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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 1.37 times bigger than Mali's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.75% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Ghana vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Mali
2100 68,117,614 80,362,778
2099 68,008,028 80,043,103
2098 67,888,410 79,704,143
2097 67,759,128 79,354,569
2096 67,625,262 78,987,874
2095 67,481,344 78,602,449
2094 67,325,992 78,192,601
2093 67,162,890 77,771,649
2092 66,991,846 77,337,997
2091 66,804,098 76,884,320
2090 66,605,276 76,409,599
2089 66,395,029 75,916,129
2088 66,173,453 75,405,009
2087 65,937,323 74,874,565
2086 65,699,827 74,331,613
2085 65,451,666 73,769,979
2084 65,196,037 73,189,821
2083 64,922,457 72,588,675
2082 64,638,242 71,975,720
2081 64,342,209 71,340,622
2080 64,034,249 70,699,377
2079 63,717,528 70,036,857
2078 63,384,648 69,359,523
2077 63,046,955 68,668,133
2076 62,699,375 67,965,034
2075 62,337,964 67,249,105
2074 61,974,725 66,516,075
2073 61,604,458 65,768,739
2072 61,227,111 65,009,716
2071 60,835,024 64,232,600
2070 60,442,399 63,450,597
2069 60,041,679 62,657,123
2068 59,627,097 61,850,168
2067 59,203,373 61,035,806
2066 58,774,846 60,215,831
2065 58,341,378 59,394,005
2064 57,893,305 58,560,766
2063 57,439,982 57,720,905
2062 56,974,922 56,873,801
2061 56,500,340 56,020,633
2060 56,019,906 55,160,220
2059 55,529,609 54,298,509
2058 55,031,460 53,431,783
2057 54,524,491 52,559,686
2056 54,007,205 51,686,173
2055 53,481,428 50,807,502
2054 52,949,003 49,930,546
2053 52,407,089 49,048,457
2052 51,859,418 48,161,836
2051 51,300,839 47,275,159
2050 50,730,296 46,385,854
2049 50,153,221 45,500,920
2048 49,567,895 44,612,126
2047 48,972,414 43,725,546
2046 48,373,367 42,836,054
2045 47,766,811 41,946,522
2044 47,154,486 41,057,406
2043 46,538,892 40,168,481
2042 45,916,531 39,281,666
2041 45,291,657 38,402,142
2040 44,660,573 37,521,801
2039 44,029,228 36,648,491
2038 43,393,321 35,768,661
2037 42,752,045 34,898,973
2036 42,112,269 34,032,460
2035 41,470,624 33,174,985
2034 40,823,789 32,324,451
2033 40,176,026 31,482,783
2032 39,532,216 30,652,485
2031 38,892,407 29,830,213
2030 38,251,174 29,025,640
2029 37,616,078 28,232,427
2028 36,978,847 27,453,124
2027 36,342,429 26,687,226
2026 35,705,894 25,937,442
2025 35,064,272 25,198,821
2024 34,427,414 24,478,595
2023 33,787,914 23,769,127
2022 33,149,152 23,072,640
2021 32,518,665 22,388,630
2020 31,887,809 21,713,836
2019 31,258,945 21,068,405
2018 30,637,585 20,442,030
2017 30,008,354 19,813,011
2016 29,356,742 19,191,289
2015 28,696,068 18,593,022
2014 28,041,592 18,020,267
2013 27,386,193 17,459,615
2012 26,734,268 16,957,033
2011 26,095,088 16,469,049
2010 25,474,995 15,945,198
2009 24,862,664 15,435,539
2008 24,249,946 14,940,782
2007 23,642,279 14,457,775
2006 23,040,702 13,990,139
2005 22,449,438 13,538,647
2004 21,868,298 13,102,409
2003 21,296,705 12,684,955
2002 20,729,388 12,288,050
2001 20,167,069 11,912,158
2000 19,637,087 11,559,290
1999 19,149,864 11,227,415
1998 18,688,036 10,919,573
1997 18,238,958 10,646,495
1996 17,810,181 10,407,278
1995 17,399,017 10,185,365
1994 16,993,190 9,967,031
1993 16,589,519 9,754,786
1992 16,184,855 9,553,540
1991 15,787,496 9,362,888
1990 15,394,648 9,178,830
1989 15,006,813 8,999,938
1988 14,636,568 8,833,996
1987 14,289,108 8,681,164
1986 13,965,217 8,531,277
1985 13,661,229 8,374,663
1984 13,370,590 8,208,599
1983 13,029,836 8,034,400
1982 12,643,819 7,860,194
1981 12,281,712 7,692,766
1980 11,941,448 7,530,515
1979 11,597,255 7,375,266
1978 11,248,450 7,229,651
1977 10,911,871 7,090,979
1976 10,594,913 6,960,979
1975 10,294,308 6,837,261
1974 10,000,523 6,715,436
1973 9,714,617 6,597,106
1972 9,438,187 6,483,726
1971 9,176,264 6,377,944
1970 8,925,813 6,276,472
1969 8,690,383 6,177,704
1968 8,475,729 6,082,979
1967 8,271,913 5,990,906
1966 8,074,521 5,902,204
1965 7,882,606 5,815,487
1964 7,695,739 5,730,125
1963 7,514,714 5,646,605
1962 7,337,375 5,563,917
1961 7,162,667 5,482,283
1960 6,961,215 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/ghana/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th 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) Ghana's population will grow by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people with a rank change from 46th to 43rd. The population of Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Mali
2100 0.16% 0.4%
2099 0.18% 0.43%
2098 0.19% 0.44%
2097 0.2% 0.46%
2096 0.21% 0.49%
2095 0.23% 0.52%
2094 0.24% 0.54%
2093 0.26% 0.56%
2092 0.28% 0.59%
2091 0.3% 0.62%
2090 0.32% 0.65%
2089 0.33% 0.68%
2088 0.36% 0.71%
2087 0.36% 0.73%
2086 0.38% 0.76%
2085 0.39% 0.79%
2084 0.42% 0.83%
2083 0.44% 0.85%
2082 0.46% 0.89%
2081 0.48% 0.91%
2080 0.5% 0.95%
2079 0.53% 0.98%
2078 0.54% 1.01%
2077 0.55% 1.03%
2076 0.58% 1.06%
2075 0.59% 1.1%
2074 0.6% 1.14%
2073 0.62% 1.17%
2072 0.64% 1.21%
2071 0.65% 1.23%
2070 0.67% 1.27%
2069 0.7% 1.3%
2068 0.72% 1.33%
2067 0.73% 1.36%
2066 0.74% 1.38%
2065 0.77% 1.42%
2064 0.79% 1.46%
2063 0.82% 1.49%
2062 0.84% 1.52%
2061 0.86% 1.56%
2060 0.88% 1.59%
2059 0.91% 1.62%
2058 0.93% 1.66%
2057 0.96% 1.69%
2056 0.98% 1.73%
2055 1.01% 1.76%
2054 1.03% 1.8%
2053 1.06% 1.84%
2052 1.09% 1.88%
2051 1.12% 1.92%
2050 1.15% 1.94%
2049 1.18% 1.99%
2048 1.22% 2.03%
2047 1.24% 2.08%
2046 1.27% 2.12%
2045 1.3% 2.17%
2044 1.32% 2.21%
2043 1.36% 2.26%
2042 1.38% 2.29%
2041 1.41% 2.35%
2040 1.43% 2.38%
2039 1.47% 2.46%
2038 1.5% 2.49%
2037 1.52% 2.55%
2036 1.55% 2.58%
2035 1.58% 2.63%
2034 1.61% 2.67%
2033 1.63% 2.71%
2032 1.65% 2.76%
2031 1.68% 2.77%
2030 1.69% 2.81%
2029 1.72% 2.84%
2028 1.75% 2.87%
2027 1.78% 2.89%
2026 1.83% 2.93%
2025 1.85% 2.94%
2024 1.89% 2.98%
2023 1.93% 3.02%
2022 1.94% 3.06%
2021 1.98% 3.11%
2020 2.01% 3.06%
2019 2.03% 3.06%
2018 2.1% 3.17%
2017 2.22% 3.24%
2016 2.3% 3.22%
2015 2.33% 3.18%
2014 2.39% 3.21%
2013 2.44% 2.96%
2012 2.45% 2.96%
2011 2.43% 3.29%
2010 2.46% 3.3%
2009 2.53% 3.31%
2008 2.57% 3.34%
2007 2.61% 3.34%
2006 2.63% 3.33%
2005 2.66% 3.33%
2004 2.68% 3.29%
2003 2.74% 3.23%
2002 2.79% 3.16%
2001 2.7% 3.05%
2000 2.54% 2.96%
1999 2.47% 2.82%
1998 2.46% 2.56%
1997 2.41% 2.3%
1996 2.36% 2.18%
1995 2.39% 2.19%
1994 2.43% 2.18%
1993 2.5% 2.11%
1992 2.52% 2.04%
1991 2.55% 2.01%
1990 2.58% 1.99%
1989 2.53% 1.88%
1988 2.43% 1.76%
1987 2.32% 1.76%
1986 2.23% 1.87%
1985 2.17% 2.02%
1984 2.62% 2.17%
1983 3.05% 2.22%
1982 2.95% 2.18%
1981 2.85% 2.15%
1980 2.97% 2.1%
1979 3.1% 2.01%
1978 3.08% 1.96%
1977 2.99% 1.87%
1976 2.92% 1.81%
1975 2.94% 1.81%
1974 2.94% 1.79%
1973 2.93% 1.75%
1972 2.85% 1.66%
1971 2.81% 1.62%
1970 2.71% 1.6%
1969 2.53% 1.56%
1968 2.46% 1.54%
1967 2.44% 1.5%
1966 2.43% 1.49%
1965 2.43% 1.49%
1964 2.41% 1.48%
1963 2.42% 1.49%
1962 2.44% 1.49%
1961 2.89% 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/ghana/mali | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Ghana Mali
Current population
36032857
26322576
Population rank 46/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.32%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
43.9 seconds
One birth every
35.3 seconds
32.6 seconds
One death every
2.18 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 14/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
11 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 -48,019
Net migration rank 150/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -48,019
2024 651,057 -13,114 759,375 -46,880
2023 651,094 -10,003 746,398 -39,953
2022 646,441 -10,003 726,465 -39,951
2021 635,805 -11,259 703,674 -22,210
2020 637,469 -291 683,053 -14,962
2019 642,403 -21,857 667,110 -44,373
2018 641,551 -19,375 670,723 -40,710
2017 641,218 -4,913 661,973 -33,942
2016 659,910 7,009 645,652 -30,251
2015 667,729 -13,306 630,006 -48,872
2014 660,829 -6,312 614,419 -50,068
2013 658,638 -2,377 597,887 -40,951
2012 646,595 1,005 588,748 -140,507
2011 631,501 -720 570,899 -43,160
2010 613,133 -3,726 554,447 -34,483
2009 592,825 22,416 533,730 -34,383
2008 579,695 30,506 514,665 -24,509
2007 572,332 32,813 495,800 -19,945
2006 569,474 28,536 477,665 -18,247
2005 563,234 21,272 460,964 -17,413
2004 543,339 34,433 439,717 -10,796
2003 536,656 28,768 417,766 -11,768
2002 528,620 40,573 396,732 -8,914
2001 519,382 36,050 376,472 -12,507
2000 508,738 -4,206 359,159 -17,395
1999 487,210 -17,304 343,705 -21,702
1998 471,313 -17,564 323,940 -30,255
1997 459,822 -15,409 308,429 -55,978
1996 450,259 -37,113 293,953 -67,974
1995 451,748 -42,558 285,598 -67,763
1994 449,589 -47,120 282,356 -63,533
1993 454,669 -49,792 274,480 -68,816
1992 452,156 -47,736 267,605 -70,789
1991 448,159 -57,878 261,656 -77,172
1990 442,211 -46,789 252,308 -68,668
1989 432,541 -52,293 249,929 -75,771
1988 425,031 -64,810 245,682 -87,952
1987 419,328 -84,648 238,871 -90,940
1986 411,191 -98,099 233,799 -81,970
1985 401,722 -106,855 224,734 -63,347
1984 392,053 -105,655 218,078 -47,331
1983 379,846 15,276 211,795 -34,132
1982 369,061 7,863 204,892 -34,140
1981 359,572 -12,296 198,227 -34,130
1980 346,816 -13,564 190,560 -30,156
1979 334,848 20,291 182,449 -32,353
1978 324,428 18,041 172,652 -31,520
1977 315,429 15,243 165,071 -28,853
1976 305,769 -2,528 157,778 -33,999
1975 298,267 -292 150,222 -26,572
1974 290,796 -1,197 142,448 -22,449
1973 283,385 -1,168 135,801 -19,137
1972 275,236 -4,589 129,687 -19,594
1971 265,442 -12,238 123,591 -22,127
1970 257,938 -10,233 118,952 -17,479
1969 251,925 -28,752 114,361 -18,302
1968 242,821 -36,683 111,403 -18,015
1967 237,156 -35,666 107,650 -16,900
1966 231,440 -38,143 103,684 -17,032
1965 229,061 -38,519 100,451 -13,662
1964 226,685 -43,480 97,166 -13,226
1963 225,367 -46,516 95,055 -11,951
1962 223,842 -48,017 93,101 -10,821
1961 222,372 -48,777 91,115 -10,139
1960 217,134 12,181 88,802 -10,314

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.5% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 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, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

Biggest cities by population

Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K
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/ghana/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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