Population of Mali

As of August 2026, the population of Mali is 26 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 739 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.91%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 14.9 years in 2016 to 15.9 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 61.1 years and population density is 21.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Mali peaked in 2007, reaching around 3.29% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.85% in 2026. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 738.95 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Mali, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 54.3 years in 2006 to 61.1 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 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: