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Population in the Gambia compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 4.03 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Gambia vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia UAE
2100 5,767,668 26,368,750
2099 5,765,660 26,130,374
2098 5,762,971 25,894,010
2097 5,759,632 25,660,062
2096 5,755,430 25,427,961
2095 5,750,385 25,197,670
2094 5,744,540 24,968,891
2093 5,737,026 24,741,434
2092 5,728,594 24,515,086
2091 5,719,408 24,289,496
2090 5,708,875 24,064,404
2089 5,697,140 23,839,033
2088 5,684,094 23,613,963
2087 5,669,958 23,388,786
2086 5,655,091 23,163,641
2085 5,638,646 22,938,169
2084 5,621,067 22,711,804
2083 5,602,456 22,484,154
2082 5,582,581 22,255,625
2081 5,561,294 22,026,183
2080 5,538,819 21,796,073
2079 5,515,086 21,565,118
2078 5,489,750 21,333,574
2077 5,463,305 21,101,274
2076 5,435,859 20,868,733
2075 5,406,946 20,636,203
2074 5,376,718 20,404,044
2073 5,345,328 20,171,659
2072 5,313,201 19,940,853
2071 5,279,975 19,710,934
2070 5,245,200 19,483,026
2069 5,209,379 19,256,572
2068 5,172,146 19,032,681
2067 5,134,037 18,811,331
2066 5,094,458 18,593,017
2065 5,053,246 18,377,364
2064 5,011,122 18,164,584
2063 4,968,038 17,955,352
2062 4,923,683 17,749,596
2061 4,877,966 17,547,827
2060 4,831,631 17,349,620
2059 4,784,535 17,153,273
2058 4,736,846 16,959,263
2057 4,688,039 16,767,893
2056 4,638,482 16,579,195
2055 4,588,184 16,392,558
2054 4,536,562 16,207,309
2053 4,484,692 16,024,789
2052 4,431,827 15,844,357
2051 4,378,133 15,665,362
2050 4,323,657 15,487,008
2049 4,268,536 15,309,031
2048 4,212,677 15,132,784
2047 4,155,975 14,958,209
2046 4,098,930 14,788,046
2045 4,041,218 14,620,902
2044 3,982,976 14,454,466
2043 3,924,126 14,289,021
2042 3,864,662 14,124,515
2041 3,805,317 13,961,010
2040 3,745,312 13,798,651
2039 3,685,048 13,637,499
2038 3,624,271 13,477,450
2037 3,563,745 13,319,346
2036 3,502,991 13,163,073
2035 3,442,074 13,009,160
2034 3,381,008 12,857,729
2033 3,319,646 12,709,520
2032 3,258,080 12,564,906
2031 3,196,605 12,424,286
2030 3,134,968 12,288,186
2029 3,072,981 12,148,661
2028 3,010,624 11,999,549
2027 2,948,246 11,831,082
2026 2,885,613 11,632,806
2025 2,822,861 11,367,504
2024 2,759,988 10,986,400
2023 2,697,845 10,483,751
2022 2,636,470 10,074,977
2021 2,576,010 9,575,152
2020 2,515,733 9,401,038
2019 2,456,844 9,445,785
2018 2,399,632 9,346,701
2017 2,342,189 9,223,225
2016 2,283,769 8,935,095
2015 2,224,529 8,505,237
2014 2,164,528 8,059,440
2013 2,103,820 7,693,031
2012 2,043,094 7,391,448
2011 1,983,784 7,104,538
2010 1,926,630 6,869,838
2009 1,871,422 6,707,058
2008 1,817,852 6,302,664
2007 1,765,774 5,624,635
2006 1,715,275 5,009,100
2005 1,667,037 4,664,790
2004 1,621,312 4,428,967
2003 1,577,611 4,192,457
2002 1,535,691 3,956,826
2001 1,495,011 3,723,590
2000 1,455,084 3,493,575
1999 1,415,779 3,266,009
1998 1,376,987 3,040,421
1997 1,338,889 2,817,410
1996 1,301,410 2,597,564
1995 1,264,313 2,434,662
1994 1,227,226 2,328,188
1993 1,188,365 2,222,093
1992 1,145,582 2,114,730
1991 1,099,959 2,006,626
1990 1,054,696 1,898,220
1989 1,011,357 1,789,851
1988 970,160 1,681,788
1987 931,091 1,574,244
1986 894,019 1,467,383
1985 858,874 1,377,911
1984 825,631 1,305,996
1983 794,525 1,235,305
1982 765,753 1,166,370
1981 739,125 1,099,855
1980 713,913 1,015,700
1979 689,781 912,010
1978 667,103 809,274
1977 645,770 710,209
1976 625,667 615,866
1975 606,821 542,856
1974 589,085 489,087
1973 571,991 436,399
1972 555,370 385,014
1971 539,388 335,027
1970 524,105 286,536
1969 509,440 239,660
1968 495,269 199,416
1967 481,588 179,700
1966 468,516 173,976
1965 455,952 167,103
1964 443,687 159,692
1963 431,757 152,211
1962 420,163 144,946
1961 408,930 137,989
1960 398,060 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia UAE
2100 0.03% 0.91%
2099 0.05% 0.91%
2098 0.06% 0.91%
2097 0.07% 0.91%
2096 0.09% 0.91%
2095 0.1% 0.92%
2094 0.13% 0.92%
2093 0.15% 0.92%
2092 0.16% 0.93%
2091 0.18% 0.94%
2090 0.21% 0.95%
2089 0.23% 0.95%
2088 0.25% 0.96%
2087 0.26% 0.97%
2086 0.29% 0.98%
2085 0.31% 1%
2084 0.33% 1.01%
2083 0.36% 1.03%
2082 0.38% 1.04%
2081 0.41% 1.06%
2080 0.43% 1.07%
2079 0.46% 1.09%
2078 0.48% 1.1%
2077 0.5% 1.11%
2076 0.53% 1.13%
2075 0.56% 1.14%
2074 0.59% 1.15%
2073 0.6% 1.16%
2072 0.63% 1.17%
2071 0.66% 1.17%
2070 0.69% 1.18%
2069 0.72% 1.18%
2068 0.74% 1.18%
2067 0.78% 1.17%
2066 0.82% 1.17%
2065 0.84% 1.17%
2064 0.87% 1.17%
2063 0.9% 1.16%
2062 0.94% 1.15%
2061 0.96% 1.14%
2060 0.98% 1.14%
2059 1.01% 1.14%
2058 1.04% 1.14%
2057 1.07% 1.14%
2056 1.1% 1.14%
2055 1.14% 1.14%
2054 1.16% 1.14%
2053 1.19% 1.14%
2052 1.23% 1.14%
2051 1.26% 1.15%
2050 1.29% 1.16%
2049 1.33% 1.16%
2048 1.36% 1.17%
2047 1.39% 1.15%
2046 1.43% 1.14%
2045 1.46% 1.15%
2044 1.5% 1.16%
2043 1.54% 1.16%
2042 1.56% 1.17%
2041 1.6% 1.18%
2040 1.64% 1.18%
2039 1.68% 1.19%
2038 1.7% 1.19%
2037 1.73% 1.19%
2036 1.77% 1.18%
2035 1.81% 1.18%
2034 1.85% 1.17%
2033 1.89% 1.15%
2032 1.92% 1.13%
2031 1.97% 1.11%
2030 2.02% 1.15%
2029 2.07% 1.24%
2028 2.12% 1.42%
2027 2.17% 1.7%
2026 2.22% 2.33%
2025 2.28% 3.47%
2024 2.3% 4.79%
2023 2.33% 4.06%
2022 2.35% 5.22%
2021 2.4% 1.85%
2020 2.4% -0.47%
2019 2.38% 1.06%
2018 2.45% 1.34%
2017 2.56% 3.22%
2016 2.66% 5.05%
2015 2.77% 5.53%
2014 2.89% 4.76%
2013 2.97% 4.08%
2012 2.99% 4.04%
2011 2.97% 3.42%
2010 2.95% 2.43%
2009 2.95% 6.42%
2008 2.95% 12.1%
2007 2.94% 12.3%
2006 2.89% 7.38%
2005 2.82% 5.32%
2004 2.77% 5.64%
2003 2.73% 5.96%
2002 2.72% 6.26%
2001 2.74% 6.58%
2000 2.78% 6.97%
1999 2.82% 7.42%
1998 2.85% 7.92%
1997 2.88% 8.46%
1996 2.93% 6.69%
1995 3.02% 4.57%
1994 3.27% 4.77%
1993 3.73% 5.08%
1992 4.15% 5.39%
1991 4.29% 5.71%
1990 4.29% 6.05%
1989 4.25% 6.43%
1988 4.2% 6.83%
1987 4.15% 7.28%
1986 4.09% 6.49%
1985 4.03% 5.51%
1984 3.92% 5.72%
1983 3.76% 5.91%
1982 3.6% 6.05%
1981 3.53% 8.29%
1980 3.5% 11.4%
1979 3.4% 12.7%
1978 3.3% 13.9%
1977 3.21% 15.3%
1976 3.11% 13.4%
1975 3.01% 11%
1974 2.99% 12.1%
1973 2.99% 13.3%
1972 2.96% 14.9%
1971 2.92% 16.9%
1970 2.88% 19.6%
1969 2.86% 20.2%
1968 2.84% 11%
1967 2.79% 3.29%
1966 2.76% 4.11%
1965 2.76% 4.64%
1964 2.76% 4.91%
1963 2.76% 5.01%
1962 2.75% 5.04%
1961 2.73% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Gambia UAE
Current population
2902554
11686438
Population rank 138/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.14%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 3/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 +158,634
Net migration rank 107/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 158,634
2024 - -2,989 - 278,439
2023 65,118 -3,000 92,698 300,004
2022 63,634 -3,000 81,758 322,773
2021 62,239 -1,949 76,802 421,663
2020 62,209 -1,949 87,871 92,541
2019 61,701 -4,186 86,296 -125,186
2018 60,854 -3,944 86,840 14,611
2017 61,665 -3,696 89,382 34,155
2016 62,358 -3,486 87,028 195,317
2015 62,832 -3,224 85,044 342,468
2014 63,185 -2,793 84,277 360,174
2013 63,510 -2,476 82,977 279,269
2012 62,745 -2,332 78,682 225,921
2011 60,571 -2,360 73,496 215,183
2010 58,554 -2,456 69,907 161,842
2009 56,575 -2,259 66,521 163,643
2008 55,032 -2,204 55,426 523,207
2007 53,653 -2,320 55,048 722,380
2006 52,335 -2,666 54,338 399,306
2005 50,010 -3,209 60,046 174,926
2004 48,276 -3,636 60,344 176,319
2003 46,473 -3,713 59,118 177,237
2002 45,156 -4,067 55,922 178,988
2001 44,154 -3,882 52,789 178,779
2000 43,249 -3,670 49,993 178,469
1999 42,533 -3,493 46,198 180,469
1998 41,842 -3,291 41,176 183,329
1997 40,742 -3,098 38,207 183,310
1996 40,253 -2,948 37,886 180,296
1995 39,681 -2,797 38,685 68,938
1994 38,880 -1,586 42,976 62,352
1993 37,302 3,131 41,324 65,545
1992 35,951 9,182 42,119 65,739
1991 34,584 11,530 41,409 66,943
1990 33,163 11,242 41,339 67,118
1989 31,504 10,765 40,148 68,132
1988 29,938 10,187 38,861 68,991
1987 28,452 9,563 37,741 69,493
1986 27,195 8,934 36,829 69,655
1985 25,795 8,373 34,855 37,605
1984 24,586 7,733 33,250 38,124
1983 23,175 6,713 31,480 38,536
1982 21,894 5,757 29,585 38,276
1981 20,156 5,438 27,560 37,600
1980 19,566 5,268 25,005 78,148
1979 18,543 4,898 21,987 82,238
1978 17,424 4,493 18,879 82,359
1977 16,773 3,969 15,787 81,111
1976 16,032 3,436 12,876 78,903
1975 15,256 2,979 11,859 42,380
1974 14,628 2,610 10,835 42,474
1973 14,046 2,907 9,822 42,243
1972 13,432 2,861 8,818 41,888
1971 12,842 2,817 7,839 41,425
1970 12,128 2,777 6,922 40,792
1969 11,670 2,757 6,138 39,902
1968 11,215 2,705 5,588 28,866
1967 10,823 2,617 5,264 -283
1966 10,422 2,272 4,955 1,516
1965 10,162 2,272 4,675 2,598
1964 9,825 2,272 4,410 3,126
1963 9,493 2,272 4,157 3,264
1962 9,150 2,272 3,901 3,212
1961 8,778 2,272 3,657 3,141
1960 8,420 2,272 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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