The Gambia’s population rose to 2.8 m people in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. Population has no good or bad direction because growth brings both a larger workforce and customer base and greater demand on schools, housing, food and power. The latest estimate is 2.8 million in January 2025, after 2.8 million in January 2024. The year's gain was 0.06 million, or 2.3%. Since 2016 the range runs from a low of 2.3 million in January 2016 to the current 2.8 million, so the latest reading is the highest in that span.

Why it matters. Growth of 2.3% a year means a steady flow of new households needing homes, water, electricity and food, and a steady flow of children needing school places. Firms in a market of 2.8 million people gain more customers and workers each year. The state has to expand services at the same pace to keep per-person provision from slipping.