Population of Mali

As of May 2025, the population of Mali is 24.6 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 752 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 3.09%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 14.8 years in 2015 to 15.5 years in 2025. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 61.1 years and population density is 20.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Mali peaked in 2004, reaching around 3.31% annually, but has since declined to approximately 3.04% in 2025. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 751.92 thousand in 2025.

Life Expectancy

In Mali, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 54 years in 2005 to 61.1 years in 2025, representing an increase of more than 7 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Mali

The cities of Mali are mostly small, but 10 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Bamako, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 4.2 million inhabitants. It is followed by Sikasso with 349.3 thousand and Koutiala, Sikasso with 218 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Mali: