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Population density: India vs Mali compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 55.1 people in Mali. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 545,346 sq ft in Mali. India and Mali rank 19th and 167th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. India has 17.9% of the world's population and 2% 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 India 2,237% higher than in Mali.

Population density by year

India
Mali

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India Mali
2026 1,287 55.1
2025 1,275 53.5
2024 1,264 52
2023 1,253 50.5
2022 1,242 49
2021 1,232 47.5
2020 1,222 46.1
2019 1,210 44.7
2018 1,197 43.4
2017 1,184 42.1
2016 1,171 40.7
2015 1,157 39.5
2014 1,143 38.3
2013 1,129 37.1
2012 1,114 36
2011 1,099 35
2010 1,083 33.8
2009 1,068 32.8
2008 1,052 31.7
2007 1,037 30.7
2006 1,022 29.7
2005 1,006 28.7
2004 990 27.8
2003 973 26.9
2002 956 26.1
2001 939 25.3
2000 922 24.5
1999 904 23.8
1998 887 23.2
1997 870 22.6
1996 853 22.1
1995 837 21.6
1994 820 21.2
1993 803 20.7
1992 787 20.3
1991 770 19.9
1990 753 19.5
1989 737 19.1
1988 721 18.8
1987 705 18.4
1986 689 18.1
1985 673 17.8
1984 658 17.4
1983 642 17.1
1982 627 16.7
1981 613 16.3
1980 599 16
1979 585 15.7
1978 571 15.3
1977 558 15.1
1976 545 14.8
1975 533 14.5
1974 520 14.3
1973 508 14
1972 497 13.8
1971 486 13.5
1970 476 13.3
1969 465 13.1
1968 455 12.9
1967 446 12.7
1966 436 12.5
1965 427 12.3
1964 417 12.2
1963 408 12
1962 398 11.8
1961 389 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/india/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 85.4% growth in Mali.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Mali was 173rd in 2006 and ranks 167th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
Mali
1x
Year Urban population
India Mali
2024 35.4% 31.6%
2023 35.1% 31%
2022 34.8% 30.4%
2021 34.4% 29.7%
2020 34.1% 29%
2019 33.8% 28.4%
2018 33.5% 27.7%
2017 33.2% 27.1%
2016 32.9% 26.4%
2015 32.5% 25.8%
2014 32.2% 25.3%
2013 31.9% 24.7%
2012 31.6% 24.2%
2011 31.3% 23.6%
2010 30.9% 23.1%
2009 30.5% 22.7%
2008 30.1% 22.2%
2007 29.8% 21.7%
2006 29.4% 21.3%
2005 29.1% 20.9%
2004 28.8% 20.5%
2003 28.5% 20.1%
2002 28.2% 19.7%
2001 27.9% 19.3%
2000 27.6% 19%
1999 27.4% 18.7%
1998 27.2% 18.4%
1997 27% 18.1%
1996 26.8% 17.8%
1995 26.6% 17.6%
1994 26.4% 17.4%
1993 26.2% 17.2%
1992 26% 17%
1991 25.8% 16.8%
1990 25.6% 16.6%
1989 25.4% 16.4%
1988 25.2% 16.2%
1987 25% 16%
1986 24.8% 15.7%
1985 24.7% 15.5%
1984 24.5% 15.2%
1983 24.3% 14.9%
1982 24% 14.6%
1981 23.8% 14.3%
1980 23.5% 14%
1979 23.2% 13.8%
1978 22.8% 13.4%
1977 22.4% 13.1%
1976 21.9% 12.8%
1975 21.5% 12.5%
1974 21% 12.2%
1973 20.6% 11.8%
1972 20.3% 11.5%
1971 20% 11.1%
1970 19.7% 10.8%
1969 19.5% 10.4%
1968 19.2% 10%
1967 19% 9.62%
1966 18.8% 9.23%
1965 18.6% 8.85%
1964 18.4% 8.47%
1963 18.3% 8.1%
1962 18.1% 7.73%
1961 18% 7.37%
1960 17.9% 7.02%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 20.5% to 31.6% in Mali.

Densely populated cities

India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M
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/india/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 (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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