MigrantoGambian Diaspora
72.5K Gambians live abroad — the #157 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 85% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Spain | 29653 |
| Italy | 26164 |
| Senegal | 5764 |
| Ghana | 2109 |
| Mali | 1629 |
| Norway | 1392 |
| Togo | 1079 |
| Finland | 1062 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 917 |
| Denmark | 733 |
| Liberia | 519 |
| Sierra Leone | 487 |
| Guinea | 259 |
| Portugal | 144 |
| Australia | 141 |
| Namibia | 93 |
| Luxembourg | 88 |
| Brazil | 78 |
| Greece | 52 |
| Iceland | 29 |
| Slovenia | 22 |
| Hungary | 15 |
| Bulgaria | 12 |
| Cape Verde | 4 |
| Slovakia | 4 |
| Estonia | 2 |
| Latvia | 1 |
| Lithuania | 0 |
| Liechtenstein | 0 |
By destination region
Europe is the leading destination region at 82%
59.4K
12.9K
141
78
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from the Gambia.
The share of emigrants going to Africa has declined since 1990
The share of emigrants going to Africa has shifted from 92.8% to 17.7% since 1990.
Spain is the primary destination for emigrants
Spain attracts 41% of all emigrants from the Gambia, while the second-largest destination receives just 36%.
Spain is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to Spain has increased by 61% since 2015, rising from 18.4K to 29.7K in 9 years.
Emigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The emigrant population grew 18% from 61.4K to 72.5K, indicating an acceleration in emigration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 14218 |
| 1995 | 16789 |
| 2000 | 19940 |
| 2005 | 27073 |
| 2010 | 34151 |
| 2015 | 38925 |
| 2020 | 61390 |
| 2024 | 72452 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | Spain | Italy | Senegal | Ghana | Mali |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 112 | 4263 | 19 | 595 |
| 1995 | 1578 | 190 | 4458 | 19 | 621 |
| 2000 | 4871 | 307 | 4029 | 21 | 570 |
| 2005 | 11940 | 983 | 4335 | 30 | 2333 |
| 2010 | 18817 | 1075 | 4849 | 1337 | 1006 |
| 2015 | 18367 | 4921 | 5386 | 1645 | 1237 |
| 2020 | 23430 | 21662 | 5622 | 1888 | 1451 |
| 2024 | 29653 | 26164 | 5764 | 2109 | 1629 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Gambia as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from the Gambia
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Gambians move to?
Most Gambians have moved to Spain, Italy and Senegal — these three countries account for about 85% of all Gambians living abroad.
How many Gambians live abroad?
Around 72.5K Gambians live abroad, making it the #157-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of the Gambia lives abroad?
About 3% of the population of the Gambia lives abroad — that's 72.5K out of a total population of 2.8M.
How has emigration from the Gambia changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from the Gambia has grown from 38.9K to 72.5K people, a growth of about 86%.
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