Birth rates and death rates in Gambia
Gambia: Birth rates and death rates was 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
6.29 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 5.2%
World rank
164th
of 236 countries
All-time high
32.57 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1950
All-time low
6.29 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rates and death rates in Gambia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for birth rates and death rates in Gambia is 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 5.2% on the previous year and down 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in Gambia peaked at 32.57 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950 and was at its lowest, 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2023.
That places Gambia 164th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Birth rates and death rates in Gambia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 32.57 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 31.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1952 | 31.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1953 | 31.61 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1954 | 31.44 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1955 | 31.29 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 31 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1957 | 30.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1958 | 30.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1959 | 29.75 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1960 | 29.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1961 | 28.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1962 | 28.27 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 27.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1964 | 27.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1965 | 26.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1966 | 26.24 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1967 | 25.7 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 25.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 24.74 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1970 | 24.23 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 23.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 23.35 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 22.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 22.42 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 22.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 21.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 21.5 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 21.49 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 20.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 20.79 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 21.18 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 20.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1983 | 19.83 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 19.52 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 18.98 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 18.43 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 17.9 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 17.27 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 16.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 16.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 15.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 15.26 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 14.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 14.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 13.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 13.19 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 12.77 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 12.15 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 11.74 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 11.33 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 10.98 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 10.62 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 10.27 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 9.93 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 9.69 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 9.37 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 9.15 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 8.88 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 8.71 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 8.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 8.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 8.1 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 7.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 7.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 7.5 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 7.29 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 7.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 6.96 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 6.81 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 6.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 7.01 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 6.63 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.2% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.05 deaths per 1,000 people, 89% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.2 deaths per 1,000 people, 87% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 31.22 deaths per 1,000 people | 29.75 deaths per 1,000 people | 32.57 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 27 deaths per 1,000 people | 24.74 deaths per 1,000 people | 29.28 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 22.45 deaths per 1,000 people | 20.95 deaths per 1,000 people | 24.23 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.08 deaths per 1,000 people | 16.76 deaths per 1,000 people | 21.18 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.98 deaths per 1,000 people | 11.74 deaths per 1,000 people | 16.28 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.89 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.71 deaths per 1,000 people | 11.33 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.62 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.81 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.48 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.68 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.01 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 161 Saint Barthelemy 6.36 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 162 Western Sahara 6.34 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 163 Türkiye 6.32 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 165 Congo 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 166 New Caledonia 6.27 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 167 Gabon 6.27 deaths per 1,000 people compare
More health data for Gambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 700 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9696 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0686 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9636 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0702 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rates and death rates in Gambia?
- Birth rates and death rates in Gambia was 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.57 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950.
- What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.29 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does Gambia rank for birth rates and death rates?
- Gambia ranks 164th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of deaths in a year per 1,000 people in the population.