Mali Population
Mali has an estimated population of about 24.5 million, which makes it the 58th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing rapidly, at 2.94% a year.
The capital is Bamako.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2015–2024 (World Bank)
How Mali's population is changing
Mali records about 2,649 births and 570 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 2,079 people per day, or about 759,355 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 46,880 over the reported period, with more people leaving than arriving. That is equivalent to about 6% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Mali would take roughly 24 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2015 to 2024, the population rose from 18.6 million to 24.5 million — a gain of 5.89 million, or 31.7%.
Where people live in Mali
With about 19 people per square kilometre, Mali is sparsely populated, well below the world average of 62. That ranks 101st of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Algeria and Uruguay.
Mali covers about 1,220,190 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 24.5 million into that density figure.
About 31.6% of people live in urban areas, making Mali split between town and countryside, below the world average of 57.6%. That works out to roughly 7.74 million town and city dwellers and 16.7 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Mali
Mali has a very young population: about 46.1% are under 15 and 2.4% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 19.4 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 5.51 births per woman, above the ~2.1 replacement level, which is what sustains growth from births alone. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 60.7 years, roughly 12.8 years below the global average of 73.5.
Mali at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24.5 million | 2024 |
| World rank by population | #58 | 2024 |
| Annual growth rate | 2.94% | 2024 |
| Population density | 19 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 1,220,190 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 31.6% | 2024 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 60.7 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 5.51 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 46.1% | 2024 |
| Population 65 and over | 2.4% | 2024 |
| Net migration | -46,880 | 2024 |
| Births per day | 2,649 | 2024 |
| Deaths per day | 570 | 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
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Is Mali's population growing or shrinking?
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Where do these Mali figures come from?
Current local time in Mali
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2024. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank