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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 16.8 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Gambia vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Spain
2100 5,767,668 33,862,981
2099 5,765,660 34,039,965
2098 5,762,971 34,215,187
2097 5,759,632 34,387,116
2096 5,755,430 34,552,002
2095 5,750,385 34,719,411
2094 5,744,540 34,882,039
2093 5,737,026 35,044,043
2092 5,728,594 35,204,657
2091 5,719,408 35,366,895
2090 5,708,875 35,535,838
2089 5,697,140 35,707,942
2088 5,684,094 35,877,681
2087 5,669,958 36,043,209
2086 5,655,091 36,210,710
2085 5,638,646 36,386,207
2084 5,621,067 36,564,622
2083 5,602,456 36,749,680
2082 5,582,581 36,936,644
2081 5,561,294 37,133,976
2080 5,538,819 37,337,517
2079 5,515,086 37,551,557
2078 5,489,750 37,771,135
2077 5,463,305 38,002,963
2076 5,435,859 38,249,247
2075 5,406,946 38,506,040
2074 5,376,718 38,777,715
2073 5,345,328 39,056,249
2072 5,313,201 39,348,447
2071 5,279,975 39,642,346
2070 5,245,200 39,949,413
2069 5,209,379 40,256,590
2068 5,172,146 40,575,543
2067 5,134,037 40,893,798
2066 5,094,458 41,218,263
2065 5,053,246 41,543,254
2064 5,011,122 41,878,338
2063 4,968,038 42,208,320
2062 4,923,683 42,542,893
2061 4,877,966 42,874,096
2060 4,831,631 43,191,452
2059 4,784,535 43,506,737
2058 4,736,846 43,809,907
2057 4,688,039 44,112,668
2056 4,638,482 44,415,689
2055 4,588,184 44,691,749
2054 4,536,562 44,958,971
2053 4,484,692 45,223,225
2052 4,431,827 45,470,541
2051 4,378,133 45,695,307
2050 4,323,657 45,911,520
2049 4,268,536 46,127,777
2048 4,212,677 46,322,244
2047 4,155,975 46,510,152
2046 4,098,930 46,687,914
2045 4,041,218 46,858,778
2044 3,982,976 47,016,278
2043 3,924,126 47,158,325
2042 3,864,662 47,301,091
2041 3,805,317 47,434,593
2040 3,745,312 47,563,236
2039 3,685,048 47,685,343
2038 3,624,271 47,798,797
2037 3,563,745 47,910,899
2036 3,502,991 48,020,350
2035 3,442,074 48,124,430
2034 3,381,008 48,220,051
2033 3,319,646 48,311,842
2032 3,258,080 48,402,470
2031 3,196,605 48,495,278
2030 3,134,968 48,579,920
2029 3,072,981 48,648,699
2028 3,010,624 48,707,969
2027 2,948,246 48,758,200
2026 2,885,613 48,806,901
2025 2,822,861 48,838,057
2024 2,759,988 48,848,840
2023 2,697,845 48,352,528
2022 2,636,470 47,786,102
2021 2,576,010 47,443,821
2020 2,515,733 47,359,424
2019 2,456,844 47,118,501
2018 2,399,632 46,782,011
2017 2,342,189 46,571,232
2016 2,283,769 46,458,139
2015 2,224,529 46,422,303
2014 2,164,528 46,460,733
2013 2,103,820 46,604,197
2012 2,043,094 46,773,055
2011 1,983,784 46,742,697
2010 1,926,630 46,576,897
2009 1,871,422 46,362,946
2008 1,817,852 45,954,106
2007 1,765,774 45,226,803
2006 1,715,275 44,397,319
2005 1,667,037 43,653,155
2004 1,621,312 42,921,895
2003 1,577,611 42,187,645
2002 1,535,691 41,431,558
2001 1,495,011 40,850,412
2000 1,455,084 40,567,864
1999 1,415,779 40,386,875
1998 1,376,987 40,223,509
1997 1,338,889 40,057,389
1996 1,301,410 39,889,852
1995 1,264,313 39,724,050
1994 1,227,226 39,549,108
1993 1,188,365 39,361,262
1992 1,145,582 39,157,685
1991 1,099,959 38,966,376
1990 1,054,696 38,867,322
1989 1,011,357 38,827,764
1988 970,160 38,766,939
1987 931,091 38,684,815
1986 894,019 38,584,624
1985 858,874 38,469,512
1984 825,631 38,330,364
1983 794,525 38,171,525
1982 765,753 37,986,012
1981 739,125 37,758,631
1980 713,913 37,491,165
1979 689,781 37,191,330
1978 667,103 36,864,898
1977 645,770 36,511,638
1976 625,667 36,137,812
1975 606,821 35,757,900
1974 589,085 35,373,335
1973 571,991 34,988,947
1972 555,370 34,604,469
1971 539,388 34,224,490
1970 524,105 33,814,531
1969 509,440 33,441,054
1968 495,269 33,113,134
1967 481,588 32,682,947
1966 468,516 32,283,194
1965 455,952 31,954,292
1964 443,687 31,609,195
1963 431,757 31,296,651
1962 420,163 31,023,366
1961 408,930 30,739,250
1960 398,060 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Spain
2100 0.03% -0.52%
2099 0.05% -0.51%
2098 0.06% -0.5%
2097 0.07% -0.48%
2096 0.09% -0.48%
2095 0.1% -0.47%
2094 0.13% -0.46%
2093 0.15% -0.46%
2092 0.16% -0.46%
2091 0.18% -0.48%
2090 0.21% -0.48%
2089 0.23% -0.47%
2088 0.25% -0.46%
2087 0.26% -0.46%
2086 0.29% -0.48%
2085 0.31% -0.49%
2084 0.33% -0.5%
2083 0.36% -0.51%
2082 0.38% -0.53%
2081 0.41% -0.55%
2080 0.43% -0.57%
2079 0.46% -0.58%
2078 0.48% -0.61%
2077 0.5% -0.64%
2076 0.53% -0.67%
2075 0.56% -0.7%
2074 0.59% -0.71%
2073 0.6% -0.74%
2072 0.63% -0.74%
2071 0.66% -0.77%
2070 0.69% -0.76%
2069 0.72% -0.79%
2068 0.74% -0.78%
2067 0.78% -0.79%
2066 0.82% -0.78%
2065 0.84% -0.8%
2064 0.87% -0.78%
2063 0.9% -0.79%
2062 0.94% -0.77%
2061 0.96% -0.73%
2060 0.98% -0.72%
2059 1.01% -0.69%
2058 1.04% -0.69%
2057 1.07% -0.68%
2056 1.1% -0.62%
2055 1.14% -0.59%
2054 1.16% -0.58%
2053 1.19% -0.54%
2052 1.23% -0.49%
2051 1.26% -0.47%
2050 1.29% -0.47%
2049 1.33% -0.42%
2048 1.36% -0.4%
2047 1.39% -0.38%
2046 1.43% -0.36%
2045 1.46% -0.33%
2044 1.5% -0.3%
2043 1.54% -0.3%
2042 1.56% -0.28%
2041 1.6% -0.27%
2040 1.64% -0.26%
2039 1.68% -0.24%
2038 1.7% -0.23%
2037 1.73% -0.23%
2036 1.77% -0.22%
2035 1.81% -0.2%
2034 1.85% -0.19%
2033 1.89% -0.19%
2032 1.92% -0.19%
2031 1.97% -0.17%
2030 2.02% -0.14%
2029 2.07% -0.12%
2028 2.12% -0.1%
2027 2.17% -0.1%
2026 2.22% -0.06%
2025 2.28% -0.02%
2024 2.3% 1.03%
2023 2.33% 1.19%
2022 2.35% 0.72%
2021 2.4% 0.18%
2020 2.4% 0.51%
2019 2.38% 0.72%
2018 2.45% 0.45%
2017 2.56% 0.24%
2016 2.66% 0.08%
2015 2.77% -0.08%
2014 2.89% -0.31%
2013 2.97% -0.36%
2012 2.99% 0.06%
2011 2.97% 0.36%
2010 2.95% 0.46%
2009 2.95% 0.89%
2008 2.95% 1.61%
2007 2.94% 1.87%
2006 2.89% 1.7%
2005 2.82% 1.7%
2004 2.77% 1.74%
2003 2.73% 1.82%
2002 2.72% 1.42%
2001 2.74% 0.7%
2000 2.78% 0.45%
1999 2.82% 0.41%
1998 2.85% 0.41%
1997 2.88% 0.42%
1996 2.93% 0.42%
1995 3.02% 0.44%
1994 3.27% 0.48%
1993 3.73% 0.52%
1992 4.15% 0.49%
1991 4.29% 0.25%
1990 4.29% 0.1%
1989 4.25% 0.16%
1988 4.2% 0.21%
1987 4.15% 0.26%
1986 4.09% 0.3%
1985 4.03% 0.36%
1984 3.92% 0.42%
1983 3.76% 0.49%
1982 3.6% 0.6%
1981 3.53% 0.71%
1980 3.5% 0.81%
1979 3.4% 0.89%
1978 3.3% 0.97%
1977 3.21% 1.03%
1976 3.11% 1.06%
1975 3.01% 1.09%
1974 2.99% 1.1%
1973 2.99% 1.11%
1972 2.96% 1.11%
1971 2.92% 1.21%
1970 2.88% 1.12%
1969 2.86% 0.99%
1968 2.84% 1.32%
1967 2.79% 1.24%
1966 2.76% 1.03%
1965 2.76% 1.09%
1964 2.76% 1%
1963 2.76% 0.88%
1962 2.75% 0.92%
1961 2.73% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Gambia Spain
Current population
2902554
48806901
Population rank 138/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.59%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 100/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 +96,630
Net migration rank 107/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 96,630
2024 - -2,989 - 111,674
2023 65,118 -3,000 -111,211 119,099
2022 63,634 -3,000 -133,801 299,779
2021 62,239 -1,949 -113,865 144,385
2020 62,209 -1,949 -151,551 236,854
2019 61,701 -4,186 -56,542 464,783
2018 60,854 -3,944 -56,139 337,467
2017 61,665 -3,696 -32,600 201,135
2016 62,358 -3,486 0 106,474
2015 62,832 -3,224 -4,642 -1,979
2014 63,185 -2,793 32,522 -97,870
2013 63,510 -2,476 37,284 -250,741
2012 62,745 -2,332 51,450 -153,486
2011 60,571 -2,360 84,137 60,761
2010 58,554 -2,456 102,469 69,406
2009 56,575 -2,259 106,635 129,557
2008 55,032 -2,204 133,267 434,135
2007 53,653 -2,320 108,545 772,317
2006 52,335 -2,666 110,994 659,720
2005 50,010 -3,209 78,576 629,803
2004 48,276 -3,636 85,844 661,158
2003 46,473 -3,713 54,844 658,428
2002 45,156 -4,067 53,861 737,880
2001 44,154 -3,882 44,936 181,307
2000 43,249 -3,670 36,512 176,269
1999 42,533 -3,493 8,077 178,559
1998 41,842 -3,291 4,022 182,926
1997 40,742 -3,098 20,028 165,345
1996 40,253 -2,948 11,967 162,704
1995 39,681 -2,797 15,889 162,434
1994 38,880 -1,586 31,639 160,407
1993 37,302 3,131 47,234 160,907
1992 35,951 9,182 62,652 177,544
1991 34,584 11,530 58,450 122,841
1990 33,163 11,242 66,075 -30,684
1989 31,504 10,765 81,538 -25,892
1988 29,938 10,187 100,794 -17,663
1987 28,452 9,563 116,054 -12,681
1986 27,195 8,934 131,188 -13,540
1985 25,795 8,373 146,184 -589
1984 24,586 7,733 172,487 2,754
1983 23,175 6,713 183,223 1,241
1982 21,894 5,757 231,714 -7,384
1981 20,156 5,438 237,879 2,563
1980 19,566 5,268 281,184 20,166
1979 18,543 4,898 312,407 -5,929
1978 17,424 4,493 339,157 -2,504
1977 16,773 3,969 361,465 -1,332
1976 16,032 3,436 375,834 2,804
1975 15,256 2,979 371,882 -218
1974 14,628 2,610 396,182 105,838
1973 14,046 2,907 374,381 8,624
1972 13,432 2,861 391,030 7,935
1971 12,842 2,817 369,625 7,363
1970 12,128 2,777 378,723 -60,580
1969 11,670 2,757 367,851 -49,956
1968 11,215 2,705 387,423 -46,088
1967 10,823 2,617 402,001 -42,344
1966 10,422 2,272 397,084 -41,467
1965 10,162 2,272 405,819 -42,476
1964 9,825 2,272 429,885 -41,461
1963 9,493 2,272 394,338 -44,446
1962 9,150 2,272 384,690 -45,211
1961 8,778 2,272 396,537 -46,517
1960 8,420 2,272 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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