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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,759,988 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,902,554 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 5.98 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • The Gambia is ranked the 138th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.24% of the world: 0.04% for the Gambia vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, the Gambia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.9M (69.2% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Gambia vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Zimbabwe
2100 5,767,668 37,483,053
2099 5,765,660 37,412,398
2098 5,762,971 37,328,255
2097 5,759,632 37,235,542
2096 5,755,430 37,142,915
2095 5,750,385 37,032,129
2094 5,744,540 36,912,747
2093 5,737,026 36,810,893
2092 5,728,594 36,688,511
2091 5,719,408 36,567,262
2090 5,708,875 36,425,606
2089 5,697,140 36,280,973
2088 5,684,094 36,141,446
2087 5,669,958 35,977,638
2086 5,655,091 35,808,135
2085 5,638,646 35,637,092
2084 5,621,067 35,456,207
2083 5,602,456 35,268,035
2082 5,582,581 35,078,904
2081 5,561,294 34,873,129
2080 5,538,819 34,658,962
2079 5,515,086 34,439,720
2078 5,489,750 34,217,295
2077 5,463,305 33,982,909
2076 5,435,859 33,739,228
2075 5,406,946 33,495,867
2074 5,376,718 33,244,838
2073 5,345,328 32,978,488
2072 5,313,201 32,706,059
2071 5,279,975 32,445,747
2070 5,245,200 32,181,119
2069 5,209,379 31,906,793
2068 5,172,146 31,631,000
2067 5,134,037 31,345,338
2066 5,094,458 31,062,884
2065 5,053,246 30,766,830
2064 5,011,122 30,479,939
2063 4,968,038 30,176,104
2062 4,923,683 29,867,679
2061 4,877,966 29,557,068
2060 4,831,631 29,252,423
2059 4,784,535 28,945,088
2058 4,736,846 28,631,679
2057 4,688,039 28,307,305
2056 4,638,482 27,990,713
2055 4,588,184 27,658,887
2054 4,536,562 27,331,920
2053 4,484,692 26,986,935
2052 4,431,827 26,643,553
2051 4,378,133 26,287,592
2050 4,323,657 25,934,893
2049 4,268,536 25,585,239
2048 4,212,677 25,228,082
2047 4,155,975 24,874,649
2046 4,098,930 24,513,443
2045 4,041,218 24,147,637
2044 3,982,976 23,783,088
2043 3,924,126 23,401,965
2042 3,864,662 23,035,288
2041 3,805,317 22,647,950
2040 3,745,312 22,273,520
2039 3,685,048 21,902,980
2038 3,624,271 21,530,130
2037 3,563,745 21,159,664
2036 3,502,991 20,791,034
2035 3,442,074 20,413,656
2034 3,381,008 20,048,019
2033 3,319,646 19,676,339
2032 3,258,080 19,311,985
2031 3,196,605 18,959,300
2030 3,134,968 18,613,738
2029 3,072,981 18,270,049
2028 3,010,624 17,933,466
2027 2,948,246 17,600,984
2026 2,885,613 17,273,208
2025 2,822,861 16,949,303
2024 2,759,988 16,634,373
2023 2,697,845 16,340,822
2022 2,636,470 16,069,056
2021 2,576,010 15,797,210
2020 2,515,733 15,526,888
2019 2,456,844 15,271,368
2018 2,399,632 15,034,452
2017 2,342,189 14,812,482
2016 2,283,769 14,600,294
2015 2,224,529 14,399,013
2014 2,164,528 14,207,359
2013 2,103,820 14,013,808
2012 2,043,094 13,817,887
2011 1,983,784 13,595,424
2010 1,926,630 13,356,548
2009 1,871,422 13,142,790
2008 1,817,852 12,959,149
2007 1,765,774 12,804,058
2006 1,715,275 12,636,445
2005 1,667,037 12,483,432
2004 1,621,312 12,365,896
2003 1,577,611 12,232,323
2002 1,535,691 12,087,653
2001 1,495,011 11,971,901
2000 1,455,084 11,892,055
1999 1,415,779 11,783,458
1998 1,376,987 11,594,297
1997 1,338,889 11,369,827
1996 1,301,410 11,158,360
1995 1,264,313 10,974,599
1994 1,227,226 10,873,148
1993 1,188,365 10,860,288
1992 1,145,582 10,702,700
1991 1,099,959 10,404,816
1990 1,054,696 10,137,281
1989 1,011,357 9,864,798
1988 970,160 9,583,094
1987 931,091 9,284,644
1986 894,019 8,982,578
1985 858,874 8,686,813
1984 825,631 8,391,488
1983 794,525 8,098,404
1982 765,753 7,796,496
1981 739,125 7,498,635
1980 713,913 7,041,303
1979 689,781 6,647,556
1978 667,103 6,543,575
1977 645,770 6,449,512
1976 625,667 6,287,105
1975 606,821 6,098,658
1974 589,085 5,908,328
1973 571,991 5,720,404
1972 555,370 5,542,445
1971 539,388 5,374,712
1970 524,105 5,215,918
1969 509,440 5,058,181
1968 495,269 4,900,440
1967 481,588 4,748,307
1966 468,516 4,601,217
1965 455,952 4,458,462
1964 443,687 4,320,006
1963 431,757 4,185,877
1962 420,163 4,055,959
1961 408,930 3,930,401
1960 398,060 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of the Gambia increased by 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, the Gambia gained 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

The Gambia was ranked 146th most populous country in 2006 and is 138th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Gambia Zimbabwe
2100 0.03% 0.19%
2099 0.05% 0.23%
2098 0.06% 0.25%
2097 0.07% 0.25%
2096 0.09% 0.3%
2095 0.1% 0.32%
2094 0.13% 0.28%
2093 0.15% 0.33%
2092 0.16% 0.33%
2091 0.18% 0.39%
2090 0.21% 0.4%
2089 0.23% 0.39%
2088 0.25% 0.46%
2087 0.26% 0.47%
2086 0.29% 0.48%
2085 0.31% 0.51%
2084 0.33% 0.53%
2083 0.36% 0.54%
2082 0.38% 0.59%
2081 0.41% 0.62%
2080 0.43% 0.64%
2079 0.46% 0.65%
2078 0.48% 0.69%
2077 0.5% 0.72%
2076 0.53% 0.73%
2075 0.56% 0.76%
2074 0.59% 0.81%
2073 0.6% 0.83%
2072 0.63% 0.8%
2071 0.66% 0.82%
2070 0.69% 0.86%
2069 0.72% 0.87%
2068 0.74% 0.91%
2067 0.78% 0.91%
2066 0.82% 0.96%
2065 0.84% 0.94%
2064 0.87% 1.01%
2063 0.9% 1.03%
2062 0.94% 1.05%
2061 0.96% 1.04%
2060 0.98% 1.06%
2059 1.01% 1.09%
2058 1.04% 1.15%
2057 1.07% 1.13%
2056 1.1% 1.2%
2055 1.14% 1.2%
2054 1.16% 1.28%
2053 1.19% 1.29%
2052 1.23% 1.35%
2051 1.26% 1.36%
2050 1.29% 1.37%
2049 1.33% 1.42%
2048 1.36% 1.42%
2047 1.39% 1.47%
2046 1.43% 1.51%
2045 1.46% 1.53%
2044 1.5% 1.63%
2043 1.54% 1.59%
2042 1.56% 1.71%
2041 1.6% 1.68%
2040 1.64% 1.69%
2039 1.68% 1.73%
2038 1.7% 1.75%
2037 1.73% 1.77%
2036 1.77% 1.85%
2035 1.81% 1.82%
2034 1.85% 1.89%
2033 1.89% 1.89%
2032 1.92% 1.86%
2031 1.97% 1.86%
2030 2.02% 1.88%
2029 2.07% 1.88%
2028 2.12% 1.89%
2027 2.17% 1.9%
2026 2.22% 1.91%
2025 2.28% 1.89%
2024 2.3% 1.8%
2023 2.33% 1.69%
2022 2.35% 1.72%
2021 2.4% 1.74%
2020 2.4% 1.67%
2019 2.38% 1.58%
2018 2.45% 1.5%
2017 2.56% 1.45%
2016 2.66% 1.4%
2015 2.77% 1.35%
2014 2.89% 1.38%
2013 2.97% 1.42%
2012 2.99% 1.64%
2011 2.97% 1.79%
2010 2.95% 1.63%
2009 2.95% 1.42%
2008 2.95% 1.21%
2007 2.94% 1.33%
2006 2.89% 1.23%
2005 2.82% 0.95%
2004 2.77% 1.09%
2003 2.73% 1.2%
2002 2.72% 0.97%
2001 2.74% 0.67%
2000 2.78% 0.92%
1999 2.82% 1.63%
1998 2.85% 1.97%
1997 2.88% 1.9%
1996 2.93% 1.67%
1995 3.02% 0.93%
1994 3.27% 0.12%
1993 3.73% 1.47%
1992 4.15% 2.86%
1991 4.29% 2.64%
1990 4.29% 2.76%
1989 4.25% 2.94%
1988 4.2% 3.21%
1987 4.15% 3.36%
1986 4.09% 3.4%
1985 4.03% 3.52%
1984 3.92% 3.62%
1983 3.76% 3.87%
1982 3.6% 3.97%
1981 3.53% 6.49%
1980 3.5% 5.92%
1979 3.4% 1.59%
1978 3.3% 1.46%
1977 3.21% 2.58%
1976 3.11% 3.09%
1975 3.01% 3.22%
1974 2.99% 3.29%
1973 2.99% 3.21%
1972 2.96% 3.12%
1971 2.92% 3.04%
1970 2.88% 3.12%
1969 2.86% 3.22%
1968 2.84% 3.2%
1967 2.79% 3.2%
1966 2.76% 3.2%
1965 2.76% 3.2%
1964 2.76% 3.2%
1963 2.76% 3.2%
1962 2.75% 3.19%
1961 2.73% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.3%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Gambia Zimbabwe
Current population
2902554
17361868
Population rank 138/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.21%
One net population change
8.46 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
6.4 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
31 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +804
Annual growth/decline +62,143 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.3% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 60/197
One migration net change every
2.94 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -2,984 -54,555
Net migration rank 107/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 236,137 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 107/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.6% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 72/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Gambia
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Gambia Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,984 - -54,555
2024 - -2,989 - -60,528
2023 65,118 -3,000 372,505 -97,380
2022 63,634 -3,000 371,243 -102,828
2021 62,239 -1,949 349,908 -74,623
2020 62,209 -1,949 354,790 -89,440
2019 61,701 -4,186 348,798 -103,107
2018 60,854 -3,944 345,883 -117,758
2017 61,665 -3,696 344,035 -128,241
2016 62,358 -3,486 348,772 -140,181
2015 62,832 -3,224 356,203 -162,220
2014 63,185 -2,793 366,350 -177,029
2013 63,510 -2,476 374,757 -176,972
2012 62,745 -2,332 371,135 -177,061
2011 60,571 -2,360 359,572 -108,714
2010 58,554 -2,456 335,570 -108,671
2009 56,575 -2,259 309,316 -108,689
2008 55,032 -2,204 280,527 -113,858
2007 53,653 -2,320 261,805 -118,299
2006 52,335 -2,666 248,963 -57,257
2005 50,010 -3,209 248,545 -134,212
2004 48,276 -3,636 248,307 -127,550
2003 46,473 -3,713 243,057 -96,667
2002 45,156 -4,067 244,170 -101,212
2001 44,154 -3,882 227,909 -139,361
2000 43,249 -3,670 236,343 -165,181
1999 42,533 -3,493 232,393 -86,343
1998 41,842 -3,291 225,614 6,645
1997 40,742 -3,098 216,288 395
1996 40,253 -2,948 205,269 978
1995 39,681 -2,797 206,695 -45,428
1994 38,880 -1,586 216,343 -174,723
1993 37,302 3,131 228,045 -243,947
1992 35,951 9,182 255,291 75,788
1991 34,584 11,530 260,943 3,749
1990 33,163 11,242 265,444 4,948
1989 31,504 10,765 270,838 3,736
1988 29,938 10,187 277,498 11,327
1987 28,452 9,563 286,766 21,308
1986 27,195 8,934 289,894 6,154
1985 25,795 8,373 290,756 4,718
1984 24,586 7,733 290,052 5,124
1983 23,175 6,713 286,545 4,456
1982 21,894 5,757 279,934 32,899
1981 20,156 5,438 271,361 11,523
1980 19,566 5,268 241,179 390,593
1979 18,543 4,898 223,657 -67,937
1978 17,424 4,493 222,979 -170,727
1977 16,773 3,969 225,139 -89,270
1976 16,032 3,436 221,419 -32,495
1975 15,256 2,979 216,947 -28,988
1974 14,628 2,610 208,806 -16,105
1973 14,046 2,907 201,885 -18,733
1972 13,432 2,861 193,725 -20,959
1971 12,842 2,817 185,427 -22,719
1970 12,128 2,777 178,979 -24,102
1969 11,670 2,757 172,626 -12,028
1968 11,215 2,705 166,865 -11,997
1967 10,823 2,617 161,205 -11,814
1966 10,422 2,272 156,014 -11,211
1965 10,162 2,272 151,164 -10,465
1964 9,825 2,272 145,848 -9,631
1963 9,493 2,272 140,984 -8,936
1962 9,150 2,272 136,317 -8,529
1961 8,778 2,272 131,531 -8,204
1960 8,420 2,272 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 236,137 residents or 8.6% of the population were not native-born in the Gambia, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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