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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 4.31 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Gambia vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia South Sudan
2100 5,767,668 24,086,901
2099 5,765,660 24,081,477
2098 5,762,971 24,063,461
2097 5,759,632 24,065,268
2096 5,755,430 24,054,483
2095 5,750,385 24,046,345
2094 5,744,540 24,047,776
2093 5,737,026 24,039,017
2092 5,728,594 24,019,054
2091 5,719,408 24,000,308
2090 5,708,875 23,978,496
2089 5,697,140 23,937,487
2088 5,684,094 23,892,166
2087 5,669,958 23,857,250
2086 5,655,091 23,803,312
2085 5,638,646 23,759,178
2084 5,621,067 23,687,109
2083 5,602,456 23,617,646
2082 5,582,581 23,541,119
2081 5,561,294 23,466,449
2080 5,538,819 23,391,758
2079 5,515,086 23,294,252
2078 5,489,750 23,197,067
2077 5,463,305 23,086,584
2076 5,435,859 22,987,331
2075 5,406,946 22,868,587
2074 5,376,718 22,726,189
2073 5,345,328 22,583,672
2072 5,313,201 22,438,943
2071 5,279,975 22,288,026
2070 5,245,200 22,151,650
2069 5,209,379 22,003,659
2068 5,172,146 21,829,800
2067 5,134,037 21,662,211
2066 5,094,458 21,496,881
2065 5,053,246 21,317,455
2064 5,011,122 21,142,002
2063 4,968,038 20,965,122
2062 4,923,683 20,785,055
2061 4,877,966 20,608,964
2060 4,831,631 20,430,857
2059 4,784,535 20,235,022
2058 4,736,846 20,048,974
2057 4,688,039 19,853,696
2056 4,638,482 19,659,362
2055 4,588,184 19,464,297
2054 4,536,562 19,257,481
2053 4,484,692 19,060,517
2052 4,431,827 18,840,461
2051 4,378,133 18,633,198
2050 4,323,657 18,434,212
2049 4,268,536 18,230,881
2048 4,212,677 18,021,026
2047 4,155,975 17,806,282
2046 4,098,930 17,579,173
2045 4,041,218 17,355,041
2044 3,982,976 17,121,972
2043 3,924,126 16,888,278
2042 3,864,662 16,645,354
2041 3,805,317 16,396,768
2040 3,745,312 16,142,816
2039 3,685,048 15,889,952
2038 3,624,271 15,628,043
2037 3,563,745 15,363,975
2036 3,502,991 15,091,275
2035 3,442,074 14,815,307
2034 3,381,008 14,543,511
2033 3,319,646 14,278,180
2032 3,258,080 14,007,134
2031 3,196,605 13,730,637
2030 3,134,968 13,465,615
2029 3,072,981 13,206,477
2028 3,010,624 12,947,082
2027 2,948,246 12,692,769
2026 2,885,613 12,439,296
2025 2,822,861 12,193,102
2024 2,759,988 11,943,408
2023 2,697,845 11,483,374
2022 2,636,470 11,021,177
2021 2,576,010 10,865,780
2020 2,515,733 10,698,467
2019 2,456,844 10,423,384
2018 2,399,632 10,122,977
2017 2,342,189 10,259,154
2016 2,283,769 10,830,102
2015 2,224,529 11,107,561
2014 2,164,528 11,235,073
2013 2,103,820 11,166,275
2012 2,043,094 10,756,240
2011 1,983,784 10,288,109
2010 1,926,630 9,745,953
2009 1,871,422 9,243,556
2008 1,817,852 8,817,647
2007 1,765,774 8,388,788
2006 1,715,275 7,976,526
2005 1,667,037 7,590,143
2004 1,621,312 7,233,041
2003 1,577,611 6,903,127
2002 1,535,691 6,596,806
2001 1,495,011 6,308,391
2000 1,455,084 6,032,267
1999 1,415,779 5,771,628
1998 1,376,987 5,620,068
1997 1,338,889 5,509,136
1996 1,301,410 5,356,925
1995 1,264,313 5,225,836
1994 1,227,226 5,071,184
1993 1,188,365 4,956,002
1992 1,145,582 4,909,749
1991 1,099,959 4,836,677
1990 1,054,696 4,737,633
1989 1,011,357 4,713,229
1988 970,160 4,848,029
1987 931,091 4,962,395
1986 894,019 4,921,240
1985 858,874 4,834,296
1984 825,631 4,750,627
1983 794,525 4,661,574
1982 765,753 4,557,686
1981 739,125 4,447,272
1980 713,913 4,339,030
1979 689,781 4,232,605
1978 667,103 4,127,657
1977 645,770 4,024,032
1976 625,667 3,921,910
1975 606,821 3,821,494
1974 589,085 3,723,259
1973 571,991 3,627,383
1972 555,370 3,542,497
1971 539,388 3,468,646
1970 524,105 3,409,614
1969 509,440 3,365,533
1968 495,269 3,321,528
1967 481,588 3,277,648
1966 468,516 3,236,423
1965 455,952 3,189,835
1964 443,687 3,129,918
1963 431,757 3,072,669
1962 420,163 3,024,308
1961 408,930 2,976,724
1960 398,060 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia South Sudan
2100 0.03% 0.02%
2099 0.05% 0.07%
2098 0.06% -0.008%
2097 0.07% 0.04%
2096 0.09% 0.03%
2095 0.1% -0.006%
2094 0.13% 0.04%
2093 0.15% 0.08%
2092 0.16% 0.08%
2091 0.18% 0.09%
2090 0.21% 0.17%
2089 0.23% 0.19%
2088 0.25% 0.15%
2087 0.26% 0.23%
2086 0.29% 0.19%
2085 0.31% 0.3%
2084 0.33% 0.29%
2083 0.36% 0.33%
2082 0.38% 0.32%
2081 0.41% 0.32%
2080 0.43% 0.42%
2079 0.46% 0.42%
2078 0.48% 0.48%
2077 0.5% 0.43%
2076 0.53% 0.52%
2075 0.56% 0.63%
2074 0.59% 0.63%
2073 0.6% 0.64%
2072 0.63% 0.68%
2071 0.66% 0.62%
2070 0.69% 0.67%
2069 0.72% 0.8%
2068 0.74% 0.77%
2067 0.78% 0.77%
2066 0.82% 0.84%
2065 0.84% 0.83%
2064 0.87% 0.84%
2063 0.9% 0.87%
2062 0.94% 0.85%
2061 0.96% 0.87%
2060 0.98% 0.97%
2059 1.01% 0.93%
2058 1.04% 0.98%
2057 1.07% 0.99%
2056 1.1% 1%
2055 1.14% 1.07%
2054 1.16% 1.03%
2053 1.19% 1.17%
2052 1.23% 1.11%
2051 1.26% 1.08%
2050 1.29% 1.12%
2049 1.33% 1.16%
2048 1.36% 1.21%
2047 1.39% 1.29%
2046 1.43% 1.29%
2045 1.46% 1.36%
2044 1.5% 1.38%
2043 1.54% 1.46%
2042 1.56% 1.52%
2041 1.6% 1.57%
2040 1.64% 1.59%
2039 1.68% 1.68%
2038 1.7% 1.72%
2037 1.73% 1.81%
2036 1.77% 1.86%
2035 1.81% 1.87%
2034 1.85% 1.86%
2033 1.89% 1.94%
2032 1.92% 2.01%
2031 1.97% 1.97%
2030 2.02% 1.96%
2029 2.07% 2%
2028 2.12% 2%
2027 2.17% 2.04%
2026 2.22% 2.02%
2025 2.28% 2.09%
2024 2.3% 4.01%
2023 2.33% 4.19%
2022 2.35% 1.43%
2021 2.4% 1.56%
2020 2.4% 2.64%
2019 2.38% 2.97%
2018 2.45% -1.33%
2017 2.56% -5.27%
2016 2.66% -2.5%
2015 2.77% -1.13%
2014 2.89% 0.62%
2013 2.97% 3.81%
2012 2.99% 4.55%
2011 2.97% 5.56%
2010 2.95% 5.44%
2009 2.95% 4.83%
2008 2.95% 5.11%
2007 2.94% 5.17%
2006 2.89% 5.09%
2005 2.82% 4.94%
2004 2.77% 4.78%
2003 2.73% 4.64%
2002 2.72% 4.57%
2001 2.74% 4.58%
2000 2.78% 4.52%
1999 2.82% 2.7%
1998 2.85% 2.01%
1997 2.88% 2.84%
1996 2.93% 2.51%
1995 3.02% 3.05%
1994 3.27% 2.32%
1993 3.73% 0.94%
1992 4.15% 1.51%
1991 4.29% 2.09%
1990 4.29% 0.52%
1989 4.25% -2.78%
1988 4.2% -2.3%
1987 4.15% 0.84%
1986 4.09% 1.8%
1985 4.03% 1.76%
1984 3.92% 1.91%
1983 3.76% 2.28%
1982 3.6% 2.48%
1981 3.53% 2.49%
1980 3.5% 2.51%
1979 3.4% 2.54%
1978 3.3% 2.58%
1977 3.21% 2.6%
1976 3.11% 2.63%
1975 3.01% 2.64%
1974 2.99% 2.64%
1973 2.99% 2.4%
1972 2.96% 2.13%
1971 2.92% 1.73%
1970 2.88% 1.31%
1969 2.86% 1.32%
1968 2.84% 1.34%
1967 2.79% 1.27%
1966 2.76% 1.46%
1965 2.76% 1.91%
1964 2.76% 1.86%
1963 2.76% 1.6%
1962 2.75% 1.6%
1961 2.73% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Gambia South Sudan
Current population
2902554
12507858
Population rank 138/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.15%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 7/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -2,984 +6,145
Net migration rank 107/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 6,145
2024 - -2,989 - 15,374
2023 65,118 -3,000 217,966 455,000
2022 63,634 -3,000 211,166 40,259
2021 62,239 -1,949 213,567 -154,359
2020 62,209 -1,949 212,332 62,935
2019 61,701 -4,186 209,708 65,198
2018 60,854 -3,944 168,497 157,408
2017 61,665 -3,696 72,193 -670,477
2016 62,358 -3,486 110,553 -654,225
2015 62,832 -3,224 148,542 -159,822
2014 63,185 -2,793 227,611 -471,523
2013 63,510 -2,476 315,983 65,337
2012 62,745 -2,332 312,974 125,771
2011 60,571 -2,360 303,181 194,325
2010 58,554 -2,456 287,409 299,402
2009 56,575 -2,259 278,859 139,129
2008 55,032 -2,204 268,268 165,557
2007 53,653 -2,320 256,546 167,350
2006 52,335 -2,666 246,706 153,926
2005 50,010 -3,209 239,272 132,869
2004 48,276 -3,636 231,877 110,182
2003 46,473 -3,713 225,822 91,951
2002 45,156 -4,067 212,014 82,847
2001 44,154 -3,882 204,108 77,856
2000 43,249 -3,670 196,055 74,227
1999 42,533 -3,493 180,721 70,271
1998 41,842 -3,291 -12,157 64,285
1997 40,742 -3,098 121,454 48,280
1996 40,253 -2,948 116,728 17,953
1995 39,681 -2,797 110,417 17,077
1994 38,880 -1,586 165,407 16,407
1993 37,302 3,131 32,779 15,772
1992 35,951 9,182 28,874 15,077
1991 34,584 11,530 87,873 14,327
1990 33,163 11,242 82,900 12,988
1989 31,504 10,765 83,735 -130,821
1988 29,938 10,187 -125,447 -97,065
1987 28,452 9,563 5,756 -11,976
1986 27,195 8,934 99,502 -10,973
1985 25,795 8,373 95,342 -9,986
1984 24,586 7,733 90,970 -8,984
1983 23,175 6,713 104,107 -7,986
1982 21,894 5,757 118,641 -6,983
1981 20,156 5,438 115,163 -5,994
1980 19,566 5,268 112,307 -4,997
1979 18,543 4,898 109,540 -3,997
1978 17,424 4,493 107,352 -2,998
1977 16,773 3,969 104,886 -1,997
1976 16,032 3,436 102,346 -995
1975 15,256 2,979 99,882 -395
1974 14,628 2,610 97,181 -192
1973 14,046 2,907 94,765 0
1972 13,432 2,861 74,803 193
1971 12,842 2,817 72,308 394
1970 12,128 2,777 44,776 587
1969 11,670 2,757 42,015 786
1968 11,215 2,705 44,213 995
1967 10,823 2,617 41,357 1,194
1966 10,422 2,272 38,523 1,386
1965 10,162 2,272 51,682 1,591
1964 9,825 2,272 64,786 1,785
1963 9,493 2,272 46,333 1,591
1962 9,150 2,272 47,406 1,386
1961 8,778 2,272 45,186 1,194
1960 8,420 2,272 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
South Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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