Total population (thousands) in Mali
Mali: Total population (thousands) was 24,835 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
24,835 thousands
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
58th
of 233 countries
All-time high
24,835 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
6,226 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Mali, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Mali is 24,835 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Mali peaked at 24,835 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6,226 thousands, in 1970.
Mali ranks 58th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Mali, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6,226 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 6,327 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 6,429 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 6,539 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 6,655 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 6,775 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 6,899 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 7,023 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 7,159 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 7,300 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 7,450 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 7,611 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 7,775 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 7,946 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 8,123 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 8,294 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 8,455 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 8,607 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 8,755 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 8,913 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 9,087 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 9,271 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 9,455 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 9,652 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 9,858 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 10,076 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 10,294 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 10,520 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 10,773 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 11,066 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 11,388 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 11,730 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 12,094 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 12,482 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 12,888 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 13,317 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 13,760 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 14,220 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 14,696 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 15,186 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 15,685 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 16,205 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 16,733 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 17,181 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 17,738 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 18,302 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 18,884 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 19,499 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 20,127 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 20,757 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 21,380 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 22,048 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 22,729 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 23,416 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 24,122 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 24,835 thousands | +3.0% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 24,835 thousands is above the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mali's 24,835 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6,733 thousands | 6,226 thousands | 7,300 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 8,193 thousands | 7,450 thousands | 8,913 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,005 thousands | 9,087 thousands | 11,066 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,176 thousands | 11,388 thousands | 15,186 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,111 thousands | 15,685 thousands | 20,757 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,088 thousands | 21,380 thousands | 24,835 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More population data for Mali
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.717 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5014 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 47,440 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.95 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4401 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 65.03 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.87 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Mali?
- Total population in Mali was 24,835 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 24,835 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,226 thousands in 1970.
- How does Mali rank for total population?
- Mali ranks 58th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mali data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release