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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of the Gambia was 2,822,093 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Gambia's population is 2,916,990 people compared to 17,443,108 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 0.25% 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 +2.44% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of the Gambia has increased from 1.72M people to 2.92M (70.1% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Gambia vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Gambia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Gambia Zimbabwe
2100 5,766,099 37,486,352
2099 5,764,092 37,415,690
2098 5,761,403 37,331,540
2097 5,758,064 37,238,819
2096 5,753,864 37,146,184
2095 5,748,821 37,035,388
2094 5,742,977 36,915,996
2093 5,735,465 36,814,133
2092 5,727,035 36,691,740
2091 5,717,851 36,570,481
2090 5,707,322 36,428,812
2089 5,695,590 36,284,166
2088 5,682,547 36,144,627
2087 5,668,415 35,980,805
2086 5,653,552 35,811,286
2085 5,637,112 35,640,228
2084 5,619,538 35,459,328
2083 5,600,932 35,271,139
2082 5,581,062 35,081,992
2081 5,559,781 34,876,198
2080 5,537,312 34,662,013
2079 5,513,586 34,442,751
2078 5,488,256 34,220,306
2077 5,461,819 33,985,899
2076 5,434,380 33,742,198
2075 5,405,474 33,498,815
2074 5,375,255 33,247,764
2073 5,343,873 32,981,390
2072 5,311,755 32,708,937
2071 5,278,538 32,448,602
2070 5,243,773 32,183,952
2069 5,207,961 31,909,601
2068 5,170,739 31,633,783
2067 5,132,640 31,348,096
2066 5,093,072 31,065,618
2065 5,051,871 30,769,538
2064 5,009,758 30,482,622
2063 4,966,686 30,178,760
2062 4,922,343 29,870,308
2061 4,876,639 29,559,670
2060 4,830,317 29,254,998
2059 4,783,233 28,947,636
2058 4,735,557 28,634,199
2057 4,686,764 28,309,796
2056 4,637,220 27,993,176
2055 4,586,935 27,661,321
2054 4,535,328 27,334,325
2053 4,483,472 26,989,310
2052 4,430,621 26,645,898
2051 4,376,942 26,289,905
2050 4,322,480 25,937,176
2049 4,267,374 25,587,491
2048 4,211,530 25,230,302
2047 4,154,844 24,876,838
2046 4,097,814 24,515,600
2045 4,040,118 24,149,762
2044 3,981,892 23,785,181
2043 3,923,058 23,404,024
2042 3,863,611 23,037,316
2041 3,804,282 22,649,943
2040 3,744,293 22,275,480
2039 3,684,045 21,904,908
2038 3,623,285 21,532,024
2037 3,562,776 21,161,527
2036 3,502,038 20,792,863
2035 3,441,138 20,415,452
2034 3,380,088 20,049,783
2033 3,318,743 19,678,070
2032 3,257,194 19,313,685
2031 3,195,735 18,960,968
2030 3,134,115 18,615,376
2029 3,072,145 18,271,657
2028 3,009,805 17,935,044
2027 2,947,443 17,602,533
2026 2,884,828 17,274,728
2025 2,822,093 16,950,795
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 633,221 people (a 27.7% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% 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 48.2% to 4,322,480 people with a rank change from 138th to 132nd. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 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 2.25% 1.9%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/gambia/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of the Gambia grew by 2.25%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Gambia Zimbabwe
Current population
2916990
17443108
Population rank 138/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.21%
One net population change
8.49 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
6.38 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
30.5 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +170 +867
Annual growth/decline +62,105 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +2.25% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 37/197 53/197
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 65,157 -2,989 372,494 -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 2026-07-08).

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 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 people). In Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 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 (1960–2025, 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/zimbabwe | 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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