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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 7.64 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 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Gambia vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Sri Lanka
2100 5,767,668 20,270,496
2099 5,765,660 20,383,669
2098 5,762,971 20,498,567
2097 5,759,632 20,611,123
2096 5,755,430 20,723,560
2095 5,750,385 20,834,629
2094 5,744,540 20,943,809
2093 5,737,026 21,052,131
2092 5,728,594 21,158,833
2091 5,719,408 21,263,961
2090 5,708,875 21,371,263
2089 5,697,140 21,475,426
2088 5,684,094 21,577,177
2087 5,669,958 21,677,510
2086 5,655,091 21,777,420
2085 5,638,646 21,876,464
2084 5,621,067 21,970,336
2083 5,602,456 22,062,801
2082 5,582,581 22,151,745
2081 5,561,294 22,240,834
2080 5,538,819 22,326,555
2079 5,515,086 22,411,438
2078 5,489,750 22,489,772
2077 5,463,305 22,565,028
2076 5,435,859 22,637,463
2075 5,406,946 22,707,112
2074 5,376,718 22,778,489
2073 5,345,328 22,844,703
2072 5,313,201 22,905,707
2071 5,279,975 22,964,866
2070 5,245,200 23,022,515
2069 5,209,379 23,076,310
2068 5,172,146 23,129,541
2067 5,134,037 23,184,596
2066 5,094,458 23,234,419
2065 5,053,246 23,285,901
2064 5,011,122 23,331,390
2063 4,968,038 23,372,184
2062 4,923,683 23,409,522
2061 4,877,966 23,441,893
2060 4,831,631 23,474,032
2059 4,784,535 23,502,132
2058 4,736,846 23,528,076
2057 4,688,039 23,550,580
2056 4,638,482 23,570,923
2055 4,588,184 23,582,432
2054 4,536,562 23,591,414
2053 4,484,692 23,601,371
2052 4,431,827 23,605,361
2051 4,378,133 23,606,194
2050 4,323,657 23,603,330
2049 4,268,536 23,597,604
2048 4,212,677 23,587,307
2047 4,155,975 23,570,881
2046 4,098,930 23,547,409
2045 4,041,218 23,515,133
2044 3,982,976 23,483,546
2043 3,924,126 23,446,242
2042 3,864,662 23,404,983
2041 3,805,317 23,357,358
2040 3,745,312 23,306,148
2039 3,685,048 23,248,341
2038 3,624,271 23,187,512
2037 3,563,745 23,120,775
2036 3,502,991 23,053,427
2035 3,442,074 22,981,808
2034 3,381,008 22,906,587
2033 3,319,646 22,826,414
2032 3,258,080 22,742,267
2031 3,196,605 22,655,907
2030 3,134,968 22,564,038
2029 3,072,981 22,470,759
2028 3,010,624 22,370,999
2027 2,948,246 22,266,017
2026 2,885,613 22,155,543
2025 2,822,861 22,039,908
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% 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 49% to 4,323,657 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 23.6M 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 2.28% 0.57%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Gambia Sri Lanka
Current population
2902554
22185425
Population rank 138/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.27%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 -332
Annual growth/decline +62,143 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 188/197
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 - -2,989 - -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 2026-04-06).

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 625,795 people) and 4.75% is from migration (a loss of 31,227 people). In Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 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 (1960–2024, 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/sri-lanka | 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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