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
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.
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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 5.51 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 135,533 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 5.51 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 5.51 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 3.1% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 5.61 live births per woman (2023)
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.