How to read Gambian statistics

The year belongs beside the number

A population figure answers a question about a particular date and method. The UN Statistics database records the Gambian 2024 census total of 2,422,712 as a provisional figure. UNFPA’s publication page also identifies the report as preliminary. Those labels should stay attached whenever the number is reused.

The World Bank’s population series instead displays 2,822,093 for 2025 as an estimate. This is not a second census count. A guide should not combine these two series into an apparent increase from one year to the next without examining their methods.

Ask four questions

Before sharing any number, ask who produced it, what period it describes, exactly what was measured and whether it has been revised. “Population”, “citizens”, “households” and “registered voters” describe different groups. A number can be accurately copied yet still answer the wrong question.

Check the unit too. A monetary figure may be in dalasi, US dollars or thousands of either. An economic growth rate is different from the total size of an economy. A percentage needs a denominator: ask “a percentage of which people, places or businesses?”

Build a small evidence trail

For a school project or noticeboard, record the publication title, organisation, reference year, table or page and web address. Add the date you consulted it. If a table says provisional, estimate or projection, keep that word. A later revision is a normal part of statistical work; it is a reason to update the record.

Compare like with like. To examine change, use a consistent series and definition. To compare districts, confirm that their boundaries and reporting periods match. When the evidence does not support a strong conclusion, describe the uncertainty plainly rather than filling the gap with a guess.

Classroom activity

Give groups two differently dated population figures and ask each group to write a correct caption. A good caption names the source and distinguishes counting from estimating. Then ask which caption would mislead a reader if the year or method were removed.

Create a community information board with a “last checked” field. Assign a small number of items to each group and agree when they should be reviewed. This makes fact-checking a shared practical skill, rather than an exercise in memorising a number that will eventually change.

Sources & further reading

Source review date: 2026-10-29.