Rural population density in Gambia
Gambia: Rural population density was 168.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▼ Falling
Latest (2011)
168.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
42nd
of 53 countries
All-time high
386.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1993
All-time low
166.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2010
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Gambia, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population density in Gambia is 168.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land, measured in 2011.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Gambia peaked at 386.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1993 and was at its lowest, 166.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 2010.
Gambia ranks 42nd of 53 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Gambia, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 276.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 277.66 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 278.37 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 278.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 279.96 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 279.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 277.84 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 280.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 279.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 284.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 282.46 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 277.59 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 273.45 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 234.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -14.2% |
| 1975 | 247.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.6% |
| 1976 | 254.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 248.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 243.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.1% |
| 1979 | 265.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +8.9% |
| 1980 | 283.55 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 254.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -10.1% |
| 1982 | 233.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 265.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +13.3% |
| 1984 | 295.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +11.4% |
| 1985 | 304.57 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 300 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 298.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 284.47 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 321.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +13.1% |
| 1990 | 318.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 309.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 379.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +22.6% |
| 1993 | 386.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 348.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -9.7% |
| 1995 | 342.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 336.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 314.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 325.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 274.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -15.9% |
| 2000 | 237.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -13.5% |
| 2001 | 210.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -11.4% |
| 2002 | 243.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +15.7% |
| 2003 | 222.28 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -8.6% |
| 2004 | 221.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 213.61 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 243.82 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +14.1% |
| 2007 | 238.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 196.85 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -17.6% |
| 2009 | 173.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -12.1% |
| 2010 | 166.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 168.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 278.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 276.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 280.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 261.28 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 234.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 284.03 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 284.17 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 233.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 321.68 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 333.55 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 274.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 386.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 220 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 173.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 243.82 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 167.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 166.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 168.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 39 Chad 183.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 40 Namibia 178.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 41 Morocco 174.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 43 South Africa 159.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 44 Cameroon 154.8 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 45 Togo 151.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Gambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.366 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.36 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Import quantity, annual growth rate -51.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Wood-based panels — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Wood-based panels — Import quantity, per capita 0.0029 m3 per person (2024)
- Wood-based panels — Import value, annual growth rate -53.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Wood-based panels — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Gambia?
- Rural population density in Gambia was 168.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 386.06 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1993.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 166.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2010.
- How does Gambia rank for rural population density?
- Gambia ranks 42nd out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.