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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 7.83 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.44% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Gambia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Zambia
2100 5,766,099 65,204,593
2099 5,764,092 64,858,778
2098 5,761,403 64,503,193
2097 5,758,064 64,136,110
2096 5,753,864 63,764,760
2095 5,748,821 63,380,692
2094 5,742,977 62,980,254
2093 5,735,465 62,578,008
2092 5,727,035 62,163,693
2091 5,717,851 61,738,437
2090 5,707,322 61,309,330
2089 5,695,590 60,868,166
2088 5,682,547 60,422,781
2087 5,668,415 59,958,303
2086 5,653,552 59,487,524
2085 5,637,112 59,011,423
2084 5,619,538 58,524,337
2083 5,600,932 58,029,088
2082 5,581,062 57,527,347
2081 5,559,781 57,016,267
2080 5,537,312 56,495,299
2079 5,513,586 55,972,223
2078 5,488,256 55,438,864
2077 5,461,819 54,895,964
2076 5,434,380 54,350,375
2075 5,405,474 53,796,265
2074 5,375,255 53,236,297
2073 5,343,873 52,666,980
2072 5,311,755 52,090,884
2071 5,278,538 51,509,551
2070 5,243,773 50,921,590
2069 5,207,961 50,324,793
2068 5,170,739 49,727,689
2067 5,132,640 49,125,817
2066 5,093,072 48,520,891
2065 5,051,871 47,909,160
2064 5,009,758 47,290,430
2063 4,966,686 46,668,252
2062 4,922,343 46,039,755
2061 4,876,639 45,407,718
2060 4,830,317 44,768,534
2059 4,783,233 44,128,619
2058 4,735,557 43,485,891
2057 4,686,764 42,843,489
2056 4,637,220 42,198,591
2055 4,586,935 41,550,105
2054 4,535,328 40,898,440
2053 4,483,472 40,247,706
2052 4,430,621 39,596,094
2051 4,376,942 38,942,292
2050 4,322,480 38,287,070
2049 4,267,374 37,626,787
2048 4,211,530 36,964,032
2047 4,154,844 36,302,603
2046 4,097,814 35,638,852
2045 4,040,118 34,974,927
2044 3,981,892 34,310,227
2043 3,923,058 33,645,797
2042 3,863,611 32,984,164
2041 3,804,282 32,323,084
2040 3,744,293 31,658,029
2039 3,684,045 30,995,204
2038 3,623,285 30,329,691
2037 3,562,776 29,662,721
2036 3,502,038 28,994,556
2035 3,441,138 28,327,922
2034 3,380,088 27,665,749
2033 3,318,743 27,006,658
2032 3,257,194 26,351,393
2031 3,195,735 25,697,754
2030 3,134,115 25,050,285
2029 3,072,145 24,409,600
2028 3,009,805 23,776,128
2027 2,947,443 23,146,922
2026 2,884,828 22,525,308
2025 2,822,093 21,913,874
2024 2,759,988 21,314,956
2023 2,697,845 20,723,965
2022 2,636,470 20,152,938
2021 2,576,010 19,603,607
2020 2,515,733 19,059,395
2019 2,456,844 18,513,839
2018 2,399,632 17,973,569
2017 2,342,189 17,441,320
2016 2,283,769 16,914,423
2015 2,224,529 16,399,089
2014 2,164,528 15,895,315
2013 2,103,820 15,398,997
2012 2,043,094 14,913,629
2011 1,983,784 14,437,796
2010 1,926,630 13,965,594
2009 1,871,422 13,490,389
2008 1,817,852 13,021,324
2007 1,765,774 12,565,085
2006 1,715,275 12,129,553
2005 1,667,037 11,718,819
2004 1,621,312 11,338,198
2003 1,577,611 10,983,595
2002 1,535,691 10,647,949
2001 1,495,011 10,325,185
2000 1,455,084 10,017,631
1999 1,415,779 9,740,005
1998 1,376,987 9,482,408
1997 1,338,889 9,237,063
1996 1,301,410 9,004,053
1995 1,264,313 8,785,763
1994 1,227,226 8,576,269
1993 1,188,365 8,373,921
1992 1,145,582 8,176,680
1991 1,099,959 7,981,650
1990 1,054,696 7,786,169
1989 1,011,357 7,589,216
1988 970,160 7,391,440
1987 931,091 7,191,282
1986 894,019 6,986,471
1985 858,874 6,780,953
1984 825,631 6,580,490
1983 794,525 6,381,038
1982 765,753 6,178,637
1981 739,125 5,983,289
1980 713,913 5,802,833
1979 689,781 5,631,728
1978 667,103 5,465,374
1977 645,770 5,302,480
1976 625,667 5,143,842
1975 606,821 4,990,086
1974 589,085 4,842,746
1973 571,991 4,702,693
1972 555,370 4,569,309
1971 539,388 4,442,525
1970 524,105 4,321,718
1969 509,440 4,197,116
1968 495,269 4,065,593
1967 481,588 3,936,343
1966 468,516 3,812,003
1965 455,952 3,692,086
1964 443,687 3,577,017
1963 431,757 3,465,907
1962 420,163 3,358,099
1961 408,930 3,254,086
1960 398,060 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Zambia
2100 0.03% 0.53%
2099 0.05% 0.55%
2098 0.06% 0.57%
2097 0.07% 0.58%
2096 0.09% 0.61%
2095 0.1% 0.64%
2094 0.13% 0.64%
2093 0.15% 0.67%
2092 0.16% 0.69%
2091 0.18% 0.7%
2090 0.21% 0.72%
2089 0.23% 0.74%
2088 0.25% 0.77%
2087 0.26% 0.79%
2086 0.29% 0.81%
2085 0.31% 0.83%
2084 0.33% 0.85%
2083 0.36% 0.87%
2082 0.38% 0.9%
2081 0.41% 0.92%
2080 0.43% 0.93%
2079 0.46% 0.96%
2078 0.48% 0.99%
2077 0.5% 1%
2076 0.53% 1.03%
2075 0.56% 1.05%
2074 0.59% 1.08%
2073 0.6% 1.11%
2072 0.63% 1.13%
2071 0.66% 1.15%
2070 0.69% 1.19%
2069 0.72% 1.2%
2068 0.74% 1.23%
2067 0.78% 1.25%
2066 0.82% 1.28%
2065 0.84% 1.31%
2064 0.87% 1.33%
2063 0.9% 1.37%
2062 0.94% 1.39%
2061 0.96% 1.43%
2060 0.98% 1.45%
2059 1.01% 1.48%
2058 1.04% 1.5%
2057 1.07% 1.53%
2056 1.1% 1.56%
2055 1.14% 1.59%
2054 1.16% 1.62%
2053 1.19% 1.65%
2052 1.23% 1.68%
2051 1.26% 1.71%
2050 1.29% 1.75%
2049 1.33% 1.79%
2048 1.36% 1.82%
2047 1.39% 1.86%
2046 1.43% 1.9%
2045 1.46% 1.94%
2044 1.5% 1.97%
2043 1.54% 2.01%
2042 1.56% 2.05%
2041 1.6% 2.1%
2040 1.64% 2.14%
2039 1.68% 2.19%
2038 1.7% 2.25%
2037 1.73% 2.3%
2036 1.77% 2.35%
2035 1.81% 2.39%
2034 1.85% 2.44%
2033 1.89% 2.49%
2032 1.92% 2.54%
2031 1.97% 2.58%
2030 2.02% 2.62%
2029 2.07% 2.66%
2028 2.12% 2.72%
2027 2.17% 2.76%
2026 2.22% 2.79%
2025 2.25% 2.81%
2024 2.3% 2.85%
2023 2.33% 2.83%
2022 2.35% 2.8%
2021 2.4% 2.86%
2020 2.4% 2.95%
2019 2.38% 3.01%
2018 2.45% 3.05%
2017 2.56% 3.12%
2016 2.66% 3.14%
2015 2.77% 3.17%
2014 2.89% 3.22%
2013 2.97% 3.25%
2012 2.99% 3.3%
2011 2.97% 3.38%
2010 2.95% 3.52%
2009 2.95% 3.6%
2008 2.95% 3.63%
2007 2.94% 3.59%
2006 2.89% 3.5%
2005 2.82% 3.36%
2004 2.77% 3.23%
2003 2.73% 3.15%
2002 2.72% 3.13%
2001 2.74% 3.07%
2000 2.78% 2.85%
1999 2.82% 2.72%
1998 2.85% 2.66%
1997 2.88% 2.59%
1996 2.93% 2.48%
1995 3.02% 2.44%
1994 3.27% 2.42%
1993 3.73% 2.41%
1992 4.15% 2.44%
1991 4.29% 2.51%
1990 4.29% 2.6%
1989 4.25% 2.68%
1988 4.2% 2.78%
1987 4.15% 2.93%
1986 4.09% 3.03%
1985 4.03% 3.05%
1984 3.92% 3.13%
1983 3.76% 3.28%
1982 3.6% 3.26%
1981 3.53% 3.11%
1980 3.5% 3.04%
1979 3.4% 3.04%
1978 3.3% 3.07%
1977 3.21% 3.08%
1976 3.11% 3.08%
1975 3.01% 3.04%
1974 2.99% 2.98%
1973 2.99% 2.92%
1972 2.96% 2.85%
1971 2.92% 2.8%
1970 2.88% 2.97%
1969 2.86% 3.24%
1968 2.84% 3.28%
1967 2.79% 3.26%
1966 2.76% 3.25%
1965 2.76% 3.22%
1964 2.76% 3.21%
1963 2.76% 3.21%
1962 2.75% 3.2%
1961 2.73% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Gambia Zambia
Current population
2916990
22844606
Population rank 138/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.27%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
6.38 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
30.5 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 19/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -2,984 +6,562
Net migration rank 107/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - 6,562
2024 65,157 -2,989 587,419 7,381
2023 65,118 -3,000 577,660 9,521
2022 63,634 -3,000 563,456 -8,566
2021 62,239 -1,949 535,629 8,143
2020 62,209 -1,949 536,484 8,156
2019 61,701 -4,186 528,089 18,385
2018 60,854 -3,944 515,644 18,431
2017 61,665 -3,696 504,630 25,789
2016 62,358 -3,486 497,521 25,860
2015 62,832 -3,224 491,021 16,261
2014 63,185 -2,793 483,663 16,574
2013 63,510 -2,476 476,846 15,542
2012 62,745 -2,332 469,406 8,958
2011 60,571 -2,360 459,743 13,569
2010 58,554 -2,456 448,337 22,761
2009 56,575 -2,259 434,458 44,867
2008 55,032 -2,204 419,560 39,249
2007 53,653 -2,320 403,729 49,945
2006 52,335 -2,666 387,891 29,517
2005 50,010 -3,209 368,756 35,316
2004 48,276 -3,636 349,352 7,819
2003 46,473 -3,713 331,189 20,845
2002 45,156 -4,067 316,041 3,206
2001 44,154 -3,882 302,682 23,582
2000 43,249 -3,670 293,186 -4,338
1999 42,533 -3,493 283,297 -16,888
1998 41,842 -3,291 275,568 -26,796
1997 40,742 -3,098 268,198 -26,276
1996 40,253 -2,948 262,468 -38,358
1995 39,681 -2,797 257,897 -45,423
1994 38,880 -1,586 252,023 -45,504
1993 37,302 3,131 245,917 -47,739
1992 35,951 9,182 239,953 -43,656
1991 34,584 11,530 237,957 -44,203
1990 33,163 11,242 235,835 -38,619
1989 31,504 10,765 233,429 -36,736
1988 29,938 10,187 230,118 -31,270
1987 28,452 9,563 227,813 -26,338
1986 27,195 8,934 224,768 -16,610
1985 25,795 8,373 221,351 -18,474
1984 24,586 7,733 216,695 -18,652
1983 23,175 6,713 212,712 -11,849
1982 21,894 5,757 207,621 -3,676
1981 20,156 5,438 202,822 -16,072
1980 19,566 5,268 198,817 -24,664
1979 18,543 4,898 197,578 -29,515
1978 17,424 4,493 194,933 -30,284
1977 16,773 3,969 191,557 -30,423
1976 16,032 3,436 186,762 -30,612
1975 15,256 2,979 182,258 -30,886
1974 14,628 2,610 174,484 -31,178
1973 14,046 2,907 168,258 -31,472
1972 13,432 2,861 161,648 -31,672
1971 12,842 2,817 155,249 -31,651
1970 12,128 2,777 149,380 -31,370
1969 11,670 2,757 142,660 -11,469
1968 11,215 2,705 137,315 -5,447
1967 10,823 2,617 131,938 -5,298
1966 10,422 2,272 127,164 -5,129
1965 10,162 2,272 122,814 -5,023
1964 9,825 2,272 117,197 -4,851
1963 9,493 2,272 114,555 -4,676
1962 9,150 2,272 110,173 -4,428
1961 8,778 2,272 106,318 -4,043
1960 8,420 2,272 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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