Demographics of the Gambia

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Demographics of The Gambia
Gambia single age population pyramid 2020.png
Gambia population pyramid in 2020
Population2,639,916 (2021 est.)
Density176.1/sq km (2013)
Growth rate38.3%
Birth rate29.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Death rate7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Life expectancy65.1 (2017 est.)
  male62.8 (2017 est.)
  female67.5 (2017 est.)
Fertility rate3.52 children born/woman (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate60.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years37.44% (2017 est.)
15–64 years59.08% (2017 est.)
65 and over3.48% (2017 est.)
Sex ratio
Total0.98 (2013)
At birth1.03 (2013 est.)
Under 151.01 (2013 est.)
15–64 years0.96 (2013 est.)
65 and over0.90 (2013 est.)
Nationality
NationalityNoun: Gambian
Major ethnic African (99%) (2003)
Minor ethnicNon-African (1%) (2003)
Language
OfficialEnglish
Spoken Mandinka, Wolof, Fula

The demographic characteristics of the population of The Gambia are known through national censuses, conducted in ten-year intervals and analyzed by The Gambian Bureau of Statistics (GBOS) since 1963. The latest census was conducted in 2013. The population of The Gambia at the 2013 census was 1.8 million. The population density is 176.1 per square kilometer, and the overall life expectancy in The Gambia is 64.1 years. Since the first census of 1963, the population of The Gambia has increased every ten years by an average of 43.2 percent. Since 1950s, the birth rate has constantly exceeded the death rate; the natural growth rate is positive. The Gambia is in the second stage of demographic transition. In terms of age structure, The Gambia is dominated by 15- to 24-year-old segment (57.6%). The median age of the population is 19.9 years, and the gender ratio of the total population is 0.98 males per female.

Contents

Population

Census population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1963 315,486    
1973 493,499+4.58%
1983 687,817+3.38%
1993 1,038,145+4.20%
2003 1,360,681+2.74%
2013 1,882,450+3.30%
2024 2,422,712+2.32%
Source: The Gambia Bureau of Statistics [1]

With a population of 1.88 million in 2013, The Gambia ranks 149th in the world by population. [1] Its population density is 176.1 inhabitants per square kilometer (456 inhabitants per square mile). [2] The overall life expectancy in The Gambia is 64.1 years. [3] The total fertility rate of 3.98 is one of the highest in the world. [4] Since 1950, the United Nations (UN) estimated the birth rate exceeds the death rate. [5] The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBOS) estimates the population of The Gambia is expected to reach 3.6 million in 20 years. [1] The population of The Gambia has increased each census, starting with 315 thousand in 1963 to 1.8 million in 2013. [1] The GBOS predicted the reason for the increase from 2003 to 2013 was more coverage in the latter census compared to the former's. [6]

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events in Gambia is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. [7]

Mid-year population (thousands)Live births (thousands)Deaths (thousands)Natural change (thousands)Crude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rate (TFR) Infant mortality (per 1000 live births) Life expectancy (in years)
1950  307  15  10  549.632.217.46.35174.031.76
1951  315  16  10  650.131.818.46.35173.131.87
1952  323  16  10  650.531.519.06.35171.632.08
1953  331  17  10  650.731.219.56.35170.132.43
1954  340  17  11  750.931.119.86.34168.832.67
1955  349  18  11  751.030.920.06.33167.632.88
1956  359  18  11  751.030.920.26.32166.533.05
1957  368  19  11  851.030.420.66.30163.833.53
1958  378  19  11  851.029.921.16.29161.034.08
1959  389  20  11  850.929.421.46.27158.434.59
1960  400  20  12  950.728.921.86.25155.835.10
1961  411  21  12  950.628.522.16.23153.335.57
1962  422  21  12  950.428.122.36.21150.935.99
1963  434  22  12  1050.127.622.56.20148.636.50
1964  446  22  12  1049.827.122.66.20146.336.95
1965  459  23  12  1049.426.622.86.19143.937.45
1966  472  23  12  1148.926.122.86.18141.637.90
1967  485  24  12  1148.625.623.06.21139.338.43
1968  499  24  13  1248.425.123.26.22137.038.87
1969  514  25  13  1248.224.723.56.25134.739.35
1970  529  25  13  1347.924.223.76.26132.439.87
1971  544  26  13  1347.823.724.06.28130.140.35
1972  561  27  13  1447.823.224.66.32127.740.92
1973  577  28  13  1447.822.824.96.37125.341.39
1974  595  28  13  1547.622.425.26.38122.941.95
1975  613  29  14  1547.422.125.36.41120.442.44
1976  632  30  14  1647.321.825.56.43117.943.04
1977  652  31  14  1747.121.625.56.43115.543.44
1978  673  31  14  1746.921.525.46.42114.043.58
1979  695  32  14  1846.820.925.96.41110.944.56
1980  719  33  15  1946.720.626.26.40108.545.15
1981  743  35  16  1946.721.025.86.40106.144.48
1982  768  36  15  2146.819.826.96.39103.746.38
1983  796  37  15  2246.619.527.16.38101.246.92
1984  825  38  16  2246.519.127.46.3798.747.49
1985  856  40  16  2446.418.627.86.3496.148.19
1986  889  41  16  2546.418.128.36.3393.648.71
1987  924  42  16  2646.217.628.76.2991.149.41
1988  961  44  16  2846.117.129.06.2688.750.05
1989  1 000  46  17  2945.816.629.26.2486.350.64
1990  1 041  47  17  3145.716.129.66.2284.051.32
1991  1 084  49  17  3245.615.530.16.1781.852.13
1992  1 127  51  17  3445.415.030.46.1179.552.94
1993  1 168  53  17  3645.114.430.76.0477.353.75
1994  1 206  54  17  3845.013.731.36.0475.054.72
1995  1 242  56  16  3944.713.231.56.0172.855.46
1996  1 279  57  16  4044.312.831.55.9670.656.01
1997  1 317  58  17  4244.112.631.55.9268.756.06
1998  1 356  60  17  4344.112.331.85.9366.356.55
1999  1 396  61  17  4443.612.031.65.8764.556.82
2000  1 438  62  17  4543.111.831.35.8062.156.94
2001  1 479  64  17  4642.911.731.25.7560.157.04
2002  1 522  65  18  4742.511.630.95.7358.157.08
2003  1 566  66  18  4942.311.231.05.7056.157.59
2004  1 612  68  18  5142.210.831.45.7154.258.09
2005  1 660  70  18  5342.110.631.65.7252.458.39
2006  1 711  73  17  5542.410.132.25.7650.559.06
2007  1 765  74  17  5742.19.932.25.7348.759.39
2008  1 821  76  17  5941.89.432.35.7147.060.08
2009  1 878  78  17  6141.59.232.35.6945.460.43
2010  1 937  80  17  6241.18.932.15.6743.960.72
2011  1 998  81  17  6440.78.532.25.6442.361.53
2012  2 061  83  17  6640.18.232.05.5940.962.10
2013  2 125  84  17  6739.48.131.35.5139.562.11
2014  2 189  84  17  6738.57.930.65.4238.262.27
2015  2 253  85  17  6737.67.729.85.3136.962.49
2016  2 317  85  17  6836.67.529.15.2035.763.01
2017  2 381  85  18  6835.77.428.35.0934.563.00
2018  2 445  85  18  6834.97.327.64.9733.463.04
2019  2 509  86  186934.37.027.34.8732.463.76
2020  2 516  79  17  6231.56.824.74.2532.564.4
2021  2 576  80  18  6231.27.024.24.1731.563.8
2022  2 636  81  17  6430.86.624.14.0830.564.9
2023  2 698  82  17  6530.46.324.14.0129.565.9

Demographic and Health Surveys

Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates Gambia Population 1950-2021 Forecast 2022-2032 UN World Population Prospects 2022.svg
Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates

Sources: [8] [9]

Fertility Rate TFR (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):

YearCBR (Total)TFR (Total)CBR (Urban)TFR (Urban)CBR (Rural)TFR (Rural)
201340.55.6 (4.7)37.74.7 (4.1)43.46.8 (5.6)
2019-2034.44.4 (4.0)32.53.9 (3.6)38.95.9 (5.3)
millionyear00.511.522.53195019601970198019902000201020202030population (million)Gambia Population
See or edit source data.
years15182124273033195019601970198019902000201020202030Natural change (per 1000)Gambia Population Change
See or edit source data.
years0306090120150180195019601970198019902000201020202030Infant mortality (per 1000 live births)Gambia Infant Mortality
See or edit source data.
TFRyears44.555.566.5195019601970198019902000201020202030Total Fertility RateTotal Fertility Rate
See or edit source data.

Structure of the population (DHS 2013) (males 23,904, females 25,649, total 49,553) :

Age GroupMale (%)Female (%)Total (%)
0–418.516.417.4
5–916.615.315.9
10–1412.812.512.6
15–1910.310.410.3
20–248.59.18.8
25–296.88.07.4
30–345.56.56.0
35–394.54.74.6
40–443.83.33.5
45–492.92.42.6
50–542.14.13.1
55–591.51.91.7
60–642.31.92.1
65–691.51.21.3
70–741.00.91.0
75–790.70.50.6
80+0.81.00.9
Age groupMale (%)Female (%)Total (%)
0–1447.944.245.9
15–6448.152.250.3
65+4.03.63.8

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (30.XII.2015) (Source: Integrated Household Survey (IHS) 2015/2016.): [10]

Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total915 3571 007 5931 922 950100
0–4155 654155 502311 15616.18
5–9150 122147 966298 08915.50
10–14115 261113 727228 98811.91
15–1987 274111 093198 36710.32
20–2476 050104 429180 4799.39
25–2962 43189 237151 6697.89
30–3457 53270 222127 7546.64
35–3949 91359 248109 1615.68
40–4439 03242 66681 6984.25
45–4932 23529 52261 7573.21
50–5427 28625 44152 7272.74
55–5918 07517 68535 7591.86
60–6416 03414 12130 1551.57
65+28 45726 73455 1912.87
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–14421 037417 195838 23243.59
15–64465 863563 6641 029 52753.54
65+28 45726 73455 1912.87

Fertility data as of 2019-20 (DHS Program): [11]

Local Government AreaTotal fertility ratePercentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnantMean number of children ever born to women age 40–49
Banjul3.15.34.2
Kanifing3.35.74.5
Brikama4.16.95.7
Mansakonko5.49.77.1
Kerewan5.48.26.9
Kuntaur6.411.97.2
Janjanbureh5.78.77.0
Basse5.79.66.5
Gambian girl Gambia girl.jpg
Gambian girl

Life expectancy

PeriodLife expectancy in
Years [12]
1950–195530.24
1955–1960Increase2.svg 31.52
1960–1965Increase2.svg 32.79
1965–1970Increase2.svg 35.78
1970–1975Increase2.svg 40.04
1975–1980Increase2.svg 44.21
1980–1985Increase2.svg 48.20
1985–1990Increase2.svg 51.33
1990–1995Increase2.svg 52.85
1995–2000Increase2.svg 54.91
2000–2005Increase2.svg 56.92
2005–2010Increase2.svg 58.83
2010–2015Increase2.svg 60.31

Ethnic groups

Elderly Gambian woman, January 2008, The Gambia. Elderly Gambian woman face portrait.jpg
Elderly Gambian woman, January 2008, The Gambia.
Population of Gambia according to ethnic group 1973-2023 [13] [14]
Ethnic
group
census 1973census 1983census 1993census 2003census 2013census 2023
Number %Number %Number %Number %Number %Number %
Mandinka/Jahanka 186,24142.3251,99740.8353,84039.5446,91435.9600,16534.4793,30034.4
Fula/Tukulor/Lorobo 79,99418.2117,09219.0168,28418.8272,5421.9420,20624.1576,50025.0
Wolof 69,29115.784,40413.7130,54614.6179,89014.5258,06514.8355,10015.4
Jola 41,9889.564,49410.495,26210.6141,36011.4182,80710.5219,1009.5
Sarahule 38,4788.751,1378.379,6908.9101,3478.1142,6068.2189,1008.2
Serere 9,2292.115,5112.524,7102.837,9793.153,5673.166,9002.9
Krio (Creole) 5,5961.310,7411.77,4580.824,4922.08,4770.59,2000.4
Manjago 1,7220.43,0350.56,1940.713,0431.032,4081.939,2001.7
Bambara 4,3861.05,0320.816,5501.86,5560.522,5831.327,7001.2
Other/not stated3,7910.913,7962.213,6011.519,9381.625,5481.530,0001.3
Total440,716617,239896,1351,243,8731,746,4322,306,066
The figures refer to the Gambian population only. Foreigners are excluded.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Gambia Bureau of Statistics 2013, p. 6
  2. The Gambia Bureau of Statistics 2013 , p. 10
  3. "Africa :: Gambia, The". The World Factbook . Central Intelligence Agency . Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  4. "Country Comparison :: Total Fertility Rate". The World Factbook . Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  5. "World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision". United Nations. Archived from the original on May 6, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  6. The Gambia Bureau of Statistics 2013 , pp. 6–7
  7. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2022). "World Population Prospects 2022 Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XLS (91MB)). United Nations Population Division . 27 (Online ed.). New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. rows 5261:5332,cols M,X,AE,S,AH,S,AA,AV,AI. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09.
  8. "The DHS Program - Quality information to plan, monitor and improve population, health, and nutrition programs". www.dhsprogram.com.
  9. "The Gambia MICS 2018" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2021.
  10. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
  11. "The Gambia Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20" (PDF). The Gambia Demographic and Health Survey. 2021.
  12. "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". esa.un.org. Archived from the original on 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  13. https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/8-2013-population-and-housing-census-reports [ bare URL ]
  14. https://www.gbosdata.org/downloads/142-2024-population-and-housing-census-reports [ bare URL ]

References