Gambia: immigration

How many foreigners live in The Gambia?

4.8% of people counted in the 2024 census were not Gambian nationals, according to the preliminary census report of the Gambia Bureau of Statistics. 2,306,066 of the 2,422,712 people counted, or 95.2%, were Gambian.

Senegalese nationals were the largest group, at 40,849, followed by Guineans at 36,077. There were 9,645 Sierra Leoneans, 8,104 Nigerians and 4,924 Bissau-Guineans. Citizens of ECOWAS member states have free movement rights within the bloc. The census counts nationality, not country of birth, so naturalised Gambians are counted as Gambian.

Official sources: GBoS: 2024 Population and Housing Census preliminary report (PDF)

How many refugees are there in The Gambia?

The Gambia hosted 4,108 refugees and 509 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The number of refugees was 3,809 in 2023.

Refugees are people whose claims have been accepted. Asylum seekers are those still waiting for a decision. UNHCR's refugee data finder gives figures by country of origin, and the Gambia Commission for Refugees handles registration and status decisions in the country. The 2024 census separately counts all foreign nationals living in The Gambia.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

How many Gambians seek asylum abroad?

At the end of 2025 there were 6,728 refugees and 6,712 asylum seekers from The Gambia worldwide, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). In 2021 there were 11,042 Gambian refugees.

The number of refugees counts people whose claims were accepted and who still hold refugee status. The number of asylum seekers depends on how quickly host countries decide cases. Most Gambians who move abroad do so for work or family and are not counted by UNHCR. Their links with home show up instead in remittances, which the Central Bank of The Gambia put at US$265.5 million in the second quarter of 2026.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee Data Finder

What share of the Gambia's population are immigrants?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 8.6%. That compares with 8.7% in 2015. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 2.2%, and the Gambia placed 5th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 70th of 193.

Are more people leaving the Gambia than arriving?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in the Gambia at -2,984 in 2025. The peak was -1,949 in 2020 and the low -4,186 in 2019. Sub-Saharan Africa median: -5,646; the Gambia is 19th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 105th of 193.

How many refugees are in the Gambia?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 4,108. Its high point since 2005 was 2007, at 14,892; its low point was 2022, at 3,685. It is 32nd highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 35,241. World rank, highest first: 109th of 169.

How many refugees come from the Gambia?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 6,728. Its high point since 2005 was 2019, at 17,813; its low point was 2006, at 1,249. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 12,726, and the Gambia placed 27th highest of 48. Of 189 countries with 2025 data, 69th highest.

How much money do migrants send home to the Gambia?

23.8% of GDP: that is personal remittances received in the Gambia for 2025, according to the World Bank. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.1% of GDP (2008) to 27.2% of GDP (2021). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 2.6% of GDP; the Gambia is 1st highest of 20. Of 127 countries with 2025 data, 6th highest.