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Population in the Gambia compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 7.52 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Gambia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Sri Lanka
2100 5,766,099 20,009,380
2099 5,764,092 20,121,095
2098 5,761,403 20,234,513
2097 5,758,064 20,345,619
2096 5,753,864 20,456,607
2095 5,748,821 20,566,246
2094 5,742,977 20,674,019
2093 5,735,465 20,780,946
2092 5,727,035 20,886,274
2091 5,717,851 20,990,047
2090 5,707,322 21,095,968
2089 5,695,590 21,198,788
2088 5,682,547 21,299,229
2087 5,668,415 21,398,269
2086 5,653,552 21,496,892
2085 5,637,112 21,594,661
2084 5,619,538 21,687,323
2083 5,600,932 21,778,597
2082 5,581,062 21,866,395
2081 5,559,781 21,954,337
2080 5,537,312 22,038,953
2079 5,513,586 22,122,744
2078 5,488,256 22,200,069
2077 5,461,819 22,274,355
2076 5,434,380 22,345,857
2075 5,405,474 22,414,609
2074 5,375,255 22,485,066
2073 5,343,873 22,550,427
2072 5,311,755 22,610,645
2071 5,278,538 22,669,042
2070 5,243,773 22,725,948
2069 5,207,961 22,779,050
2068 5,170,739 22,831,596
2067 5,132,640 22,885,941
2066 5,093,072 22,935,123
2065 5,051,871 22,985,942
2064 5,009,758 23,030,844
2063 4,966,686 23,071,114
2062 4,922,343 23,107,970
2061 4,876,639 23,139,924
2060 4,830,317 23,171,649
2059 4,783,233 23,199,387
2058 4,735,557 23,224,997
2057 4,686,764 23,247,211
2056 4,637,220 23,267,292
2055 4,586,935 23,278,653
2054 4,535,328 23,287,520
2053 4,483,472 23,297,347
2052 4,430,621 23,301,287
2051 4,376,942 23,302,108
2050 4,322,480 23,299,282
2049 4,267,374 23,293,630
2048 4,211,530 23,283,465
2047 4,154,844 23,267,251
2046 4,097,814 23,244,081
2045 4,040,118 23,212,221
2044 3,981,892 23,181,041
2043 3,923,058 23,144,217
2042 3,863,611 23,103,489
2041 3,804,282 23,056,478
2040 3,744,293 23,005,928
2039 3,684,045 22,948,866
2038 3,623,285 22,888,821
2037 3,562,776 22,822,943
2036 3,502,038 22,756,462
2035 3,441,138 22,685,766
2034 3,380,088 22,611,514
2033 3,318,743 22,532,374
2032 3,257,194 22,449,310
2031 3,195,735 22,364,063
2030 3,134,115 22,273,377
2029 3,072,145 22,181,300
2028 3,009,805 22,082,826
2027 2,947,443 21,979,196
2026 2,884,828 21,870,145
2025 2,822,093 21,756,000
2024 2,759,988 21,916,000
2023 2,697,845 22,037,000
2022 2,636,470 22,181,000
2021 2,576,010 22,156,000
2020 2,515,733 21,919,000
2019 2,456,844 21,803,000
2018 2,399,632 21,670,000
2017 2,342,189 21,453,000
2016 2,283,769 21,209,000
2015 2,224,529 20,970,000
2014 2,164,528 20,778,000
2013 2,103,820 20,585,000
2012 2,043,094 21,169,458
2011 1,983,784 21,009,048
2010 1,926,630 20,879,089
2009 1,871,422 20,756,435
2008 1,817,852 20,629,378
2007 1,765,774 20,492,545
2006 1,715,275 20,352,411
2005 1,667,037 20,216,524
2004 1,621,312 20,087,605
2003 1,577,611 19,951,521
2002 1,535,691 19,805,752
2001 1,495,011 19,600,362
2000 1,455,084 19,293,054
1999 1,415,779 18,944,731
1998 1,376,987 18,596,003
1997 1,338,889 18,248,200
1996 1,301,410 17,905,018
1995 1,264,313 17,564,068
1994 1,227,226 17,275,773
1993 1,188,365 17,025,918
1992 1,145,582 16,739,284
1991 1,099,959 16,475,354
1990 1,054,696 16,352,458
1989 1,011,357 16,248,557
1988 970,160 16,078,621
1987 931,091 15,916,576
1986 894,019 15,731,256
1985 858,874 15,544,154
1984 825,631 15,441,860
1983 794,525 15,388,794
1982 765,753 15,286,567
1981 739,125 15,099,414
1980 713,913 14,847,974
1979 689,781 14,579,614
1978 667,103 14,310,128
1977 645,770 14,049,371
1976 625,667 13,796,770
1975 606,821 13,548,984
1974 589,085 13,305,693
1973 571,991 13,060,916
1972 555,370 12,809,205
1971 539,388 12,551,910
1970 524,105 12,287,110
1969 509,440 12,013,858
1968 495,269 11,736,088
1967 481,588 11,457,328
1966 468,516 11,183,928
1965 455,952 10,916,965
1964 443,687 10,653,397
1963 431,757 10,395,040
1962 420,163 10,143,754
1961 408,930 9,899,372
1960 398,060 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Sri Lanka
2100 0.03% -0.56%
2099 0.05% -0.56%
2098 0.06% -0.55%
2097 0.07% -0.54%
2096 0.09% -0.53%
2095 0.1% -0.52%
2094 0.13% -0.51%
2093 0.15% -0.5%
2092 0.16% -0.49%
2091 0.18% -0.5%
2090 0.21% -0.49%
2089 0.23% -0.47%
2088 0.25% -0.46%
2087 0.26% -0.46%
2086 0.29% -0.45%
2085 0.31% -0.43%
2084 0.33% -0.42%
2083 0.36% -0.4%
2082 0.38% -0.4%
2081 0.41% -0.38%
2080 0.43% -0.38%
2079 0.46% -0.35%
2078 0.48% -0.33%
2077 0.5% -0.32%
2076 0.53% -0.31%
2075 0.56% -0.31%
2074 0.59% -0.29%
2073 0.6% -0.27%
2072 0.63% -0.26%
2071 0.66% -0.25%
2070 0.69% -0.23%
2069 0.72% -0.23%
2068 0.74% -0.24%
2067 0.78% -0.21%
2066 0.82% -0.22%
2065 0.84% -0.19%
2064 0.87% -0.17%
2063 0.9% -0.16%
2062 0.94% -0.14%
2061 0.96% -0.14%
2060 0.98% -0.12%
2059 1.01% -0.11%
2058 1.04% -0.1%
2057 1.07% -0.09%
2056 1.1% -0.05%
2055 1.14% -0.04%
2054 1.16% -0.04%
2053 1.19% -0.02%
2052 1.23% -0.004%
2051 1.26% 0.01%
2050 1.29% 0.02%
2049 1.33% 0.04%
2048 1.36% 0.07%
2047 1.39% 0.1%
2046 1.43% 0.14%
2045 1.46% 0.13%
2044 1.5% 0.16%
2043 1.54% 0.18%
2042 1.56% 0.2%
2041 1.6% 0.22%
2040 1.64% 0.25%
2039 1.68% 0.26%
2038 1.7% 0.29%
2037 1.73% 0.29%
2036 1.77% 0.31%
2035 1.81% 0.33%
2034 1.85% 0.35%
2033 1.89% 0.37%
2032 1.92% 0.38%
2031 1.97% 0.41%
2030 2.02% 0.42%
2029 2.07% 0.45%
2028 2.12% 0.47%
2027 2.17% 0.5%
2026 2.22% 0.52%
2025 2.25% -0.73%
2024 2.3% -0.55%
2023 2.33% -0.65%
2022 2.35% 0.11%
2021 2.4% 1.08%
2020 2.4% 0.53%
2019 2.38% 0.61%
2018 2.45% 1.01%
2017 2.56% 1.15%
2016 2.66% 1.14%
2015 2.77% 0.92%
2014 2.89% 0.94%
2013 2.97% -2.76%
2012 2.99% 0.76%
2011 2.97% 0.62%
2010 2.95% 0.59%
2009 2.95% 0.62%
2008 2.95% 0.67%
2007 2.94% 0.69%
2006 2.89% 0.67%
2005 2.82% 0.64%
2004 2.77% 0.68%
2003 2.73% 0.74%
2002 2.72% 1.05%
2001 2.74% 1.59%
2000 2.78% 1.84%
1999 2.82% 1.88%
1998 2.85% 1.91%
1997 2.88% 1.92%
1996 2.93% 1.94%
1995 3.02% 1.67%
1994 3.27% 1.47%
1993 3.73% 1.71%
1992 4.15% 1.6%
1991 4.29% 0.75%
1990 4.29% 0.64%
1989 4.25% 1.06%
1988 4.2% 1.02%
1987 4.15% 1.18%
1986 4.09% 1.2%
1985 4.03% 0.66%
1984 3.92% 0.34%
1983 3.76% 0.67%
1982 3.6% 1.24%
1981 3.53% 1.69%
1980 3.5% 1.84%
1979 3.4% 1.88%
1978 3.3% 1.86%
1977 3.21% 1.83%
1976 3.11% 1.83%
1975 3.01% 1.83%
1974 2.99% 1.87%
1973 2.99% 1.97%
1972 2.96% 2.05%
1971 2.92% 2.16%
1970 2.88% 2.27%
1969 2.86% 2.37%
1968 2.84% 2.43%
1967 2.79% 2.44%
1966 2.76% 2.45%
1965 2.76% 2.47%
1964 2.76% 2.49%
1963 2.76% 2.48%
1962 2.75% 2.47%
1961 2.73% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Gambia Sri Lanka
Current population
2916990
21926160
Population rank 138/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.26%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
6.38 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
30.5 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 -438
Annual growth/decline +62,105 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 190/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 -30,724
Net migration rank 107/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -30,724
2024 65,157 -2,989 50,407 -27,245
2023 65,118 -3,000 66,111 -28,011
2022 63,634 -3,000 95,378 -27,435
2021 62,239 -1,949 121,858 -29,586
2020 62,209 -1,949 170,968 -29,875
2019 61,701 -4,186 172,243 -28,426
2018 60,854 -3,944 183,610 -28,607
2017 61,665 -3,696 187,993 -22,324
2016 62,358 -3,486 194,232 -18,388
2015 62,832 -3,224 201,815 -29,797
2014 63,185 -2,793 211,541 -33,672
2013 63,510 -2,476 221,021 -37,754
2012 62,745 -2,332 229,138 -41,955
2011 60,571 -2,360 224,461 -90,839
2010 58,554 -2,456 224,325 -98,060
2009 56,575 -2,259 200,175 -81,130
2008 55,032 -2,204 232,225 -97,144
2007 53,653 -2,320 248,287 -109,695
2006 52,335 -2,666 248,706 -107,045
2005 50,010 -3,209 248,683 -118,594
2004 48,276 -3,636 212,527 -84,795
2003 46,473 -3,713 252,008 -107,573
2002 45,156 -4,067 252,840 -105,718
2001 44,154 -3,882 244,377 19,273
2000 43,249 -3,670 227,060 123,894
1999 42,533 -3,493 206,876 138,799
1998 41,842 -3,291 201,059 150,724
1997 40,742 -3,098 208,193 135,636
1996 40,253 -2,948 215,290 127,236
1995 39,681 -2,797 221,957 117,416
1994 38,880 -1,586 228,904 8,323
1993 37,302 3,131 226,257 36,232
1992 35,951 9,182 222,230 88,542
1991 34,584 11,530 218,117 -1,047
1990 33,163 11,242 224,454 -195,736
1989 31,504 10,765 212,401 -33,305
1988 29,938 10,187 219,184 -58,415
1987 28,452 9,563 226,414 -63,105
1986 27,195 8,934 233,782 -26,460
1985 25,795 8,373 247,836 -80,950
1984 24,586 7,733 263,175 -225,450
1983 23,175 6,713 277,768 -209,362
1982 21,894 5,757 300,030 -163,987
1981 20,156 5,438 328,096 -89,824
1980 19,566 5,268 328,155 -63,541
1979 18,543 4,898 329,791 -57,683
1978 17,424 4,493 317,055 -50,189
1977 16,773 3,969 300,038 -45,383
1976 16,032 3,436 291,816 -41,258
1975 15,256 2,979 282,496 -37,475
1974 14,628 2,610 275,521 -33,979
1973 14,046 2,907 278,577 -30,582
1972 13,432 2,861 282,494 -27,071
1971 12,842 2,817 281,200 -22,021
1970 12,128 2,777 286,719 -16,299
1969 11,670 2,757 286,218 -10,152
1968 11,215 2,705 286,642 -7,163
1967 10,823 2,617 284,738 -6,696
1966 10,422 2,272 275,549 -6,794
1965 10,162 2,272 272,422 -7,249
1964 9,825 2,272 269,584 -7,614
1963 9,493 2,272 262,880 -8,118
1962 9,150 2,272 256,719 -8,909
1961 8,778 2,272 251,087 -10,144
1960 8,420 2,272 247,631 -12,610

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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