vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia South Africa
2100 5,767,668 94,767,727
2099 5,765,660 94,556,931
2098 5,762,971 94,349,546
2097 5,759,632 94,158,472
2096 5,755,430 93,960,605
2095 5,750,385 93,752,736
2094 5,744,540 93,527,902
2093 5,737,026 93,300,398
2092 5,728,594 93,074,837
2091 5,719,408 92,826,204
2090 5,708,875 92,594,033
2089 5,697,140 92,355,184
2088 5,684,094 92,112,914
2087 5,669,958 91,866,024
2086 5,655,091 91,614,165
2085 5,638,646 91,385,350
2084 5,621,067 91,139,318
2083 5,602,456 90,877,425
2082 5,582,581 90,615,359
2081 5,561,294 90,345,492
2080 5,538,819 90,071,835
2079 5,515,086 89,801,998
2078 5,489,750 89,526,224
2077 5,463,305 89,249,206
2076 5,435,859 88,986,114
2075 5,406,946 88,713,215
2074 5,376,718 88,428,616
2073 5,345,328 88,149,885
2072 5,313,201 87,866,246
2071 5,279,975 87,540,177
2070 5,245,200 87,209,425
2069 5,209,379 86,901,512
2068 5,172,146 86,588,742
2067 5,134,037 86,268,392
2066 5,094,458 85,935,310
2065 5,053,246 85,604,376
2064 5,011,122 85,244,950
2063 4,968,038 84,875,503
2062 4,923,683 84,503,237
2061 4,877,966 84,132,885
2060 4,831,631 83,748,999
2059 4,784,535 83,354,923
2058 4,736,846 82,947,675
2057 4,688,039 82,538,045
2056 4,638,482 82,127,477
2055 4,588,184 81,698,196
2054 4,536,562 81,255,867
2053 4,484,692 80,818,632
2052 4,431,827 80,367,409
2051 4,378,133 79,886,672
2050 4,323,657 79,411,977
2049 4,268,536 78,925,493
2048 4,212,677 78,437,677
2047 4,155,975 77,922,211
2046 4,098,930 77,397,298
2045 4,041,218 76,879,838
2044 3,982,976 76,357,155
2043 3,924,126 75,827,709
2042 3,864,662 75,291,615
2041 3,805,317 74,748,408
2040 3,745,312 74,205,530
2039 3,685,048 73,663,047
2038 3,624,271 73,105,930
2037 3,563,745 72,532,742
2036 3,502,991 71,956,247
2035 3,442,074 71,362,555
2034 3,381,008 70,762,815
2033 3,319,646 70,153,205
2032 3,258,080 69,527,410
2031 3,196,605 68,890,002
2030 3,134,968 68,245,372
2029 3,072,981 67,573,179
2028 3,010,624 66,884,377
2027 2,948,246 66,190,258
2026 2,885,613 65,496,277
2025 2,822,861 64,770,314
2024 2,759,988 64,007,187
2023 2,697,845 63,212,384
2022 2,636,470 62,378,410
2021 2,576,010 61,502,603
2020 2,515,733 60,562,381
2019 2,456,844 59,587,885
2018 2,399,632 58,613,001
2017 2,342,189 57,635,162
2016 2,283,769 57,259,551
2015 2,224,529 56,723,537
2014 2,164,528 55,594,838
2013 2,103,820 54,678,791
2012 2,043,094 53,782,567
2011 1,983,784 52,995,205
2010 1,926,630 52,344,051
2009 1,871,422 51,728,516
2008 1,817,852 51,114,599
2007 1,765,774 50,528,584
2006 1,715,275 49,998,277
2005 1,667,037 49,490,033
2004 1,621,312 48,991,421
2003 1,577,611 48,500,348
2002 1,535,691 48,019,415
2001 1,495,011 47,566,800
2000 1,455,084 47,159,719
1999 1,415,779 46,730,335
1998 1,376,987 46,223,880
1997 1,338,889 45,666,838
1996 1,301,410 45,123,018
1995 1,264,313 44,541,554
1994 1,227,226 44,004,139
1993 1,188,365 43,297,156
1992 1,145,582 42,443,509
1991 1,099,959 41,687,898
1990 1,054,696 40,746,268
1989 1,011,357 39,628,575
1988 970,160 38,480,649
1987 931,091 37,326,190
1986 894,019 36,180,515
1985 858,874 35,042,093
1984 825,631 33,892,788
1983 794,525 32,739,304
1982 765,753 31,615,339
1981 739,125 30,541,044
1980 713,913 29,518,857
1979 689,781 28,634,162
1978 667,103 27,869,507
1977 645,770 27,118,952
1976 625,667 26,395,450
1975 606,821 25,690,940
1974 589,085 24,989,108
1973 571,991 24,294,263
1972 555,370 23,609,456
1971 539,388 22,942,143
1970 524,105 22,279,984
1969 509,440 21,614,676
1968 495,269 20,957,287
1967 481,588 20,314,066
1966 468,516 19,690,087
1965 455,952 19,089,380
1964 443,687 18,511,361
1963 431,757 17,954,564
1962 420,163 17,418,522
1961 408,930 16,908,035
1960 398,060 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia South Africa
2100 0.03% 0.22%
2099 0.05% 0.22%
2098 0.06% 0.2%
2097 0.07% 0.21%
2096 0.09% 0.22%
2095 0.1% 0.24%
2094 0.13% 0.24%
2093 0.15% 0.24%
2092 0.16% 0.27%
2091 0.18% 0.25%
2090 0.21% 0.26%
2089 0.23% 0.26%
2088 0.25% 0.27%
2087 0.26% 0.27%
2086 0.29% 0.25%
2085 0.31% 0.27%
2084 0.33% 0.29%
2083 0.36% 0.29%
2082 0.38% 0.3%
2081 0.41% 0.3%
2080 0.43% 0.3%
2079 0.46% 0.31%
2078 0.48% 0.31%
2077 0.5% 0.3%
2076 0.53% 0.31%
2075 0.56% 0.32%
2074 0.59% 0.32%
2073 0.6% 0.32%
2072 0.63% 0.37%
2071 0.66% 0.38%
2070 0.69% 0.35%
2069 0.72% 0.36%
2068 0.74% 0.37%
2067 0.78% 0.39%
2066 0.82% 0.39%
2065 0.84% 0.42%
2064 0.87% 0.44%
2063 0.9% 0.44%
2062 0.94% 0.44%
2061 0.96% 0.46%
2060 0.98% 0.47%
2059 1.01% 0.49%
2058 1.04% 0.5%
2057 1.07% 0.5%
2056 1.1% 0.53%
2055 1.14% 0.54%
2054 1.16% 0.54%
2053 1.19% 0.56%
2052 1.23% 0.6%
2051 1.26% 0.6%
2050 1.29% 0.62%
2049 1.33% 0.62%
2048 1.36% 0.66%
2047 1.39% 0.68%
2046 1.43% 0.67%
2045 1.46% 0.68%
2044 1.5% 0.7%
2043 1.54% 0.71%
2042 1.56% 0.73%
2041 1.6% 0.73%
2040 1.64% 0.74%
2039 1.68% 0.76%
2038 1.7% 0.79%
2037 1.73% 0.8%
2036 1.77% 0.83%
2035 1.81% 0.85%
2034 1.85% 0.87%
2033 1.89% 0.9%
2032 1.92% 0.93%
2031 1.97% 0.94%
2030 2.02% 0.99%
2029 2.07% 1.03%
2028 2.12% 1.05%
2027 2.17% 1.06%
2026 2.22% 1.12%
2025 2.28% 1.19%
2024 2.3% 1.26%
2023 2.33% 1.34%
2022 2.35% 1.42%
2021 2.4% 1.55%
2020 2.4% 1.64%
2019 2.38% 1.66%
2018 2.45% 1.7%
2017 2.56% 0.66%
2016 2.66% 0.94%
2015 2.77% 2.03%
2014 2.89% 1.68%
2013 2.97% 1.67%
2012 2.99% 1.49%
2011 2.97% 1.24%
2010 2.95% 1.19%
2009 2.95% 1.2%
2008 2.95% 1.16%
2007 2.94% 1.06%
2006 2.89% 1.03%
2005 2.82% 1.02%
2004 2.77% 1.01%
2003 2.73% 1%
2002 2.72% 0.95%
2001 2.74% 0.86%
2000 2.78% 0.92%
1999 2.82% 1.1%
1998 2.85% 1.22%
1997 2.88% 1.21%
1996 2.93% 1.31%
1995 3.02% 1.22%
1994 3.27% 1.63%
1993 3.73% 2.01%
1992 4.15% 1.81%
1991 4.29% 2.31%
1990 4.29% 2.82%
1989 4.25% 2.98%
1988 4.2% 3.09%
1987 4.15% 3.17%
1986 4.09% 3.25%
1985 4.03% 3.39%
1984 3.92% 3.52%
1983 3.76% 3.56%
1982 3.6% 3.52%
1981 3.53% 3.46%
1980 3.5% 3.09%
1979 3.4% 2.74%
1978 3.3% 2.77%
1977 3.21% 2.74%
1976 3.11% 2.74%
1975 3.01% 2.81%
1974 2.99% 2.86%
1973 2.99% 2.9%
1972 2.96% 2.91%
1971 2.92% 2.97%
1970 2.88% 3.08%
1969 2.86% 3.14%
1968 2.84% 3.17%
1967 2.79% 3.17%
1966 2.76% 3.15%
1965 2.76% 3.12%
1964 2.76% 3.1%
1963 2.76% 3.08%
1962 2.75% 3.02%
1961 2.73% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Gambia South Africa
Current population
2902554
65683993
Population rank 138/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.79%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
6.4 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
31 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +170 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 85/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 +146,370
Net migration rank 107/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 146,370
2024 - -2,989 - 166,972
2023 65,118 -3,000 602,793 228,222
2022 63,634 -3,000 603,636 233,284
2021 62,239 -1,949 456,411 458,246
2020 62,209 -1,949 595,873 369,901
2019 61,701 -4,186 652,130 331,124
2018 60,854 -3,944 648,319 318,260
2017 61,665 -3,696 645,975 343,146
2016 62,358 -3,486 641,365 -879,235
2015 62,832 -3,224 668,771 641,150
2014 63,185 -2,793 674,754 272,697
2013 63,510 -2,476 652,427 232,230
2012 62,745 -2,332 643,723 264,091
2011 60,571 -2,360 601,708 65,166
2010 58,554 -2,456 566,834 68,563
2009 56,575 -2,259 554,115 41,528
2008 55,032 -2,204 595,332 36,869
2007 53,653 -2,320 503,567 36,339
2006 52,335 -2,666 487,584 33,159
2005 50,010 -3,209 464,464 31,286
2004 48,276 -3,636 442,540 58,924
2003 46,473 -3,713 415,018 65,604
2002 45,156 -4,067 430,926 50,313
2001 44,154 -3,882 484,801 -60,793
2000 43,249 -3,670 526,963 -136,794
1999 42,533 -3,493 594,643 -126,011
1998 41,842 -3,291 627,027 -82,722
1997 40,742 -3,098 667,969 -98,181
1996 40,253 -2,948 710,868 -193,007
1995 39,681 -2,797 743,488 -98,403
1994 38,880 -1,586 698,609 -268,849
1993 37,302 3,131 789,220 194,977
1992 35,951 9,182 794,415 -71,342
1991 34,584 11,530 827,296 -39,131
1990 33,163 11,242 835,421 259,718
1989 31,504 10,765 884,629 255,605
1988 29,938 10,187 909,221 246,382
1987 28,452 9,563 922,330 231,009
1986 27,195 8,934 903,644 234,378
1985 25,795 8,373 893,889 244,940
1984 24,586 7,733 869,011 290,789
1983 23,175 6,713 837,013 310,172
1982 21,894 5,757 807,550 293,195
1981 20,156 5,438 767,833 279,985
1980 19,566 5,268 738,415 258,127
1979 18,543 4,898 716,541 56,323
1978 17,424 4,493 694,341 62,121
1977 16,773 3,969 680,929 63,739
1976 16,032 3,436 675,011 27,333
1975 15,256 2,979 667,862 38,809
1974 14,628 2,610 658,438 38,518
1973 14,046 2,907 651,596 41,125
1972 13,432 2,861 638,754 38,163
1971 12,842 2,817 624,761 32,961
1970 12,128 2,777 605,102 61,514
1969 11,670 2,757 590,794 73,225
1968 11,215 2,705 571,841 78,932
1967 10,823 2,617 553,741 81,932
1966 10,422 2,272 534,862 77,417
1965 10,162 2,272 506,632 82,514
1964 9,825 2,272 490,606 76,298
1963 9,493 2,272 473,821 72,844
1962 9,150 2,272 455,634 69,771
1961 8,778 2,272 437,851 57,728
1960 8,420 2,272 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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