The latest officially reported population of Malawi was 21,655,286 in 2024 vs 24,478,595 people in Mali in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Malawi's population is 22,949,294 people compared to 26,143,152 in Mali.
Population statistics:
- Mali's population is 1.14 times bigger than Malawi's.
- Malawi is ranked the 61st most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
- The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.28% for Malawi vs 0.32% for Mali.
- For the last 10 years, Malawi has had an average growth rate of +2.7% per year vs +3.12% in Mali.
- Since 2006, the population of Malawi has increased from 13.2M people to 22.9M (73.9% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.1M (86.9% growth).
Malawi vs Mali: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Malawi
|
Mali
|
|
| 2100 | 59,786,744 | 80,371,693 |
| 2099 | 59,528,389 | 80,051,982 |
| 2098 | 59,275,876 | 79,712,985 |
| 2097 | 59,028,312 | 79,363,373 |
| 2096 | 58,761,888 | 78,996,636 |
| 2095 | 58,508,246 | 78,611,169 |
| 2094 | 58,240,422 | 78,201,275 |
| 2093 | 57,966,788 | 77,780,277 |
| 2092 | 57,672,738 | 77,346,576 |
| 2091 | 57,377,090 | 76,892,849 |
| 2090 | 57,060,476 | 76,418,075 |
| 2089 | 56,739,410 | 75,924,551 |
| 2088 | 56,397,330 | 75,413,374 |
| 2087 | 56,053,671 | 74,882,872 |
| 2086 | 55,706,928 | 74,339,859 |
| 2085 | 55,348,708 | 73,778,163 |
| 2084 | 54,997,097 | 73,197,940 |
| 2083 | 54,605,058 | 72,596,727 |
| 2082 | 54,206,477 | 71,983,705 |
| 2081 | 53,795,317 | 71,348,537 |
| 2080 | 53,372,779 | 70,707,220 |
| 2079 | 52,948,243 | 70,044,626 |
| 2078 | 52,521,908 | 69,367,218 |
| 2077 | 52,063,931 | 68,675,750 |
| 2076 | 51,600,404 | 67,972,574 |
| 2075 | 51,141,728 | 67,256,565 |
| 2074 | 50,684,368 | 66,523,454 |
| 2073 | 50,229,762 | 65,776,035 |
| 2072 | 49,769,904 | 65,016,928 |
| 2071 | 49,287,139 | 64,239,726 |
| 2070 | 48,797,935 | 63,457,636 |
| 2069 | 48,301,644 | 62,664,074 |
| 2068 | 47,792,308 | 61,857,029 |
| 2067 | 47,277,473 | 61,042,577 |
| 2066 | 46,752,024 | 60,222,511 |
| 2065 | 46,228,139 | 59,400,594 |
| 2064 | 45,701,844 | 58,567,263 |
| 2063 | 45,179,322 | 57,727,308 |
| 2062 | 44,638,764 | 56,880,111 |
| 2061 | 44,076,711 | 56,026,848 |
| 2060 | 43,508,702 | 55,166,339 |
| 2059 | 42,916,694 | 54,304,533 |
| 2058 | 42,344,863 | 53,437,711 |
| 2057 | 41,762,060 | 52,565,517 |
| 2056 | 41,184,161 | 51,691,907 |
| 2055 | 40,584,950 | 50,813,138 |
| 2054 | 39,994,696 | 49,936,085 |
| 2053 | 39,377,622 | 49,053,898 |
| 2052 | 38,766,890 | 48,167,179 |
| 2051 | 38,153,322 | 47,280,403 |
| 2050 | 37,545,865 | 46,390,999 |
| 2049 | 36,936,275 | 45,505,968 |
| 2048 | 36,339,833 | 44,617,075 |
| 2047 | 35,725,127 | 43,730,396 |
| 2046 | 35,107,179 | 42,840,806 |
| 2045 | 34,491,916 | 41,951,176 |
| 2044 | 33,862,279 | 41,061,960 |
| 2043 | 33,247,804 | 40,172,937 |
| 2042 | 32,636,511 | 39,286,024 |
| 2041 | 32,019,447 | 38,406,403 |
| 2040 | 31,402,305 | 37,525,963 |
| 2039 | 30,782,479 | 36,652,557 |
| 2038 | 30,166,708 | 35,772,629 |
| 2037 | 29,527,821 | 34,902,845 |
| 2036 | 28,896,515 | 34,036,236 |
| 2035 | 28,267,970 | 33,178,665 |
| 2034 | 27,643,367 | 32,328,037 |
| 2033 | 27,018,105 | 31,486,276 |
| 2032 | 26,404,071 | 30,655,886 |
| 2031 | 25,795,897 | 29,833,522 |
| 2030 | 25,181,820 | 29,028,860 |
| 2029 | 24,566,478 | 28,235,559 |
| 2028 | 23,968,071 | 27,456,170 |
| 2027 | 23,374,588 | 26,690,187 |
| 2026 | 22,791,601 | 25,940,320 |
| 2025 | 22,220,885 | 25,201,616 |
| 2024 | 21,655,286 | 24,478,595 |
| 2023 | 21,104,482 | 23,769,127 |
| 2022 | 20,568,728 | 23,072,640 |
| 2021 | 20,047,258 | 22,388,630 |
| 2020 | 19,533,888 | 21,713,836 |
| 2019 | 19,025,752 | 21,068,405 |
| 2018 | 18,528,081 | 20,442,030 |
| 2017 | 18,039,715 | 19,813,011 |
| 2016 | 17,557,739 | 19,191,289 |
| 2015 | 17,085,587 | 18,593,022 |
| 2014 | 16,621,538 | 18,020,267 |
| 2013 | 16,161,816 | 17,459,615 |
| 2012 | 15,709,577 | 16,957,033 |
| 2011 | 15,265,022 | 16,469,049 |
| 2010 | 14,826,463 | 15,945,198 |
| 2009 | 14,395,788 | 15,435,539 |
| 2008 | 13,976,417 | 14,940,782 |
| 2007 | 13,576,343 | 14,457,775 |
| 2006 | 13,198,701 | 13,990,139 |
| 2005 | 12,840,031 | 13,538,647 |
| 2004 | 12,500,737 | 13,102,409 |
| 2003 | 12,181,574 | 12,684,955 |
| 2002 | 11,880,440 | 12,288,050 |
| 2001 | 11,593,058 | 11,912,158 |
| 2000 | 11,315,942 | 11,559,290 |
| 1999 | 11,047,804 | 11,227,415 |
| 1998 | 10,792,876 | 10,919,573 |
| 1997 | 10,562,035 | 10,646,495 |
| 1996 | 10,352,228 | 10,407,278 |
| 1995 | 10,150,117 | 10,185,365 |
| 1994 | 10,164,894 | 9,967,031 |
| 1993 | 10,284,024 | 9,754,786 |
| 1992 | 10,135,079 | 9,553,540 |
| 1991 | 9,844,227 | 9,362,888 |
| 1990 | 9,545,852 | 9,178,830 |
| 1989 | 9,176,220 | 8,999,938 |
| 1988 | 8,753,262 | 8,833,996 |
| 1987 | 8,293,174 | 8,681,164 |
| 1986 | 7,906,480 | 8,531,277 |
| 1985 | 7,620,508 | 8,374,663 |
| 1984 | 7,332,810 | 8,208,599 |
| 1983 | 7,051,709 | 8,034,400 |
| 1982 | 6,778,879 | 7,860,194 |
| 1981 | 6,516,454 | 7,692,766 |
| 1980 | 6,265,529 | 7,530,515 |
| 1979 | 6,028,749 | 7,375,266 |
| 1978 | 5,810,132 | 7,229,651 |
| 1977 | 5,614,983 | 7,090,979 |
| 1976 | 5,443,384 | 6,960,979 |
| 1975 | 5,287,367 | 6,837,261 |
| 1974 | 5,141,337 | 6,715,436 |
| 1973 | 5,003,938 | 6,597,106 |
| 1972 | 4,874,475 | 6,483,726 |
| 1971 | 4,751,434 | 6,377,944 |
| 1970 | 4,633,944 | 6,276,472 |
| 1969 | 4,521,184 | 6,177,704 |
| 1968 | 4,411,054 | 6,082,979 |
| 1967 | 4,303,012 | 5,990,906 |
| 1966 | 4,197,926 | 5,902,204 |
| 1965 | 4,096,157 | 5,815,487 |
| 1964 | 3,997,305 | 5,730,125 |
| 1963 | 3,900,506 | 5,646,605 |
| 1962 | 3,806,307 | 5,563,917 |
| 1961 | 3,715,534 | 5,482,283 |
| 1960 | 3,628,134 | 5,402,550 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malawi/mali | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Malawi increased by 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Malawi gained 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth), while Mali's population increased by 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth).
Malawi was ranked 69th most populous country in 2006 and is 61st 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) Malawi's population will grow by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people with a rank change from 61st to 55th. The population of Mali will increase by 77.4% to 46,390,999 people and rank change from 58th to 46th.
Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Malawi
|
Mali
|
|
| 2100 | 0.43% | 0.4% |
| 2099 | 0.43% | 0.43% |
| 2098 | 0.42% | 0.44% |
| 2097 | 0.45% | 0.46% |
| 2096 | 0.43% | 0.49% |
| 2095 | 0.46% | 0.52% |
| 2094 | 0.47% | 0.54% |
| 2093 | 0.51% | 0.56% |
| 2092 | 0.52% | 0.59% |
| 2091 | 0.55% | 0.62% |
| 2090 | 0.57% | 0.65% |
| 2089 | 0.61% | 0.68% |
| 2088 | 0.61% | 0.71% |
| 2087 | 0.62% | 0.73% |
| 2086 | 0.65% | 0.76% |
| 2085 | 0.64% | 0.79% |
| 2084 | 0.72% | 0.83% |
| 2083 | 0.74% | 0.85% |
| 2082 | 0.76% | 0.89% |
| 2081 | 0.79% | 0.91% |
| 2080 | 0.8% | 0.95% |
| 2079 | 0.81% | 0.98% |
| 2078 | 0.88% | 1.01% |
| 2077 | 0.9% | 1.03% |
| 2076 | 0.9% | 1.06% |
| 2075 | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| 2074 | 0.91% | 1.14% |
| 2073 | 0.92% | 1.17% |
| 2072 | 0.98% | 1.21% |
| 2071 | 1% | 1.23% |
| 2070 | 1.03% | 1.27% |
| 2069 | 1.07% | 1.3% |
| 2068 | 1.09% | 1.33% |
| 2067 | 1.12% | 1.36% |
| 2066 | 1.13% | 1.38% |
| 2065 | 1.15% | 1.42% |
| 2064 | 1.16% | 1.46% |
| 2063 | 1.21% | 1.49% |
| 2062 | 1.28% | 1.52% |
| 2061 | 1.31% | 1.56% |
| 2060 | 1.38% | 1.59% |
| 2059 | 1.35% | 1.62% |
| 2058 | 1.4% | 1.66% |
| 2057 | 1.4% | 1.69% |
| 2056 | 1.48% | 1.73% |
| 2055 | 1.48% | 1.76% |
| 2054 | 1.57% | 1.8% |
| 2053 | 1.58% | 1.84% |
| 2052 | 1.61% | 1.88% |
| 2051 | 1.62% | 1.92% |
| 2050 | 1.65% | 1.94% |
| 2049 | 1.64% | 1.99% |
| 2048 | 1.72% | 2.03% |
| 2047 | 1.76% | 2.08% |
| 2046 | 1.78% | 2.12% |
| 2045 | 1.86% | 2.17% |
| 2044 | 1.85% | 2.21% |
| 2043 | 1.87% | 2.26% |
| 2042 | 1.93% | 2.29% |
| 2041 | 1.97% | 2.35% |
| 2040 | 2.01% | 2.38% |
| 2039 | 2.04% | 2.46% |
| 2038 | 2.16% | 2.49% |
| 2037 | 2.18% | 2.55% |
| 2036 | 2.22% | 2.58% |
| 2035 | 2.26% | 2.63% |
| 2034 | 2.31% | 2.67% |
| 2033 | 2.33% | 2.71% |
| 2032 | 2.36% | 2.76% |
| 2031 | 2.44% | 2.77% |
| 2030 | 2.5% | 2.81% |
| 2029 | 2.5% | 2.84% |
| 2028 | 2.54% | 2.87% |
| 2027 | 2.56% | 2.89% |
| 2026 | 2.57% | 2.93% |
| 2025 | 2.61% | 2.95% |
| 2024 | 2.61% | 2.98% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | 3.02% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | 3.06% |
| 2021 | 2.63% | 3.11% |
| 2020 | 2.67% | 3.06% |
| 2019 | 2.69% | 3.06% |
| 2018 | 2.71% | 3.17% |
| 2017 | 2.75% | 3.24% |
| 2016 | 2.76% | 3.22% |
| 2015 | 2.79% | 3.18% |
| 2014 | 2.84% | 3.21% |
| 2013 | 2.88% | 2.96% |
| 2012 | 2.91% | 2.96% |
| 2011 | 2.96% | 3.29% |
| 2010 | 2.99% | 3.3% |
| 2009 | 3% | 3.31% |
| 2008 | 2.95% | 3.34% |
| 2007 | 2.86% | 3.34% |
| 2006 | 2.79% | 3.33% |
| 2005 | 2.71% | 3.33% |
| 2004 | 2.62% | 3.29% |
| 2003 | 2.53% | 3.23% |
| 2002 | 2.48% | 3.16% |
| 2001 | 2.45% | 3.05% |
| 2000 | 2.43% | 2.96% |
| 1999 | 2.36% | 2.82% |
| 1998 | 2.19% | 2.56% |
| 1997 | 2.03% | 2.3% |
| 1996 | 1.99% | 2.18% |
| 1995 | -0.15% | 2.19% |
| 1994 | -1.16% | 2.18% |
| 1993 | 1.47% | 2.11% |
| 1992 | 2.95% | 2.04% |
| 1991 | 3.13% | 2.01% |
| 1990 | 4.03% | 1.99% |
| 1989 | 4.83% | 1.88% |
| 1988 | 5.55% | 1.76% |
| 1987 | 4.89% | 1.76% |
| 1986 | 3.75% | 1.87% |
| 1985 | 3.92% | 2.02% |
| 1984 | 3.99% | 2.17% |
| 1983 | 4.02% | 2.22% |
| 1982 | 4.03% | 2.18% |
| 1981 | 4% | 2.15% |
| 1980 | 3.93% | 2.1% |
| 1979 | 3.76% | 2.01% |
| 1978 | 3.48% | 1.96% |
| 1977 | 3.15% | 1.87% |
| 1976 | 2.95% | 1.81% |
| 1975 | 2.84% | 1.81% |
| 1974 | 2.75% | 1.79% |
| 1973 | 2.66% | 1.75% |
| 1972 | 2.59% | 1.66% |
| 1971 | 2.54% | 1.62% |
| 1970 | 2.49% | 1.6% |
| 1969 | 2.5% | 1.56% |
| 1968 | 2.51% | 1.54% |
| 1967 | 2.5% | 1.5% |
| 1966 | 2.48% | 1.49% |
| 1965 | 2.47% | 1.49% |
| 1964 | 2.48% | 1.48% |
| 1963 | 2.47% | 1.49% |
| 1962 | 2.44% | 1.49% |
| 1961 | 2.41% | 1.48% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malawi/mali | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Malawi grew by 2.61%, while Mali's population grew by 2.98%.
Live population counters
|
Malawi
|
Mali
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
22949294
|
26143152
|
| Population rank | 61/197 | 58/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.28% | 0.32% |
| One net population change |
57.3 seconds
|
44.5 seconds
|
| One birth every |
47.6 seconds
|
33.1 seconds
|
| One death every |
4.64 minutes
|
2.56 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +1,509 | +1,944 |
| Annual growth/decline | +550,804 | +709,468 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.61% | +2.98% |
| Population growth rate rank | 26/197 | 15/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.56 hours
|
11 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -5,628 | -48,019 |
| Net migration rank | 118/196 | 173/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 186,719 | 545,323 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 117/195 | 76/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 158/195 | 131/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Malawi
|
Mali
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -5,628 | - | -48,019 |
| 2024 | - | -1,507 | - | -46,880 |
| 2023 | 549,096 | -5,811 | 746,398 | -39,953 |
| 2022 | 533,450 | -5,231 | 726,465 | -39,951 |
| 2021 | 517,400 | -2,666 | 703,674 | -22,210 |
| 2020 | 514,659 | -2,655 | 683,053 | -14,962 |
| 2019 | 506,104 | -1,837 | 667,110 | -44,373 |
| 2018 | 494,348 | -3,267 | 670,723 | -40,710 |
| 2017 | 484,655 | 982 | 661,973 | -33,942 |
| 2016 | 474,779 | 3,505 | 645,652 | -30,251 |
| 2015 | 472,484 | -6,471 | 630,006 | -48,872 |
| 2014 | 472,418 | -10,317 | 614,419 | -50,068 |
| 2013 | 470,293 | -12,934 | 597,887 | -40,951 |
| 2012 | 460,684 | -13,561 | 588,748 | -140,507 |
| 2011 | 454,149 | -12,170 | 570,899 | -43,160 |
| 2010 | 444,468 | -9,327 | 554,447 | -34,483 |
| 2009 | 434,811 | -8,590 | 533,730 | -34,383 |
| 2008 | 421,781 | -9,264 | 514,665 | -24,509 |
| 2007 | 410,290 | -22,680 | 495,800 | -19,945 |
| 2006 | 397,123 | -29,450 | 477,665 | -18,247 |
| 2005 | 381,130 | -31,462 | 460,964 | -17,413 |
| 2004 | 361,133 | -32,221 | 439,717 | -10,796 |
| 2003 | 341,133 | -31,729 | 417,766 | -11,768 |
| 2002 | 322,863 | -30,013 | 396,732 | -8,914 |
| 2001 | 310,833 | -28,933 | 376,472 | -12,507 |
| 2000 | 300,439 | -28,098 | 359,159 | -17,395 |
| 1999 | 295,629 | -31,686 | 343,705 | -21,702 |
| 1998 | 285,407 | -39,491 | 323,940 | -30,255 |
| 1997 | 277,433 | -61,646 | 308,429 | -55,978 |
| 1996 | 270,048 | -66,212 | 293,953 | -67,974 |
| 1995 | 266,745 | -66,366 | 285,598 | -67,763 |
| 1994 | 275,439 | -505,365 | 282,356 | -63,533 |
| 1993 | 276,538 | -284,867 | 274,480 | -68,816 |
| 1992 | 269,066 | 37,142 | 267,605 | -70,789 |
| 1991 | 260,193 | 15,291 | 261,656 | -77,172 |
| 1990 | 250,159 | 71,111 | 252,308 | -68,668 |
| 1989 | 237,967 | 180,031 | 249,929 | -75,771 |
| 1988 | 226,911 | 201,011 | 245,682 | -87,952 |
| 1987 | 220,566 | 271,693 | 238,871 | -90,940 |
| 1986 | 218,519 | 62,615 | 233,799 | -81,970 |
| 1985 | 216,179 | 74,625 | 224,734 | -63,347 |
| 1984 | 212,146 | 72,435 | 218,078 | -47,331 |
| 1983 | 209,422 | 68,197 | 211,795 | -34,132 |
| 1982 | 205,386 | 62,661 | 204,892 | -34,140 |
| 1981 | 199,436 | 57,376 | 198,227 | -34,130 |
| 1980 | 192,746 | 52,294 | 190,560 | -30,156 |
| 1979 | 182,123 | 46,388 | 182,449 | -32,353 |
| 1978 | 172,503 | 36,225 | 172,652 | -31,520 |
| 1977 | 161,930 | 19,638 | 165,071 | -28,853 |
| 1976 | 153,422 | 8,206 | 157,778 | -33,999 |
| 1975 | 145,254 | 5,162 | 150,222 | -26,572 |
| 1974 | 137,819 | 3,833 | 142,448 | -22,449 |
| 1973 | 131,529 | 1,623 | 135,801 | -19,137 |
| 1972 | 125,728 | 48 | 129,687 | -19,594 |
| 1971 | 121,015 | -710 | 123,591 | -22,127 |
| 1970 | 116,822 | -2,147 | 118,952 | -17,479 |
| 1969 | 113,120 | -2,266 | 114,361 | -18,302 |
| 1968 | 110,329 | -924 | 111,403 | -18,015 |
| 1967 | 106,668 | 0 | 107,650 | -16,900 |
| 1966 | 103,512 | 0 | 103,684 | -17,032 |
| 1965 | 100,040 | 0 | 100,451 | -13,662 |
| 1964 | 97,658 | 0 | 97,166 | -13,226 |
| 1963 | 95,933 | 0 | 95,055 | -11,951 |
| 1962 | 92,463 | 0 | 93,101 | -10,821 |
| 1961 | 89,091 | 0 | 91,115 | -10,139 |
| 1960 | 85,718 | 0 | 88,802 | -10,314 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/malawi/mali | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Malawi is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 people). In Mali 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 people).
As of 2024, 186,719 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Malawi, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Malawi and Mali
|
Malawi
|
Mali
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 67.9 years | 61.1 years |
| Average age | 22.8 years | 21.3 years |
| Median age | 18.9 years | 16.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.8:51.2 | 50.5:49.5 |
| Fertility rate | 3.65 births per woman | 5.61 births per woman |
| Population density | 626 ppl/mi² | 55.1 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/malawi/mali | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.