Urban population in Gambia
Gambia: Urban population was 1.83 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Gambia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Gambia is 1.83 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 39.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Gambia peaked at 1.83 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 36,093, in 1960.
That places Gambia 137th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Gambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 36,093 | — |
| 1961 | 36,502 | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 37,134 | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 38,086 | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 39,824 | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 42,550 | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 46,204 | +8.6% |
| 1967 | 50,744 | +9.8% |
| 1968 | 56,114 | +10.6% |
| 1969 | 62,223 | +10.9% |
| 1970 | 68,978 | +10.9% |
| 1971 | 76,291 | +10.6% |
| 1972 | 84,057 | +10.2% |
| 1973 | 92,245 | +9.7% |
| 1974 | 101,836 | +10.4% |
| 1975 | 113,542 | +11.5% |
| 1976 | 127,122 | +12.0% |
| 1977 | 142,327 | +12.0% |
| 1978 | 158,829 | +11.6% |
| 1979 | 176,285 | +11.0% |
| 1980 | 194,295 | +10.2% |
| 1981 | 212,256 | +9.2% |
| 1982 | 229,679 | +8.2% |
| 1983 | 246,180 | +7.2% |
| 1984 | 262,337 | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 278,739 | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 295,477 | +6.0% |
| 1987 | 312,773 | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 330,901 | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 350,197 | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 371,008 | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 393,648 | +6.1% |
| 1992 | 417,994 | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 443,416 | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 470,474 | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 500,246 | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 532,904 | +6.5% |
| 1997 | 568,093 | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 605,351 | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 644,079 | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 683,485 | +6.1% |
| 2001 | 722,826 | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 761,290 | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 798,287 | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 835,076 | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 872,831 | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 911,846 | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 952,098 | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 993,331 | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 1.04 million | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 1.08 million | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 1.12 million | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 1.17 million | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 1.22 million | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 1.27 million | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 1.32 million | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 1.37 million | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 1.42 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 1.47 million | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 1.51 million | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 1.56 million | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 1.62 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 1.67 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 1.72 million | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 1.77 million | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 1.83 million | +3.3% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 1.83 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 26% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 1.83 million is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 38% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 44,547 | 36,093 | 62,223 | 10 |
| 1970s | 114,151 | 68,978 | 176,285 | 10 |
| 1980s | 271,283 | 194,295 | 350,197 | 10 |
| 1990s | 494,721 | 371,008 | 644,079 | 10 |
| 2000s | 856,668 | 683,485 | 1.04 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.29 million | 1.08 million | 1.51 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.70 million | 1.56 million | 1.83 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More climate change data for Gambia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 7.29 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,177 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 380.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 795.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1.44 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 28.43 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 275.94 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 74.92 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 201.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.2827 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Gambia?
- Urban population in Gambia was 1.83 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.83 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 36,093 in 1960.
- How does Gambia rank for urban population?
- Gambia ranks 137th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.