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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 24,478,595 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,143,152 people compared to 14,975,051 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 +3.12% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.1M (86.9% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Mali vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Rwanda
2100 80,371,693 33,092,520
2099 80,051,982 32,987,847
2098 79,712,985 32,907,335
2097 79,363,373 32,832,706
2096 78,996,636 32,747,490
2095 78,611,169 32,615,044
2094 78,201,275 32,529,590
2093 77,780,277 32,396,544
2092 77,346,576 32,274,083
2091 76,892,849 32,171,077
2090 76,418,075 32,068,626
2089 75,924,551 31,872,593
2088 75,413,374 31,726,882
2087 74,882,872 31,533,364
2086 74,339,859 31,379,315
2085 73,778,163 31,235,000
2084 73,197,940 31,092,940
2083 72,596,727 30,917,707
2082 71,983,705 30,733,578
2081 71,348,537 30,557,819
2080 70,707,220 30,367,298
2079 70,044,626 30,176,627
2078 69,367,218 29,997,866
2077 68,675,750 29,800,561
2076 67,972,574 29,627,021
2075 67,256,565 29,423,503
2074 66,523,454 29,225,643
2073 65,776,035 29,007,777
2072 65,016,928 28,780,763
2071 64,239,726 28,560,382
2070 63,457,636 28,316,533
2069 62,664,074 28,103,541
2068 61,857,029 27,854,906
2067 61,042,577 27,591,747
2066 60,222,511 27,355,659
2065 59,400,594 27,084,704
2064 58,567,263 26,821,315
2063 57,727,308 26,543,184
2062 56,880,111 26,296,132
2061 56,026,848 25,985,356
2060 55,166,339 25,712,904
2059 54,304,533 25,437,446
2058 53,437,711 25,106,242
2057 52,565,517 24,837,928
2056 51,691,907 24,566,784
2055 50,813,138 24,266,669
2054 49,936,085 23,976,914
2053 49,053,898 23,690,426
2052 48,167,179 23,406,346
2051 47,280,403 23,099,207
2050 46,390,999 22,800,250
2049 45,505,968 22,484,698
2048 44,617,075 22,157,938
2047 43,730,396 21,834,786
2046 42,840,806 21,540,566
2045 41,951,176 21,215,262
2044 41,061,960 20,902,695
2043 40,172,937 20,535,605
2042 39,286,024 20,201,608
2041 38,406,403 19,832,577
2040 37,525,963 19,463,015
2039 36,652,557 19,096,860
2038 35,772,629 18,761,626
2037 34,902,845 18,421,864
2036 34,036,236 18,116,691
2035 33,178,665 17,753,910
2034 32,328,037 17,421,234
2033 31,486,276 17,089,349
2032 30,655,886 16,811,505
2031 29,833,522 16,485,559
2030 29,028,860 16,167,916
2029 28,235,559 15,858,862
2028 27,456,170 15,544,959
2027 26,690,187 15,207,733
2026 25,940,320 14,888,776
2025 25,201,616 14,560,205
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% 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 77.4% to 46,390,999 people with a rank change from 58th to 46th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 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 2.95% 2.13%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Mali grew by 2.98%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Mali Rwanda
Current population
26143152
14975051
Population rank 58/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.18%
One net population change
44.5 seconds
1.74 minutes
One birth every
33.1 seconds
1.33 minutes
One death every
2.56 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,944 +828
Annual growth/decline +709,468 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.98% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 15/197 45/197
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 - -46,880 - -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.9% of the population change in Mali is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 people). In Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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 214K
Segou 134K
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 (1960–2024, 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/mali/rwanda | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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