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Population in Benin compared to Mali: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Benin was 14,814,460 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Benin's population is 15,358,725 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 1.71 times bigger than Benin's.
  • Benin is ranked the 76th most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.18% for Benin vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Benin has had an average growth rate of +2.72% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Benin has increased from 8.69M people to 15.4M (76.7% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Benin vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Benin
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Benin Mali
2100 39,983,872 80,362,778
2099 39,812,782 80,043,103
2098 39,635,737 79,704,143
2097 39,458,425 79,354,569
2096 39,267,189 78,987,874
2095 39,069,668 78,602,449
2094 38,861,643 78,192,601
2093 38,654,312 77,771,649
2092 38,438,555 77,337,997
2091 38,219,341 76,884,320
2090 37,994,758 76,409,599
2089 37,758,164 75,916,129
2088 37,514,605 75,405,009
2087 37,263,867 74,874,565
2086 37,010,840 74,331,613
2085 36,747,949 73,769,979
2084 36,482,666 73,189,821
2083 36,206,559 72,588,675
2082 35,919,464 71,975,720
2081 35,632,837 71,340,622
2080 35,340,781 70,699,377
2079 35,042,368 70,036,857
2078 34,737,536 69,359,523
2077 34,426,961 68,668,133
2076 34,112,205 67,965,034
2075 33,795,633 67,249,105
2074 33,465,867 66,516,075
2073 33,130,654 65,768,739
2072 32,785,976 65,009,716
2071 32,441,087 64,232,600
2070 32,088,089 63,450,597
2069 31,731,457 62,657,123
2068 31,377,153 61,850,168
2067 31,019,975 61,035,806
2066 30,659,408 60,215,831
2065 30,291,447 59,394,005
2064 29,919,749 58,560,766
2063 29,549,126 57,720,905
2062 29,175,986 56,873,801
2061 28,802,803 56,020,633
2060 28,426,146 55,160,220
2059 28,046,395 54,298,509
2058 27,667,117 53,431,783
2057 27,283,017 52,559,686
2056 26,900,755 51,686,173
2055 26,509,320 50,807,502
2054 26,115,455 49,930,546
2053 25,724,306 49,048,457
2052 25,327,058 48,161,836
2051 24,928,787 47,275,159
2050 24,529,464 46,385,854
2049 24,128,830 45,500,920
2048 23,727,047 44,612,126
2047 23,325,128 43,725,546
2046 22,919,519 42,836,054
2045 22,510,298 41,946,522
2044 22,107,673 41,057,406
2043 21,702,786 40,168,481
2042 21,296,676 39,281,666
2041 20,893,690 38,402,142
2040 20,492,059 37,521,801
2039 20,092,542 36,648,491
2038 19,693,130 35,768,661
2037 19,301,544 34,898,973
2036 18,910,879 34,032,460
2035 18,521,401 33,174,985
2034 18,136,190 32,324,451
2033 17,755,302 31,482,783
2032 17,378,392 30,652,485
2031 17,004,065 29,830,213
2030 16,635,301 29,025,640
2029 16,265,440 28,232,427
2028 15,899,231 27,453,124
2027 15,534,984 26,687,226
2026 15,172,565 25,937,442
2025 14,814,460 25,198,821
2024 14,462,724 24,478,595
2023 14,111,034 23,769,127
2022 13,759,501 23,072,640
2021 13,413,417 22,388,630
2020 13,070,169 21,713,836
2019 12,726,755 21,068,405
2018 12,383,347 20,442,030
2017 12,039,780 19,813,011
2016 11,697,842 19,191,289
2015 11,360,681 18,593,022
2014 11,030,004 18,020,267
2013 10,708,834 17,459,615
2012 10,397,657 16,957,033
2011 10,093,623 16,469,049
2010 9,797,484 15,945,198
2009 9,509,423 15,435,539
2008 9,228,466 14,940,782
2007 8,953,969 14,457,775
2006 8,693,242 13,990,139
2005 8,426,144 13,538,647
2004 8,159,094 13,102,409
2003 7,913,070 12,684,955
2002 7,675,426 12,288,050
2001 7,445,596 11,912,158
2000 7,221,619 11,559,290
1999 7,002,818 11,227,415
1998 6,789,489 10,919,573
1997 6,583,365 10,646,495
1996 6,391,858 10,407,278
1995 6,226,773 10,185,365
1994 6,096,506 9,967,031
1993 5,872,706 9,754,786
1992 5,617,844 9,553,540
1991 5,446,932 9,362,888
1990 5,281,479 9,178,830
1989 5,121,657 8,999,938
1988 4,967,341 8,833,996
1987 4,818,486 8,681,164
1986 4,675,420 8,531,277
1985 4,538,012 8,374,663
1984 4,405,895 8,208,599
1983 4,278,978 8,034,400
1982 4,156,596 7,860,194
1981 4,038,307 7,692,766
1980 3,925,251 7,530,515
1979 3,818,528 7,375,266
1978 3,718,305 7,229,651
1977 3,623,202 7,090,979
1976 3,532,196 6,960,979
1975 3,445,407 6,837,261
1974 3,362,633 6,715,436
1973 3,283,496 6,597,106
1972 3,207,543 6,483,726
1971 3,134,767 6,377,944
1970 3,065,057 6,276,472
1969 2,998,222 6,177,704
1968 2,934,257 6,082,979
1967 2,872,997 5,990,906
1966 2,814,317 5,902,204
1965 2,757,936 5,815,487
1964 2,704,003 5,730,125
1963 2,652,908 5,646,605
1962 2,604,659 5,563,917
1961 2,559,223 5,482,283
1960 2,517,286 5,402,550

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Benin increased by 3,004,600 people (a 34.6% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Benin gained 3,660,883 people (a 31.3% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth).

Benin was ranked 89th most populous country in 2006 and is 76th in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Benin's population will grow by 59.7% to 24,529,464 people with a rank change from 76th to 68th. The population of Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

Benin is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 40M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Benin
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Benin Mali
2100 0.43% 0.4%
2099 0.45% 0.43%
2098 0.45% 0.44%
2097 0.49% 0.46%
2096 0.51% 0.49%
2095 0.54% 0.52%
2094 0.54% 0.54%
2093 0.56% 0.56%
2092 0.57% 0.59%
2091 0.59% 0.62%
2090 0.63% 0.65%
2089 0.65% 0.68%
2088 0.67% 0.71%
2087 0.68% 0.73%
2086 0.72% 0.76%
2085 0.73% 0.79%
2084 0.76% 0.83%
2083 0.8% 0.85%
2082 0.8% 0.89%
2081 0.83% 0.91%
2080 0.85% 0.95%
2079 0.88% 0.98%
2078 0.9% 1.01%
2077 0.92% 1.03%
2076 0.94% 1.06%
2075 0.99% 1.1%
2074 1.01% 1.14%
2073 1.05% 1.17%
2072 1.06% 1.21%
2071 1.1% 1.23%
2070 1.12% 1.27%
2069 1.13% 1.3%
2068 1.15% 1.33%
2067 1.18% 1.36%
2066 1.21% 1.38%
2065 1.24% 1.42%
2064 1.25% 1.46%
2063 1.28% 1.49%
2062 1.3% 1.52%
2061 1.33% 1.56%
2060 1.35% 1.59%
2059 1.37% 1.62%
2058 1.41% 1.66%
2057 1.42% 1.69%
2056 1.48% 1.73%
2055 1.51% 1.76%
2054 1.52% 1.8%
2053 1.57% 1.84%
2052 1.6% 1.88%
2051 1.63% 1.92%
2050 1.66% 1.94%
2049 1.69% 1.99%
2048 1.72% 2.03%
2047 1.77% 2.08%
2046 1.82% 2.12%
2045 1.82% 2.17%
2044 1.87% 2.21%
2043 1.91% 2.26%
2042 1.93% 2.29%
2041 1.96% 2.35%
2040 1.99% 2.38%
2039 2.03% 2.46%
2038 2.03% 2.49%
2037 2.07% 2.55%
2036 2.1% 2.58%
2035 2.12% 2.63%
2034 2.15% 2.67%
2033 2.17% 2.71%
2032 2.2% 2.76%
2031 2.22% 2.77%
2030 2.27% 2.81%
2029 2.3% 2.84%
2028 2.34% 2.87%
2027 2.39% 2.89%
2026 2.42% 2.93%
2025 2.43% 2.94%
2024 2.49% 2.98%
2023 2.55% 3.02%
2022 2.58% 3.06%
2021 2.63% 3.11%
2020 2.7% 3.06%
2019 2.77% 3.06%
2018 2.85% 3.17%
2017 2.92% 3.24%
2016 2.97% 3.22%
2015 3% 3.18%
2014 3% 3.21%
2013 2.99% 2.96%
2012 3.01% 2.96%
2011 3.02% 3.29%
2010 3.03% 3.3%
2009 3.04% 3.31%
2008 3.07% 3.34%
2007 3% 3.34%
2006 3.17% 3.33%
2005 3.27% 3.33%
2004 3.11% 3.29%
2003 3.1% 3.23%
2002 3.09% 3.16%
2001 3.1% 3.05%
2000 3.12% 2.96%
1999 3.14% 2.82%
1998 3.13% 2.56%
1997 3% 2.3%
1996 2.65% 2.18%
1995 2.14% 2.19%
1994 3.81% 2.18%
1993 4.54% 2.11%
1992 3.14% 2.04%
1991 3.13% 2.01%
1990 3.12% 1.99%
1989 3.11% 1.88%
1988 3.09% 1.76%
1987 3.06% 1.76%
1986 3.03% 1.87%
1985 3% 2.02%
1984 2.97% 2.17%
1983 2.94% 2.22%
1982 2.93% 2.18%
1981 2.88% 2.15%
1980 2.79% 2.1%
1979 2.7% 2.01%
1978 2.62% 1.96%
1977 2.58% 1.87%
1976 2.52% 1.81%
1975 2.46% 1.81%
1974 2.41% 1.79%
1973 2.37% 1.75%
1972 2.32% 1.66%
1971 2.27% 1.62%
1970 2.23% 1.6%
1969 2.18% 1.56%
1968 2.13% 1.54%
1967 2.09% 1.5%
1966 2.04% 1.49%
1965 1.99% 1.49%
1964 1.93% 1.48%
1963 1.85% 1.49%
1962 1.78% 1.49%
1961 1.67% 1.48%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/mali | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Benin grew by 2.43%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Benin Mali
Current population
15358725
26322576
Population rank 76/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.32%
One net population change
1.5 minutes
43.9 seconds
One birth every
1.09 minutes
32.6 seconds
One death every
4.17 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +964 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +351,736 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +2.43% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 27/197 14/197
One migration net change every
1.12 hours
11 minutes
Annual migration change -7,847 -48,019
Net migration rank 127/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 418,202 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 88/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.9% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 118/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Benin
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Benin Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,847 - -48,019
2024 357,359 -7,725 759,375 -46,880
2023 353,933 -192 746,398 -39,953
2022 349,518 -192 726,465 -39,951
2021 341,103 1,729 703,674 -22,210
2020 341,929 1,729 683,053 -14,962
2019 339,817 3,366 667,110 -44,373
2018 340,270 3,372 670,723 -40,710
2017 339,763 3,716 661,973 -33,942
2016 336,559 3,837 645,652 -30,251
2015 330,573 3,369 630,006 -48,872
2014 323,753 3,667 614,419 -50,068
2013 315,804 -887 597,887 -40,951
2012 306,180 1,260 588,748 -140,507
2011 296,348 4,283 570,899 -43,160
2010 287,703 3,947 554,447 -34,483
2009 280,204 4,279 533,730 -34,383
2008 274,242 3,198 514,665 -24,509
2007 271,305 241 495,800 -19,945
2006 265,040 -15,135 477,665 -18,247
2005 253,795 30,495 460,964 -17,413
2004 245,630 4,173 439,717 -10,796
2003 237,962 4,283 417,766 -11,768
2002 229,472 3,572 396,732 -8,914
2001 222,877 3,732 376,472 -12,507
2000 218,013 3,335 359,159 -17,395
1999 213,074 3,177 343,705 -21,702
1998 208,342 2,051 323,940 -30,255
1997 203,182 -1,322 308,429 -55,978
1996 197,643 -16,490 293,953 -67,974
1995 194,481 -45,469 285,598 -67,763
1994 196,637 -85,128 282,356 -63,533
1993 179,858 156,223 274,480 -68,816
1992 173,794 -138 267,605 -70,789
1991 168,174 0 261,656 -77,172
1990 163,055 -333 252,308 -68,668
1989 157,235 -315 249,929 -75,771
1988 153,580 -1,867 245,682 -87,952
1987 147,783 -1,792 238,871 -90,940
1986 142,039 -1,899 233,799 -81,970
1985 136,621 -1,953 224,734 -63,347
1984 131,590 -2,018 218,078 -47,331
1983 126,349 -2,090 211,795 -34,132
1982 122,748 -2,253 204,892 -34,140
1981 118,634 -2,543 198,227 -34,130
1980 112,969 -2,946 190,560 -30,156
1979 106,782 -3,365 182,449 -32,353
1978 100,762 -3,731 172,652 -31,520
1977 97,200 -4,022 165,071 -28,853
1976 93,141 -4,308 157,778 -33,999
1975 89,350 -4,607 150,222 -26,572
1974 85,623 -4,814 142,448 -22,449
1973 82,422 -4,960 135,801 -19,137
1972 79,415 -4,970 129,687 -19,594
1971 76,034 -4,921 123,591 -22,127
1970 73,156 -4,851 118,952 -17,479
1969 70,155 -4,792 114,361 -18,302
1968 67,327 -4,756 111,403 -18,015
1967 64,709 -4,756 107,650 -16,900
1966 62,169 -4,764 103,684 -17,032
1965 60,154 -4,793 100,451 -13,662
1964 57,352 -4,839 97,166 -13,226
1963 54,514 -4,847 95,055 -11,951
1962 51,664 -4,844 93,101 -10,821
1961 48,838 -4,791 91,115 -10,139
1960 44,564 -4,722 88,802 -10,314

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/mali | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.6% of the population change in Benin is from natural causes (a gain of 3,430,824 people) and 0.38% is from migration (a gain of 13,009 people). In Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 people).

As of 2024, 418,202 residents or 2.9% of the population were not native-born in Benin, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

Biggest cities by population

Benin
City Population
Cotonou 780K
Porto-Novo 234K
Abomey 90.2K
Save 31.4K
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 226K
Segou 131K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/benin/mali | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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