Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mali
Mali: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 8.12 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
8.12 million people
Change on year
up 4.9%
World rank
76th
of 236 countries
All-time high
8.12 million people
in 2025
All-time low
209,362 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mali, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mali is 8.12 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 68.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mali peaked at 8.12 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 209,362 people, in 1950.
That places Mali 76th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mali, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 209,362 people | — |
| 1951 | 220,146 people | +5.2% |
| 1952 | 232,097 people | +5.4% |
| 1953 | 245,498 people | +5.8% |
| 1954 | 260,355 people | +6.1% |
| 1955 | 276,697 people | +6.3% |
| 1956 | 294,492 people | +6.4% |
| 1957 | 313,708 people | +6.5% |
| 1958 | 334,181 people | +6.5% |
| 1959 | 356,024 people | +6.5% |
| 1960 | 379,396 people | +6.6% |
| 1961 | 404,142 people | +6.5% |
| 1962 | 430,150 people | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 457,299 people | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 485,502 people | +6.2% |
| 1965 | 514,774 people | +6.0% |
| 1966 | 545,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1967 | 576,159 people | +5.7% |
| 1968 | 608,312 people | +5.6% |
| 1969 | 641,314 people | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 675,229 people | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 709,832 people | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 745,208 people | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 781,654 people | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 818,782 people | +4.7% |
| 1975 | 856,302 people | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 893,796 people | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 932,138 people | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 972,264 people | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 1.01 million people | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 1.06 million people | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 1.10 million people | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 1.15 million people | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 1.20 million people | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 1.25 million people | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 1.30 million people | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 1.34 million people | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 1.39 million people | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 1.43 million people | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 1.48 million people | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 1.53 million people | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 1.58 million people | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 1.63 million people | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 1.68 million people | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 1.74 million people | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 1.80 million people | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 1.86 million people | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 1.93 million people | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 2.01 million people | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 2.09 million people | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.19 million people | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 2.30 million people | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 2.42 million people | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 2.54 million people | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 2.68 million people | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 2.83 million people | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 2.98 million people | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 3.14 million people | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 3.32 million people | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 3.50 million people | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 3.69 million people | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 3.89 million people | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 4.10 million people | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 4.31 million people | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 4.55 million people | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 4.81 million people | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 5.08 million people | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 5.36 million people | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 5.66 million people | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 5.97 million people | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 6.30 million people | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 6.65 million people | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 7.01 million people | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 7.37 million people | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 7.74 million people | +5.0% |
| 2025 | 8.12 million people | +4.9% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 8.12 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million people, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mali's 8.12 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 274,256 people | 209,362 people | 356,024 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 504,205 people | 379,396 people | 641,314 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 839,932 people | 675,229 people | 1.01 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.27 million people | 1.06 million people | 1.48 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.78 million people | 1.53 million people | 2.09 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.79 million people | 2.19 million people | 3.50 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.74 million people | 3.69 million people | 5.97 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.20 million people | 6.30 million people | 8.12 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More population data for Mali
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5014 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3916 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.87 million people (2100)
- Population density 65.03 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4401 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.95 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mali?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Mali was 8.12 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 8.12 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 209,362 people in 1950.
- How does Mali rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Mali ranks 76th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mali data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.