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Population in Mali compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 25,198,821 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,322,576 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 2.9 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.43% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.3M (88.2% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Mali vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Sierra Leone
2100 80,362,778 16,107,087
2099 80,043,103 16,121,940
2098 79,704,143 16,135,035
2097 79,354,569 16,149,905
2096 78,987,874 16,160,672
2095 78,602,449 16,169,304
2094 78,192,601 16,168,902
2093 77,771,649 16,173,609
2092 77,337,997 16,170,778
2091 76,884,320 16,163,901
2090 76,409,599 16,154,165
2089 75,916,129 16,142,526
2088 75,405,009 16,128,775
2087 74,874,565 16,112,585
2086 74,331,613 16,085,549
2085 73,769,979 16,064,212
2084 73,189,821 16,040,563
2083 72,588,675 16,006,923
2082 71,975,720 15,970,872
2081 71,340,622 15,930,880
2080 70,699,377 15,892,665
2079 70,036,857 15,850,728
2078 69,359,523 15,801,450
2077 68,668,133 15,750,408
2076 67,965,034 15,695,310
2075 67,249,105 15,635,345
2074 66,516,075 15,580,279
2073 65,768,739 15,512,655
2072 65,009,716 15,442,481
2071 64,232,600 15,370,747
2070 63,450,597 15,293,426
2069 62,657,123 15,212,664
2068 61,850,168 15,124,069
2067 61,035,806 15,028,190
2066 60,215,831 14,931,295
2065 59,394,005 14,833,794
2064 58,560,766 14,736,872
2063 57,720,905 14,638,180
2062 56,873,801 14,525,736
2061 56,020,633 14,420,068
2060 55,160,220 14,307,451
2059 54,298,509 14,194,972
2058 53,431,783 14,077,124
2057 52,559,686 13,957,197
2056 51,686,173 13,832,494
2055 50,807,502 13,702,508
2054 49,930,546 13,576,231
2053 49,048,457 13,440,929
2052 48,161,836 13,299,910
2051 47,275,159 13,152,910
2050 46,385,854 13,006,688
2049 45,500,920 12,863,637
2048 44,612,126 12,712,671
2047 43,725,546 12,566,944
2046 42,836,054 12,411,042
2045 41,946,522 12,254,651
2044 41,057,406 12,088,895
2043 40,168,481 11,928,393
2042 39,281,666 11,767,372
2041 38,402,142 11,599,942
2040 37,521,801 11,428,331
2039 36,648,491 11,259,845
2038 35,768,661 11,097,180
2037 34,898,973 10,928,754
2036 34,032,460 10,757,928
2035 33,174,985 10,582,918
2034 32,324,451 10,411,088
2033 31,482,783 10,238,503
2032 30,652,485 10,059,929
2031 29,830,213 9,881,109
2030 29,025,640 9,705,485
2029 28,232,427 9,529,493
2028 27,453,124 9,358,412
2027 26,687,226 9,177,288
2026 25,937,442 8,998,902
2025 25,198,821 8,819,794
2024 24,478,595 8,642,022
2023 23,769,127 8,460,512
2022 23,072,640 8,276,807
2021 22,388,630 8,094,602
2020 21,713,836 7,912,558
2019 21,068,405 7,731,991
2018 20,442,030 7,554,563
2017 19,813,011 7,379,299
2016 19,191,289 7,205,328
2015 18,593,022 7,037,655
2014 18,020,267 6,876,385
2013 17,459,615 6,714,051
2012 16,957,033 6,551,080
2011 16,469,049 6,387,251
2010 15,945,198 6,222,714
2009 15,435,539 6,055,646
2008 14,940,782 5,894,722
2007 14,457,775 5,749,352
2006 13,990,139 5,624,466
2005 13,538,647 5,501,712
2004 13,102,409 5,355,717
2003 12,684,955 5,177,687
2002 12,288,050 4,971,435
2001 11,912,158 4,692,716
2000 11,559,290 4,423,611
1999 11,227,415 4,318,043
1998 10,919,573 4,295,785
1997 10,646,495 4,253,716
1996 10,407,278 4,199,210
1995 10,185,365 4,179,179
1994 9,967,031 4,173,105
1993 9,754,786 4,157,130
1992 9,553,540 4,166,366
1991 9,362,888 4,246,267
1990 9,178,830 4,196,828
1989 8,999,938 4,034,037
1988 8,833,996 3,934,517
1987 8,681,164 3,829,718
1986 8,531,277 3,728,380
1985 8,374,663 3,638,438
1984 8,208,599 3,558,758
1983 8,034,400 3,481,646
1982 7,860,194 3,408,183
1981 7,692,766 3,338,940
1980 7,530,515 3,272,089
1979 7,375,266 3,207,499
1978 7,229,651 3,145,517
1977 7,090,979 3,085,354
1976 6,960,979 3,028,820
1975 6,837,261 2,974,657
1974 6,715,436 2,920,459
1973 6,597,106 2,866,955
1972 6,483,726 2,814,388
1971 6,377,944 2,763,222
1970 6,276,472 2,712,286
1969 6,177,704 2,661,365
1968 6,082,979 2,611,532
1967 5,990,906 2,562,384
1966 5,902,204 2,514,638
1965 5,815,487 2,468,666
1964 5,730,125 2,424,390
1963 5,646,605 2,382,258
1962 5,563,917 2,342,242
1961 5,482,283 2,304,227
1960 5,402,550 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali Sierra Leone
2100 0.4% -0.09%
2099 0.43% -0.08%
2098 0.44% -0.09%
2097 0.46% -0.07%
2096 0.49% -0.05%
2095 0.52% 0.002%
2094 0.54% -0.03%
2093 0.56% 0.02%
2092 0.59% 0.04%
2091 0.62% 0.06%
2090 0.65% 0.07%
2089 0.68% 0.09%
2088 0.71% 0.1%
2087 0.73% 0.17%
2086 0.76% 0.13%
2085 0.79% 0.15%
2084 0.83% 0.21%
2083 0.85% 0.23%
2082 0.89% 0.25%
2081 0.91% 0.24%
2080 0.95% 0.26%
2079 0.98% 0.31%
2078 1.01% 0.32%
2077 1.03% 0.35%
2076 1.06% 0.38%
2075 1.1% 0.35%
2074 1.14% 0.44%
2073 1.17% 0.45%
2072 1.21% 0.47%
2071 1.23% 0.51%
2070 1.27% 0.53%
2069 1.3% 0.59%
2068 1.33% 0.64%
2067 1.36% 0.65%
2066 1.38% 0.66%
2065 1.42% 0.66%
2064 1.46% 0.67%
2063 1.49% 0.77%
2062 1.52% 0.73%
2061 1.56% 0.79%
2060 1.59% 0.79%
2059 1.62% 0.84%
2058 1.66% 0.86%
2057 1.69% 0.9%
2056 1.73% 0.95%
2055 1.76% 0.93%
2054 1.8% 1.01%
2053 1.84% 1.06%
2052 1.88% 1.12%
2051 1.92% 1.12%
2050 1.94% 1.11%
2049 1.99% 1.19%
2048 2.03% 1.16%
2047 2.08% 1.26%
2046 2.12% 1.28%
2045 2.17% 1.37%
2044 2.21% 1.35%
2043 2.26% 1.37%
2042 2.29% 1.44%
2041 2.35% 1.5%
2040 2.38% 1.5%
2039 2.46% 1.47%
2038 2.49% 1.54%
2037 2.55% 1.59%
2036 2.58% 1.65%
2035 2.63% 1.65%
2034 2.67% 1.69%
2033 2.71% 1.78%
2032 2.76% 1.81%
2031 2.77% 1.81%
2030 2.81% 1.85%
2029 2.84% 1.83%
2028 2.87% 1.97%
2027 2.89% 1.98%
2026 2.93% 2.03%
2025 2.94% 2.06%
2024 2.98% 2.15%
2023 3.02% 2.22%
2022 3.06% 2.25%
2021 3.11% 2.3%
2020 3.06% 2.34%
2019 3.06% 2.35%
2018 3.17% 2.38%
2017 3.24% 2.41%
2016 3.22% 2.38%
2015 3.18% 2.35%
2014 3.21% 2.42%
2013 2.96% 2.49%
2012 2.96% 2.56%
2011 3.29% 2.64%
2010 3.3% 2.76%
2009 3.31% 2.73%
2008 3.34% 2.53%
2007 3.34% 2.22%
2006 3.33% 2.23%
2005 3.33% 2.73%
2004 3.29% 3.44%
2003 3.23% 4.15%
2002 3.16% 5.94%
2001 3.05% 6.08%
2000 2.96% 2.44%
1999 2.82% 0.52%
1998 2.56% 0.99%
1997 2.3% 1.3%
1996 2.18% 0.48%
1995 2.19% 0.15%
1994 2.18% 0.38%
1993 2.11% -0.22%
1992 2.04% -1.88%
1991 2.01% 1.18%
1990 1.99% 4.04%
1989 1.88% 2.53%
1988 1.76% 2.74%
1987 1.76% 2.72%
1986 1.87% 2.47%
1985 2.02% 2.24%
1984 2.17% 2.21%
1983 2.22% 2.16%
1982 2.18% 2.07%
1981 2.15% 2.04%
1980 2.1% 2.01%
1979 2.01% 1.97%
1978 1.96% 1.95%
1977 1.87% 1.87%
1976 1.81% 1.82%
1975 1.81% 1.86%
1974 1.79% 1.87%
1973 1.75% 1.87%
1972 1.66% 1.85%
1971 1.62% 1.88%
1970 1.6% 1.91%
1969 1.56% 1.91%
1968 1.54% 1.92%
1967 1.5% 1.9%
1966 1.49% 1.86%
1965 1.49% 1.83%
1964 1.48% 1.77%
1963 1.49% 1.71%
1962 1.49% 1.65%
1961 1.48% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mali grew by 2.94%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Mali Sierra Leone
Current population
26322576
9090531
Population rank 58/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.11%
One net population change
43.9 seconds
2.96 minutes
One birth every
32.6 seconds
2.02 minutes
One death every
2.52 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,973 +487
Annual growth/decline +720,226 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +2.94% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 14/197 47/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -48,019 -11,309
Net migration rank 173/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - -11,309
2024 759,375 -46,880 189,234 -11,000
2023 746,398 -39,953 188,788 -4,000
2022 726,465 -39,951 186,625 -4,000
2021 703,674 -22,210 183,326 -1,544
2020 683,053 -14,962 181,015 1,292
2019 667,110 -44,373 181,068 -2,238
2018 670,723 -40,710 178,772 -2,741
2017 661,973 -33,942 173,259 1,234
2016 645,652 -30,251 168,784 4,657
2015 630,006 -48,872 162,275 -356
2014 614,419 -50,068 160,137 485
2013 597,887 -40,951 161,265 2,773
2012 588,748 -140,507 160,915 988
2011 570,899 -43,160 158,858 6,895
2010 554,447 -34,483 155,338 7,983
2009 533,730 -34,383 152,669 18,145
2008 514,665 -24,509 149,855 1,182
2007 495,800 -19,945 145,740 -6,042
2006 477,665 -18,247 144,127 -34,052
2005 460,964 -17,413 137,234 -1,805
2004 439,717 -10,796 132,661 23,897
2003 417,766 -11,768 130,312 69,185
2002 396,732 -8,914 126,429 86,578
2001 376,472 -12,507 116,647 227,791
2000 359,159 -17,395 110,754 83,013
1999 343,705 -21,702 102,295 -84,926
1998 323,940 -30,255 103,906 -76,766
1997 308,429 -55,978 105,433 -48,437
1996 293,953 -67,974 104,140 -52,110
1995 285,598 -67,763 100,885 -112,857
1994 282,356 -63,533 101,486 -77,371
1993 274,480 -68,816 103,317 -95,476
1992 267,605 -70,789 103,251 -129,565
1991 261,656 -77,172 105,477 -238,965
1990 252,308 -68,668 100,778 131,587
1989 249,929 -75,771 98,298 -5,079
1988 245,682 -87,952 96,344 9,470
1987 238,871 -90,940 94,235 9,558
1986 233,799 -81,970 90,902 7,992
1985 224,734 -63,347 88,869 -7,873
1984 218,078 -47,331 87,072 -8,708
1983 211,795 -34,132 84,628 -8,783
1982 204,892 -34,140 82,457 -11,379
1981 198,227 -34,130 80,111 -12,699
1980 190,560 -30,156 77,932 -11,641
1979 182,449 -32,353 75,992 -13,095
1978 172,652 -31,520 74,130 -13,073
1977 165,071 -28,853 71,663 -12,399
1976 157,778 -33,999 69,506 -15,686
1975 150,222 -26,572 67,560 -13,058
1974 142,448 -22,449 65,357 -11,473
1973 135,801 -19,137 62,443 -9,322
1972 129,687 -19,594 60,279 -8,267
1971 123,591 -22,127 58,484 -8,162
1970 118,952 -17,479 56,513 -4,957
1969 114,361 -18,302 54,768 -4,485
1968 111,403 -18,015 53,126 -3,743
1967 107,650 -16,900 51,734 -2,819
1966 103,684 -17,032 49,486 -2,911
1965 100,451 -13,662 47,223 -1,851
1964 97,166 -13,226 45,487 -2,308
1963 95,055 -11,951 43,569 -2,480
1962 93,101 -10,821 41,603 -2,658
1961 91,115 -10,139 40,022 -2,947
1960 88,802 -10,314 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/mali/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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