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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 25,198,821 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,322,576 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 1.75 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.3M (88.2% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Mali vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Rwanda
2100 80,362,778 33,113,283
2099 80,043,103 33,008,545
2098 79,704,143 32,927,982
2097 79,354,569 32,853,307
2096 78,987,874 32,768,037
2095 78,602,449 32,635,508
2094 78,192,601 32,550,001
2093 77,771,649 32,416,870
2092 77,337,997 32,294,333
2091 76,884,320 32,191,262
2090 76,409,599 32,088,747
2089 75,916,129 31,892,591
2088 75,405,009 31,746,789
2087 74,874,565 31,553,150
2086 74,331,613 31,399,004
2085 73,769,979 31,254,597
2084 73,189,821 31,112,448
2083 72,588,675 30,937,106
2082 71,975,720 30,752,861
2081 71,340,622 30,576,992
2080 70,699,377 30,386,351
2079 70,036,857 30,195,560
2078 69,359,523 30,016,688
2077 68,668,133 29,819,259
2076 67,965,034 29,645,610
2075 67,249,105 29,441,964
2074 66,516,075 29,243,980
2073 65,768,739 29,025,977
2072 65,009,716 28,798,822
2071 64,232,600 28,578,302
2070 63,450,597 28,334,300
2069 62,657,123 28,121,174
2068 61,850,168 27,872,383
2067 61,035,806 27,609,059
2066 60,215,831 27,372,823
2065 59,394,005 27,101,698
2064 58,560,766 26,838,144
2063 57,720,905 26,559,838
2062 56,873,801 26,312,631
2061 56,020,633 26,001,660
2060 55,160,220 25,729,037
2059 54,298,509 25,453,407
2058 53,431,783 25,121,995
2057 52,559,686 24,853,512
2056 51,686,173 24,582,198
2055 50,807,502 24,281,895
2054 49,930,546 23,991,958
2053 49,048,457 23,705,290
2052 48,161,836 23,421,032
2051 47,275,159 23,113,700
2050 46,385,854 22,814,556
2049 45,500,920 22,498,806
2048 44,612,126 22,171,841
2047 43,725,546 21,848,486
2046 42,836,054 21,554,082
2045 41,946,522 21,228,573
2044 41,057,406 20,915,810
2043 40,168,481 20,548,490
2042 39,281,666 20,214,283
2041 38,402,142 19,845,021
2040 37,521,801 19,475,227
2039 36,648,491 19,108,842
2038 35,768,661 18,773,398
2037 34,898,973 18,433,422
2036 34,032,460 18,128,058
2035 33,174,985 17,765,049
2034 32,324,451 17,432,165
2033 31,482,783 17,100,072
2032 30,652,485 16,822,053
2031 29,830,213 16,495,903
2030 29,025,640 16,178,061
2029 28,232,427 15,868,812
2028 27,453,124 15,554,713
2027 26,687,226 15,217,275
2026 25,937,442 14,898,118
2025 25,198,821 14,569,341
2024 24,478,595 14,256,567
2023 23,769,127 13,954,471
2022 23,072,640 13,651,030
2021 22,388,630 13,355,260
2020 21,713,836 13,065,837
2019 21,068,405 12,776,103
2018 20,442,030 12,487,996
2017 19,813,011 12,202,060
2016 19,191,289 11,919,183
2015 18,593,022 11,640,022
2014 18,020,267 11,364,757
2013 17,459,615 11,093,340
2012 16,957,033 10,829,901
2011 16,469,049 10,573,733
2010 15,945,198 10,317,553
2009 15,435,539 10,060,432
2008 14,940,782 9,804,269
2007 14,457,775 9,549,933
2006 13,990,139 9,299,246
2005 13,538,647 9,054,528
2004 13,102,409 8,816,844
2003 12,684,955 8,586,875
2002 12,288,050 8,400,180
2001 11,912,158 8,287,094
2000 11,559,290 8,213,931
1999 11,227,415 8,147,912
1998 10,919,573 8,081,681
1997 10,646,495 7,755,238
1996 10,407,278 6,708,764
1995 10,185,365 5,674,118
1994 9,967,031 6,792,352
1993 9,754,786 7,981,132
1992 9,553,540 7,683,266
1991 9,362,888 7,526,966
1990 9,178,830 7,375,307
1989 8,999,938 7,184,706
1988 8,833,996 6,968,071
1987 8,681,164 6,749,493
1986 8,531,277 6,531,881
1985 8,374,663 6,317,228
1984 8,208,599 6,107,627
1983 8,034,400 5,905,311
1982 7,860,194 5,711,549
1981 7,692,766 5,527,230
1980 7,530,515 5,353,259
1979 7,375,266 5,189,541
1978 7,229,651 5,035,171
1977 7,090,979 4,888,240
1976 6,960,979 4,745,954
1975 6,837,261 4,607,728
1974 6,715,436 4,474,228
1973 6,597,106 4,345,047
1972 6,483,726 4,220,335
1971 6,377,944 4,100,044
1970 6,276,472 3,980,669
1969 6,177,704 3,861,271
1968 6,082,979 3,744,010
1967 5,990,906 3,629,577
1966 5,902,204 3,521,626
1965 5,815,487 3,423,210
1964 5,730,125 3,334,834
1963 5,646,605 3,258,890
1962 5,563,917 3,186,025
1961 5,482,283 3,106,779
1960 5,402,550 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali Rwanda
2100 0.4% 0.32%
2099 0.43% 0.24%
2098 0.44% 0.23%
2097 0.46% 0.26%
2096 0.49% 0.41%
2095 0.52% 0.26%
2094 0.54% 0.41%
2093 0.56% 0.38%
2092 0.59% 0.32%
2091 0.62% 0.32%
2090 0.65% 0.62%
2089 0.68% 0.46%
2088 0.71% 0.61%
2087 0.73% 0.49%
2086 0.76% 0.46%
2085 0.79% 0.46%
2084 0.83% 0.57%
2083 0.85% 0.6%
2082 0.89% 0.58%
2081 0.91% 0.63%
2080 0.95% 0.63%
2079 0.98% 0.6%
2078 1.01% 0.66%
2077 1.03% 0.59%
2076 1.06% 0.69%
2075 1.1% 0.68%
2074 1.14% 0.75%
2073 1.17% 0.79%
2072 1.21% 0.77%
2071 1.23% 0.86%
2070 1.27% 0.76%
2069 1.3% 0.89%
2068 1.33% 0.95%
2067 1.36% 0.86%
2066 1.38% 1%
2065 1.42% 0.98%
2064 1.46% 1.05%
2063 1.49% 0.94%
2062 1.52% 1.2%
2061 1.56% 1.06%
2060 1.59% 1.08%
2059 1.62% 1.32%
2058 1.66% 1.08%
2057 1.69% 1.1%
2056 1.73% 1.24%
2055 1.76% 1.21%
2054 1.8% 1.21%
2053 1.84% 1.21%
2052 1.88% 1.33%
2051 1.92% 1.31%
2050 1.94% 1.4%
2049 1.99% 1.47%
2048 2.03% 1.48%
2047 2.08% 1.37%
2046 2.12% 1.53%
2045 2.17% 1.5%
2044 2.21% 1.79%
2043 2.26% 1.65%
2042 2.29% 1.86%
2041 2.35% 1.9%
2040 2.38% 1.92%
2039 2.46% 1.79%
2038 2.49% 1.84%
2037 2.55% 1.68%
2036 2.58% 2.04%
2035 2.63% 1.91%
2034 2.67% 1.94%
2033 2.71% 1.65%
2032 2.76% 1.98%
2031 2.77% 1.96%
2030 2.81% 1.95%
2029 2.84% 2.02%
2028 2.87% 2.22%
2027 2.89% 2.14%
2026 2.93% 2.26%
2025 2.94% 2.19%
2024 2.98% 2.16%
2023 3.02% 2.22%
2022 3.06% 2.21%
2021 3.11% 2.22%
2020 3.06% 2.27%
2019 3.06% 2.31%
2018 3.17% 2.34%
2017 3.24% 2.37%
2016 3.22% 2.4%
2015 3.18% 2.42%
2014 3.21% 2.45%
2013 2.96% 2.43%
2012 2.96% 2.42%
2011 3.29% 2.48%
2010 3.3% 2.56%
2009 3.31% 2.61%
2008 3.34% 2.66%
2007 3.34% 2.7%
2006 3.33% 2.7%
2005 3.33% 2.7%
2004 3.29% 2.68%
2003 3.23% 2.22%
2002 3.16% 1.36%
2001 3.05% 0.89%
2000 2.96% 0.81%
1999 2.82% 0.82%
1998 2.56% 4.21%
1997 2.3% 15.6%
1996 2.18% 18.2%
1995 2.19% -16.5%
1994 2.18% -14.9%
1993 2.11% 3.88%
1992 2.04% 2.08%
1991 2.01% 2.06%
1990 1.99% 2.65%
1989 1.88% 3.11%
1988 1.76% 3.24%
1987 1.76% 3.33%
1986 1.87% 3.4%
1985 2.02% 3.43%
1984 2.17% 3.43%
1983 2.22% 3.39%
1982 2.18% 3.33%
1981 2.15% 3.25%
1980 2.1% 3.15%
1979 2.01% 3.07%
1978 1.96% 3.01%
1977 1.87% 3%
1976 1.81% 3%
1975 1.81% 2.98%
1974 1.79% 2.97%
1973 1.75% 2.96%
1972 1.66% 2.93%
1971 1.62% 3%
1970 1.6% 3.09%
1969 1.56% 3.13%
1968 1.54% 3.15%
1967 1.5% 3.07%
1966 1.49% 2.87%
1965 1.49% 2.65%
1964 1.48% 2.33%
1963 1.49% 2.29%
1962 1.49% 2.55%
1961 1.48% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mali grew by 2.94%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Mali Rwanda
Current population
26322576
15062056
Population rank 58/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.18%
One net population change
43.9 seconds
1.69 minutes
One birth every
32.6 seconds
1.31 minutes
One death every
2.52 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,973 +857
Annual growth/decline +720,226 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +2.94% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 14/197 40/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -48,019 +6,282
Net migration rank 173/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - 6,282
2024 759,375 -46,880 316,025 -15,582
2023 746,398 -39,953 312,762 -9,001
2022 726,465 -39,951 312,145 -9,001
2021 703,674 -22,210 309,895 -21,492
2020 683,053 -14,962 312,692 -22,251
2019 667,110 -44,373 313,525 -24,492
2018 670,723 -40,710 312,512 -25,323
2017 661,973 -33,942 310,323 -25,634
2016 645,652 -30,251 305,549 -24,474
2015 630,006 -48,872 299,114 -21,862
2014 614,419 -50,068 292,779 -19,505
2013 597,887 -40,951 286,331 -16,779
2012 588,748 -140,507 282,584 -25,260
2011 570,899 -43,160 282,922 -27,915
2010 554,447 -34,483 286,848 -29,501
2009 533,730 -34,383 287,034 -30,128
2008 514,665 -24,509 287,334 -31,913
2007 495,800 -19,945 285,791 -32,537
2006 477,665 -18,247 282,149 -34,008
2005 460,964 -17,413 275,121 -33,830
2004 439,717 -10,796 265,273 -31,214
2003 417,766 -11,768 251,243 -25,355
2002 396,732 -8,914 239,036 -91,518
2001 376,472 -12,507 230,845 -152,197
2000 359,159 -17,395 221,276 -153,588
1999 343,705 -21,702 210,518 -146,162
1998 323,940 -30,255 197,185 -129,089
1997 308,429 -55,978 174,687 410,106
1996 293,953 -67,974 140,455 1,367,700
1995 285,598 -67,763 121,137 439,995
1994 282,356 -63,533 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 274,480 -68,816 183,926 236,110
1992 267,605 -70,789 188,025 -12,334
1991 261,656 -77,172 196,431 -59,519
1990 252,308 -68,668 207,895 -41,483
1989 249,929 -75,771 217,632 -2,826
1988 245,682 -87,952 223,759 -5,285
1987 238,871 -90,940 225,744 -7,062
1986 233,799 -81,970 225,526 -8,982
1985 224,734 -63,347 223,794 -11,031
1984 218,078 -47,331 219,337 -12,899
1983 211,795 -34,132 212,750 -14,560
1982 204,892 -34,140 205,147 -15,818
1981 198,227 -34,130 195,769 -16,453
1980 190,560 -30,156 184,988 -16,359
1979 182,449 -32,353 174,477 -15,669
1978 172,652 -31,520 163,779 -13,838
1977 165,071 -28,853 155,011 -11,084
1976 157,778 -33,999 147,665 -7,027
1975 150,222 -26,572 140,596 -4,791
1974 142,448 -22,449 135,743 -4,535
1973 135,801 -19,137 131,021 -3,862
1972 129,687 -19,594 126,403 -4,156
1971 123,591 -22,127 122,567 -4,230
1970 118,952 -17,479 119,273 1,149
1969 114,361 -18,302 115,394 2,983
1968 111,403 -18,015 111,422 4,728
1967 107,650 -16,900 108,053 4,655
1966 103,684 -17,032 105,128 -1,930
1965 100,451 -13,662 103,422 -9,774
1964 97,166 -13,226 102,562 -19,458
1963 95,055 -11,951 94,296 -25,524
1962 93,101 -10,821 102,548 -25,594
1961 91,115 -10,139 102,051 -20,508
1960 88,802 -10,314 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/mali/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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