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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 25,198,821 in 2025 vs 5,315,065 people in Mauritania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,322,576 people compared to 5,539,189 in Mauritania.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 4.75 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while Mauritania is the 123rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 0.07% for Mauritania.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +2.98% in Mauritania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.3M (88.2% growth), while Mauritania has grown from 3.01M to 5.54M (83.8% growth).

Mali vs Mauritania: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Mauritania
2100 80,362,778 17,302,938
2099 80,043,103 17,195,692
2098 79,704,143 17,083,078
2097 79,354,569 16,968,365
2096 78,987,874 16,850,394
2095 78,602,449 16,732,430
2094 78,192,601 16,610,512
2093 77,771,649 16,485,880
2092 77,337,997 16,359,440
2091 76,884,320 16,229,167
2090 76,409,599 16,097,149
2089 75,916,129 15,962,562
2088 75,405,009 15,824,899
2087 74,874,565 15,683,760
2086 74,331,613 15,541,281
2085 73,769,979 15,397,701
2084 73,189,821 15,251,533
2083 72,588,675 15,102,125
2082 71,975,720 14,952,194
2081 71,340,622 14,799,309
2080 70,699,377 14,645,548
2079 70,036,857 14,490,500
2078 69,359,523 14,331,284
2077 68,668,133 14,170,045
2076 67,965,034 14,007,555
2075 67,249,105 13,843,393
2074 66,516,075 13,678,579
2073 65,768,739 13,512,182
2072 65,009,716 13,343,946
2071 64,232,600 13,172,876
2070 63,450,597 13,002,521
2069 62,657,123 12,830,090
2068 61,850,168 12,657,711
2067 61,035,806 12,482,299
2066 60,215,831 12,306,495
2065 59,394,005 12,131,679
2064 58,560,766 11,954,090
2063 57,720,905 11,778,351
2062 56,873,801 11,601,323
2061 56,020,633 11,424,089
2060 55,160,220 11,246,850
2059 54,298,509 11,067,732
2058 53,431,783 10,887,645
2057 52,559,686 10,709,500
2056 51,686,173 10,532,648
2055 50,807,502 10,354,318
2054 49,930,546 10,175,517
2053 49,048,457 9,995,645
2052 48,161,836 9,815,104
2051 47,275,159 9,635,288
2050 46,385,854 9,457,400
2049 45,500,920 9,279,576
2048 44,612,126 9,100,595
2047 43,725,546 8,923,220
2046 42,836,054 8,745,286
2045 41,946,522 8,568,910
2044 41,057,406 8,393,773
2043 40,168,481 8,218,850
2042 39,281,666 8,044,865
2041 38,402,142 7,873,599
2040 37,521,801 7,703,561
2039 36,648,491 7,534,623
2038 35,768,661 7,366,187
2037 34,898,973 7,199,542
2036 34,032,460 7,033,866
2035 33,174,985 6,869,186
2034 32,324,451 6,705,635
2033 31,482,783 6,543,505
2032 30,652,485 6,383,229
2031 29,830,213 6,225,030
2030 29,025,640 6,068,395
2029 28,232,427 5,914,109
2028 27,453,124 5,761,715
2027 26,687,226 5,611,635
2026 25,937,442 5,462,675
2025 25,198,821 5,315,065
2024 24,478,595 5,169,395
2023 23,769,127 5,022,441
2022 23,072,640 4,875,637
2021 22,388,630 4,734,874
2020 21,713,836 4,600,131
2019 21,068,405 4,467,708
2018 20,442,030 4,337,685
2017 19,813,011 4,210,600
2016 19,191,289 4,086,657
2015 18,593,022 3,965,959
2014 18,020,267 3,848,514
2013 17,459,615 3,734,318
2012 16,957,033 3,619,034
2011 16,469,049 3,502,811
2010 15,945,198 3,390,965
2009 15,435,539 3,284,448
2008 14,940,782 3,183,269
2007 14,457,775 3,093,059
2006 13,990,139 3,013,660
2005 13,538,647 2,939,059
2004 13,102,409 2,868,664
2003 12,684,955 2,802,046
2002 12,288,050 2,738,655
2001 11,912,158 2,678,760
2000 11,559,290 2,613,441
1999 11,227,415 2,541,698
1998 10,919,573 2,474,651
1997 10,646,495 2,411,306
1996 10,407,278 2,358,188
1995 10,185,365 2,312,017
1994 9,967,031 2,249,454
1993 9,754,786 2,174,328
1992 9,553,540 2,088,135
1991 9,362,888 2,009,738
1990 9,178,830 1,951,878
1989 8,999,938 1,903,048
1988 8,833,996 1,855,859
1987 8,681,164 1,803,014
1986 8,531,277 1,751,835
1985 8,374,663 1,702,107
1984 8,208,599 1,653,693
1983 8,034,400 1,606,746
1982 7,860,194 1,561,176
1981 7,692,766 1,516,877
1980 7,530,515 1,474,043
1979 7,375,266 1,432,758
1978 7,229,651 1,392,713
1977 7,090,979 1,353,768
1976 6,960,979 1,315,336
1975 6,837,261 1,277,330
1974 6,715,436 1,240,188
1973 6,597,106 1,203,838
1972 6,483,726 1,168,355
1971 6,377,944 1,133,702
1970 6,276,472 1,099,806
1969 6,177,704 1,066,754
1968 6,082,979 1,034,739
1967 5,990,906 1,003,843
1966 5,902,204 974,157
1965 5,815,487 945,838
1964 5,730,125 918,955
1963 5,646,605 893,423
1962 5,563,917 869,184
1961 5,482,283 846,167
1960 5,402,550 824,298

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/mali/mauritania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while Mauritania gained 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth), while Mauritania's population increased by 1,452,532 people (a 35.5% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. Mauritania was ranked 132nd in 2006 and ranked 123rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Mali's population will grow by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people with a rank change from 58th to 47th. The population of Mauritania will increase by 70.7% to 9,457,400 people and rank change from 123rd to 103rd.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 17.3M people in 2100 for Mauritania.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali Mauritania
2100 0.4% 0.62%
2099 0.43% 0.66%
2098 0.44% 0.68%
2097 0.46% 0.7%
2096 0.49% 0.7%
2095 0.52% 0.73%
2094 0.54% 0.76%
2093 0.56% 0.77%
2092 0.59% 0.8%
2091 0.62% 0.82%
2090 0.65% 0.84%
2089 0.68% 0.87%
2088 0.71% 0.9%
2087 0.73% 0.92%
2086 0.76% 0.93%
2085 0.79% 0.96%
2084 0.83% 0.99%
2083 0.85% 1%
2082 0.89% 1.03%
2081 0.91% 1.05%
2080 0.95% 1.07%
2079 0.98% 1.11%
2078 1.01% 1.14%
2077 1.03% 1.16%
2076 1.06% 1.19%
2075 1.1% 1.2%
2074 1.14% 1.23%
2073 1.17% 1.26%
2072 1.21% 1.3%
2071 1.23% 1.31%
2070 1.27% 1.34%
2069 1.3% 1.36%
2068 1.33% 1.41%
2067 1.36% 1.43%
2066 1.38% 1.44%
2065 1.42% 1.49%
2064 1.46% 1.49%
2063 1.49% 1.53%
2062 1.52% 1.55%
2061 1.56% 1.58%
2060 1.59% 1.62%
2059 1.62% 1.65%
2058 1.66% 1.66%
2057 1.69% 1.68%
2056 1.73% 1.72%
2055 1.76% 1.76%
2054 1.8% 1.8%
2053 1.84% 1.84%
2052 1.88% 1.87%
2051 1.92% 1.88%
2050 1.94% 1.92%
2049 1.99% 1.97%
2048 2.03% 1.99%
2047 2.08% 2.03%
2046 2.12% 2.06%
2045 2.17% 2.09%
2044 2.21% 2.13%
2043 2.26% 2.16%
2042 2.29% 2.18%
2041 2.35% 2.21%
2040 2.38% 2.24%
2039 2.46% 2.29%
2038 2.49% 2.31%
2037 2.55% 2.36%
2036 2.58% 2.4%
2035 2.63% 2.44%
2034 2.67% 2.48%
2033 2.71% 2.51%
2032 2.76% 2.54%
2031 2.77% 2.58%
2030 2.81% 2.61%
2029 2.84% 2.64%
2028 2.87% 2.67%
2027 2.89% 2.73%
2026 2.93% 2.78%
2025 2.94% 2.82%
2024 2.98% 2.93%
2023 3.02% 3.01%
2022 3.06% 2.97%
2021 3.11% 2.93%
2020 3.06% 2.96%
2019 3.06% 3%
2018 3.17% 3.02%
2017 3.24% 3.03%
2016 3.22% 3.04%
2015 3.18% 3.05%
2014 3.21% 3.06%
2013 2.96% 3.19%
2012 2.96% 3.32%
2011 3.29% 3.3%
2010 3.3% 3.24%
2009 3.31% 3.18%
2008 3.34% 2.92%
2007 3.34% 2.63%
2006 3.33% 2.54%
2005 3.33% 2.45%
2004 3.29% 2.38%
2003 3.23% 2.31%
2002 3.16% 2.24%
2001 3.05% 2.5%
2000 2.96% 2.82%
1999 2.82% 2.71%
1998 2.56% 2.63%
1997 2.3% 2.25%
1996 2.18% 2%
1995 2.19% 2.78%
1994 2.18% 3.46%
1993 2.11% 4.13%
1992 2.04% 3.9%
1991 2.01% 2.96%
1990 1.99% 2.57%
1989 1.88% 2.54%
1988 1.76% 2.93%
1987 1.76% 2.92%
1986 1.87% 2.92%
1985 2.02% 2.93%
1984 2.17% 2.92%
1983 2.22% 2.92%
1982 2.18% 2.92%
1981 2.15% 2.91%
1980 2.1% 2.88%
1979 2.01% 2.88%
1978 1.96% 2.88%
1977 1.87% 2.92%
1976 1.81% 2.98%
1975 1.81% 2.99%
1974 1.79% 3.02%
1973 1.75% 3.04%
1972 1.66% 3.06%
1971 1.62% 3.08%
1970 1.6% 3.1%
1969 1.56% 3.09%
1968 1.54% 3.08%
1967 1.5% 3.05%
1966 1.49% 2.99%
1965 1.49% 2.93%
1964 1.48% 2.86%
1963 1.49% 2.79%
1962 1.49% 2.72%
1961 1.48% 2.65%

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/mali/mauritania | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mali grew by 2.94%, while Mauritania's population grew by 2.82%.

Live population counters

Mali Mauritania
Current population
26322576
5539189
Population rank 58/197 123/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.07%
One net population change
43.9 seconds
3.62 minutes
One birth every
32.6 seconds
2.99 minutes
One death every
2.52 minutes
18.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,973 +399
Annual growth/decline +720,226 +145,670
Annual growth/decline rate +2.94% +2.82%
Population growth rate rank 14/197 18/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
1.74 hours
Annual migration change -48,019 -5,044
Net migration rank 173/196 115/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 195,937
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 113/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 107/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
Mauritania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali Mauritania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - -5,044
2024 759,375 -46,880 147,927 -2,185
2023 746,398 -39,953 145,164 2,999
2022 726,465 -39,951 142,451 2,999
2021 703,674 -22,210 137,557 -1,483
2020 683,053 -14,962 134,899 -1,483
2019 667,110 -44,373 134,460 -3,019
2018 670,723 -40,710 131,584 -2,987
2017 661,973 -33,942 128,562 -3,001
2016 645,652 -30,251 125,342 -3,008
2015 630,006 -48,872 122,092 -3,019
2014 614,419 -50,068 118,792 -2,980
2013 597,887 -40,951 115,558 -2,987
2012 588,748 -140,507 113,489 4,515
2011 570,899 -43,160 111,165 3,272
2010 554,447 -34,483 108,121 1,128
2009 533,730 -34,383 105,273 -1,481
2008 514,665 -24,509 102,432 -3,860
2007 495,800 -19,945 98,895 -17,048
2006 477,665 -18,247 94,991 -18,033
2005 460,964 -17,413 90,940 -18,693
2004 439,717 -10,796 87,578 -19,042
2003 417,766 -11,768 83,804 -19,104
2002 396,732 -8,914 80,993 -18,903
2001 376,472 -12,507 78,769 -21,067
2000 359,159 -17,395 75,929 -2,997
1999 343,705 -21,702 73,554 -2,999
1998 323,940 -30,255 72,045 -8,504
1997 308,429 -55,978 71,327 -8,187
1996 293,953 -67,974 71,939 -28,840
1995 285,598 -67,763 72,244 -22,997
1994 282,356 -63,533 70,570 5,304
1993 274,480 -68,816 68,167 6,217
1992 267,605 -70,789 63,501 34,505
1991 261,656 -77,172 61,782 -2,997
1990 252,308 -68,668 59,934 -3,000
1989 249,929 -75,771 58,666 -17,941
1988 245,682 -87,952 56,654 -2,997
1987 238,871 -90,940 55,037 -2,998
1986 233,799 -81,970 53,313 -2,998
1985 224,734 -63,347 52,125 -2,998
1984 218,078 -47,331 50,705 -2,998
1983 211,795 -34,132 49,187 -2,998
1982 204,892 -34,140 47,947 -2,998
1981 198,227 -34,130 46,641 -2,998
1980 190,560 -30,156 45,026 -2,997
1979 182,449 -32,353 43,537 -2,997
1978 172,652 -31,520 42,539 -2,998
1977 165,071 -28,853 41,352 -2,999
1976 157,778 -33,999 40,149 -1,645
1975 150,222 -26,572 38,975 -1,472
1974 142,448 -22,449 38,106 -1,321
1973 135,801 -19,137 37,122 -1,201
1972 129,687 -19,594 36,184 -1,139
1971 123,591 -22,127 35,279 -1,014
1970 118,952 -17,479 34,382 -855
1969 114,361 -18,302 33,252 -688
1968 111,403 -18,015 32,029 -565
1967 107,650 -16,900 30,853 -514
1966 103,684 -17,032 29,502 -466
1965 100,451 -13,662 28,028 -434
1964 97,166 -13,226 26,565 -390
1963 95,055 -11,951 25,250 -362
1962 93,101 -10,821 23,927 -342
1961 91,115 -10,139 22,781 -332
1960 88,802 -10,314 21,604 -318

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95% of the population change in Mali is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 people). In Mauritania 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,350,038 people) and 1.04% is from migration (a loss of 14,187 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 195,937 people or 3.8% in Mauritania.

Biggest cities by population

Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 226K
Segou 131K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K
Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K

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/mali/mauritania | 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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