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Population density: Burundi vs Mali compared

Updated on by Georank team

Burundi has a population density of 1,487 people per square mile compared to 55.1 people in Mali. Burundi has 21,327 sq ft of land per person vs 545,346 sq ft in Mali. Burundi and Mali rank 15th and 167th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Burundi has 0.17% of the world's population and 0.02% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.3% of the population and 0.82% of the land area for Mali, making the population density in Burundi 2,600% higher than in Mali.

Population density by year

Burundi
Mali

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Burundi Mali
2026 1,487 55.1
2025 1,452 53.5
2024 1,417 52
2023 1,381 50.5
2022 1,344 49
2021 1,308 47.5
2020 1,273 46.1
2019 1,236 44.7
2018 1,196 43.4
2017 1,161 42.1
2016 1,134 40.7
2015 1,114 39.5
2014 1,089 38.3
2013 1,053 37.1
2012 1,016 36
2011 980 35
2010 946 33.8
2009 902 32.8
2008 858 31.7
2007 823 30.7
2006 793 29.7
2005 765 28.7
2004 737 27.8
2003 710 26.9
2002 688 26.1
2001 669 25.3
2000 653 24.5
1999 639 23.8
1998 624 23.2
1997 612 22.6
1996 612 22.1
1995 612 21.6
1994 576 21.2
1993 573 20.7
1992 591 20.3
1991 575 19.9
1990 563 19.5
1989 552 19.1
1988 541 18.8
1987 529 18.4
1986 517 18.1
1985 508 17.8
1984 497 17.4
1983 485 17.1
1982 472 16.7
1981 461 16.3
1980 442 16
1979 424 15.7
1978 414 15.3
1977 402 15.1
1976 392 14.8
1975 383 14.5
1974 374 14.3
1973 364 14
1972 365 13.8
1971 365 13.5
1970 356 13.3
1969 348 13.1
1968 341 12.9
1967 333 12.7
1966 325 12.5
1965 317 12.3
1964 308 12.2
1963 299.5 12
1962 293.3 11.8
1961 285.9 11.6

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Burundi increased by 87.4%, compared to a 85.4% growth in Mali.

In 2006, Burundi ranked 27th by population density and is 15th now. Mali was 173rd in 2006 and ranks 167th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Burundi
Mali
1x
Year Urban population
Burundi Mali
2024 24.8% 31.6%
2023 23.6% 31%
2022 22.3% 30.4%
2021 21.1% 29.7%
2020 19.9% 29%
2019 18.8% 28.4%
2018 17.7% 27.7%
2017 16.6% 27.1%
2016 15.6% 26.4%
2015 14.7% 25.8%
2014 13.8% 25.3%
2013 13% 24.7%
2012 12.2% 24.2%
2011 11.6% 23.6%
2010 11% 23.1%
2009 10.5% 22.7%
2008 10.1% 22.2%
2007 9.77% 21.7%
2006 9.46% 21.3%
2005 9.18% 20.9%
2004 8.92% 20.5%
2003 8.68% 20.1%
2002 8.45% 19.7%
2001 8.24% 19.3%
2000 8.04% 19%
1999 7.86% 18.7%
1998 7.68% 18.4%
1997 7.51% 18.1%
1996 7.34% 17.8%
1995 7.17% 17.6%
1994 7% 17.4%
1993 6.83% 17.2%
1992 6.65% 17%
1991 6.46% 16.8%
1990 6.27% 16.6%
1989 6.07% 16.4%
1988 5.86% 16.2%
1987 5.66% 16%
1986 5.46% 15.7%
1985 5.26% 15.5%
1984 5.07% 15.2%
1983 4.88% 14.9%
1982 4.69% 14.6%
1981 4.51% 14.3%
1980 4.34% 14%
1979 4.18% 13.8%
1978 4.02% 13.4%
1977 3.87% 13.1%
1976 3.72% 12.8%
1975 3.57% 12.5%
1974 3.42% 12.2%
1973 3.28% 11.8%
1972 3.14% 11.5%
1971 3.01% 11.1%
1970 2.88% 10.8%
1969 2.75% 10.4%
1968 2.63% 10%
1967 2.51% 9.62%
1966 2.4% 9.23%
1965 2.3% 8.85%
1964 2.2% 8.47%
1963 2.11% 8.1%
1962 2.01% 7.73%
1961 1.92% 7.37%
1960 1.84% 7.02%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/mali | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 8.92% to 24.8% in Burundi and from 20.5% to 31.6% in Mali.

Densely populated cities

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 214K
Segou 134K
Bougouni 59.7K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/burundi/mali | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2014–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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