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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 12,565,048 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 +2.44% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Gambia vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia South Sudan
2100 5,766,099 24,078,379
2099 5,764,092 24,072,957
2098 5,761,403 24,054,947
2097 5,758,064 24,056,753
2096 5,753,864 24,045,972
2095 5,748,821 24,037,837
2094 5,742,977 24,039,267
2093 5,735,465 24,030,512
2092 5,727,035 24,010,555
2091 5,717,851 23,991,816
2090 5,707,322 23,970,012
2089 5,695,590 23,929,017
2088 5,682,547 23,883,712
2087 5,668,415 23,848,809
2086 5,653,552 23,794,890
2085 5,637,112 23,750,772
2084 5,619,538 23,678,728
2083 5,600,932 23,609,290
2082 5,581,062 23,532,790
2081 5,559,781 23,458,146
2080 5,537,312 23,383,482
2079 5,513,586 23,286,011
2078 5,488,256 23,188,860
2077 5,461,819 23,078,416
2076 5,434,380 22,979,198
2075 5,405,474 22,860,496
2074 5,375,255 22,718,148
2073 5,343,873 22,575,682
2072 5,311,755 22,431,004
2071 5,278,538 22,280,140
2070 5,243,773 22,143,813
2069 5,207,961 21,995,874
2068 5,170,739 21,822,076
2067 5,132,640 21,654,546
2066 5,093,072 21,489,275
2065 5,051,871 21,309,913
2064 5,009,758 21,134,522
2063 4,966,686 20,957,705
2062 4,922,343 20,777,701
2061 4,876,639 20,601,672
2060 4,830,317 20,423,629
2059 4,783,233 20,227,862
2058 4,735,557 20,041,880
2057 4,686,764 19,846,671
2056 4,637,220 19,652,407
2055 4,586,935 19,457,411
2054 4,535,328 19,250,667
2053 4,483,472 19,053,773
2052 4,430,621 18,833,795
2051 4,376,942 18,626,605
2050 4,322,480 18,427,690
2049 4,267,374 18,224,430
2048 4,211,530 18,014,650
2047 4,154,844 17,799,982
2046 4,097,814 17,572,953
2045 4,040,118 17,348,901
2044 3,981,892 17,115,914
2043 3,923,058 16,882,303
2042 3,863,611 16,639,465
2041 3,804,282 16,390,966
2040 3,744,293 16,137,104
2039 3,684,045 15,884,330
2038 3,623,285 15,622,514
2037 3,562,776 15,358,539
2036 3,502,038 15,085,936
2035 3,441,138 14,810,066
2034 3,380,088 14,538,365
2033 3,318,743 14,273,128
2032 3,257,194 14,002,178
2031 3,195,735 13,725,779
2030 3,134,115 13,460,850
2029 3,072,145 13,201,804
2028 3,009,805 12,942,501
2027 2,947,443 12,688,278
2026 2,884,828 12,434,895
2025 2,822,093 12,188,788
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% 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 48.2% to 4,322,480 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 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 2.25% 2.05%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Gambia South Sudan
Current population
2916990
12565048
Population rank 138/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.15%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
2.15 minutes
One birth every
6.38 minutes
1.51 minutes
One death every
30.5 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +672
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 48/197
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 65,157 -2,989 231,714 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 2026-07-08).

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 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people). In South Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 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 (1960–2025, 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/south-sudan | 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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