Mali — Population
Population, Total for Mali, 1960–2025.
Population for Mali was 25.20 million in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 5.40 million in 1960 (about 4.7× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 2.40% per year.
Mali ranks 58 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 27%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 15.10 million, so Mali sits above it. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 36%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 16 of 48 economies; Burkina Faso (24.07 million) is just below it. That is 16% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1960 level: doubled by 1998. Doubling roughly every 29 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 68th of 216 in 1960 → 71st of 216 in 1970 → 73rd of 216 in 1980 → 72nd of 217 in 1990 → 67th of 217 in 2000 → 64th of 217 in 2010 → 58th of 217 in 2020 → 58th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25,198,821 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 24,478,595 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 23,769,127 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 23,072,640 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 22,388,630 | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 21,713,836 | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 21,068,405 | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 20,442,030 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 19,813,011 | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 19,191,289 | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 18,593,022 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 18,020,267 | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 17,459,615 | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 16,957,033 | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 16,469,049 | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 15,945,198 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 15,435,539 | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 14,940,782 | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 14,457,775 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 13,990,139 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 13,538,647 | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 13,102,409 | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 12,684,955 | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 12,288,050 | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 11,912,158 | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 11,559,290 | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 11,227,415 | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 10,919,573 | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 10,646,495 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 10,407,278 | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 10,185,365 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 9,967,031 | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 9,754,786 | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 9,553,540 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 9,362,888 | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 9,178,830 | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 8,999,938 | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 8,833,996 | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 8,681,164 | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 8,531,277 | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 8,374,663 | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 8,208,599 | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 8,034,400 | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 7,860,194 | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 7,692,766 | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 7,530,515 | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 7,375,266 | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 7,229,651 | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 7,090,979 | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 6,960,979 | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 6,837,261 | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 6,715,436 | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 6,597,106 | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 6,483,726 | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 6,377,944 | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 6,276,472 | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 6,177,704 | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 6,082,979 | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 5,990,906 | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 5,902,204 | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 5,815,487 | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 5,730,125 | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 5,646,605 | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 5,563,917 | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 5,482,283 | +1.5% |
| 1960 | 5,402,550 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Mali’s Population in 1961?
5,482,283 (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are Mali’s Population figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — people — with no inflation restatement and no PPP conversion. Years the source does not report are omitted rather than interpolated.
Is Mali’s Population growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +366.4% in total — about 2.4% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 25,198,821; 2024: 24,478,595; 2023: 23,769,127; 2022: 23,072,640; 2021: 22,388,630. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.POP.TOTL — Population, Total. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.