MigrantoGambian Diaspora
72.5K Gambians live abroad — 3% of the population of the Gambia
Gambian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 85% of the diaspora
| 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 region
82% of the diaspora lives in Europe
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Key facts
The Gambian diaspora in numbers
The share of the diaspora living in Africa has declined since 1990
92.8% of the diaspora lived in Africa in 1990, compared with 17.7% today.
Most Gambians abroad live in Spain
41% of the diaspora lives in Spain, while the next country accounts for just 36%.
The community in Spain is growing fastest
The number of Gambians living in Spain has grown 61% since 2015, from 18.4K to 29.7K.
The diaspora has grown 18% since 2020
The number of Gambians living abroad rose from 61.4K to 72.5K in four years.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Spain, Luxembourg, Brazil. Spain climbed from outside the top 20 to #1.
Gambian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 14218 |
| 1995 | 16789 |
| 2000 | 19940 |
| 2005 | 27073 |
| 2010 | 34151 |
| 2015 | 38925 |
| 2020 | 61390 |
| 2024 | 72452 |
Largest communities over time
Gambians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Gambians in each country has changed since the selected year
Gambians among immigrants in other countries
Where Gambians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Gambians live outside Gambia?
Around 72.5K Gambians live abroad, the world's #157 largest diaspora.
Where do most Gambians abroad live?
Most Gambians live in Spain, Italy and Senegal — these three countries account for about 85% of all Gambians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Gambian population outside Gambia?
Spain is home to the largest Gambian community abroad — 29.7K people, about 41% of all Gambians living abroad.
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.
Is the Gambian diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Gambians living abroad has grown from 38.9K to 72.5K, about 86%.
Where does the data on the Gambian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in the Gambia who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in the Gambia
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