Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Gambia
Gambia: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 74.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Gambia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Gambia stood at 74.9%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Gambia peaked at 74.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 31.2%, in 1950.
That places Gambia 114th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 31.2% | — |
| 1955 | 33.2% | +6.5% |
| 1960 | 35.5% | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 38.0% | +7.1% |
| 1970 | 40.7% | +7.3% |
| 1975 | 43.8% | +7.6% |
| 1980 | 46.9% | +6.9% |
| 1985 | 49.4% | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 54.9% | +11.2% |
| 1995 | 59.0% | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 62.0% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 65.2% | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 68.9% | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 71.9% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 74.9% | +4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 32.2% | 31.2% | 33.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 36.7% | 35.5% | 38.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 42.3% | 40.7% | 43.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 48.1% | 46.9% | 49.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 56.9% | 54.9% | 59.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 63.6% | 62.0% | 65.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 70.4% | 68.9% | 71.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 74.9% | 74.9% | 74.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More reference data data for Gambia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0121 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2798 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3524 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0232 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3524 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0407 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1264 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Gambia?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Gambia was 74.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 74.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.2% in 1950.
- How does Gambia rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Gambia ranks 114th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.