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Population in Mali compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 25,198,821 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,322,576 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.5 times bigger than Mali's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.11% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.3M (88.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Mali vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali South Africa
2100 80,362,778 94,734,082
2099 80,043,103 94,523,360
2098 79,704,143 94,316,049
2097 79,354,569 94,125,043
2096 78,987,874 93,927,246
2095 78,602,449 93,719,451
2094 78,192,601 93,494,697
2093 77,771,649 93,267,274
2092 77,337,997 93,041,793
2091 76,884,320 92,793,249
2090 76,409,599 92,561,159
2089 75,916,129 92,322,396
2088 75,405,009 92,080,212
2087 74,874,565 91,833,409
2086 74,331,613 91,581,639
2085 73,769,979 91,352,906
2084 73,189,821 91,106,961
2083 72,588,675 90,845,161
2082 71,975,720 90,583,188
2081 71,340,622 90,313,417
2080 70,699,377 90,039,857
2079 70,036,857 89,770,116
2078 69,359,523 89,494,440
2077 68,668,133 89,217,520
2076 67,965,034 88,954,522
2075 67,249,105 88,681,719
2074 66,516,075 88,397,221
2073 65,768,739 88,118,589
2072 65,009,716 87,835,051
2071 64,232,600 87,509,098
2070 63,450,597 87,178,463
2069 62,657,123 86,870,660
2068 61,850,168 86,558,000
2067 61,035,806 86,237,764
2066 60,215,831 85,904,801
2065 59,394,005 85,573,984
2064 58,560,766 85,214,686
2063 57,720,905 84,845,370
2062 56,873,801 84,473,236
2061 56,020,633 84,103,016
2060 55,160,220 83,719,266
2059 54,298,509 83,325,330
2058 53,431,783 82,918,226
2057 52,559,686 82,508,742
2056 51,686,173 82,098,320
2055 50,807,502 81,669,191
2054 49,930,546 81,227,019
2053 49,048,457 80,789,939
2052 48,161,836 80,338,877
2051 47,275,159 79,858,310
2050 46,385,854 79,383,784
2049 45,500,920 78,897,472
2048 44,612,126 78,409,829
2047 43,725,546 77,894,547
2046 42,836,054 77,369,819
2045 41,946,522 76,852,544
2044 41,057,406 76,330,046
2043 40,168,481 75,800,788
2042 39,281,666 75,264,885
2041 38,402,142 74,721,871
2040 37,521,801 74,179,185
2039 36,648,491 73,636,894
2038 35,768,661 73,079,976
2037 34,898,973 72,506,991
2036 34,032,460 71,930,701
2035 33,174,985 71,337,219
2034 32,324,451 70,737,692
2033 31,482,783 70,128,299
2032 30,652,485 69,502,726
2031 29,830,213 68,865,544
2030 29,025,640 68,221,143
2029 28,232,427 67,549,189
2028 27,453,124 66,860,631
2027 26,687,226 66,166,759
2026 25,937,442 65,473,024
2025 25,198,821 64,747,319
2024 24,478,595 64,007,187
2023 23,769,127 63,212,384
2022 23,072,640 62,378,410
2021 22,388,630 61,502,603
2020 21,713,836 60,562,381
2019 21,068,405 59,587,885
2018 20,442,030 58,613,001
2017 19,813,011 57,635,162
2016 19,191,289 57,259,551
2015 18,593,022 56,723,537
2014 18,020,267 55,594,838
2013 17,459,615 54,678,791
2012 16,957,033 53,782,567
2011 16,469,049 52,995,205
2010 15,945,198 52,344,051
2009 15,435,539 51,728,516
2008 14,940,782 51,114,599
2007 14,457,775 50,528,584
2006 13,990,139 49,998,277
2005 13,538,647 49,490,033
2004 13,102,409 48,991,421
2003 12,684,955 48,500,348
2002 12,288,050 48,019,415
2001 11,912,158 47,566,800
2000 11,559,290 47,159,719
1999 11,227,415 46,730,335
1998 10,919,573 46,223,880
1997 10,646,495 45,666,838
1996 10,407,278 45,123,018
1995 10,185,365 44,541,554
1994 9,967,031 44,004,139
1993 9,754,786 43,297,156
1992 9,553,540 42,443,509
1991 9,362,888 41,687,898
1990 9,178,830 40,746,268
1989 8,999,938 39,628,575
1988 8,833,996 38,480,649
1987 8,681,164 37,326,190
1986 8,531,277 36,180,515
1985 8,374,663 35,042,093
1984 8,208,599 33,892,788
1983 8,034,400 32,739,304
1982 7,860,194 31,615,339
1981 7,692,766 30,541,044
1980 7,530,515 29,518,857
1979 7,375,266 28,634,162
1978 7,229,651 27,869,507
1977 7,090,979 27,118,952
1976 6,960,979 26,395,450
1975 6,837,261 25,690,940
1974 6,715,436 24,989,108
1973 6,597,106 24,294,263
1972 6,483,726 23,609,456
1971 6,377,944 22,942,143
1970 6,276,472 22,279,984
1969 6,177,704 21,614,676
1968 6,082,979 20,957,287
1967 5,990,906 20,314,066
1966 5,902,204 19,690,087
1965 5,815,487 19,089,380
1964 5,730,125 18,511,361
1963 5,646,605 17,954,564
1962 5,563,917 17,418,522
1961 5,482,283 16,908,035
1960 5,402,550 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali South Africa
2100 0.4% 0.22%
2099 0.43% 0.22%
2098 0.44% 0.2%
2097 0.46% 0.21%
2096 0.49% 0.22%
2095 0.52% 0.24%
2094 0.54% 0.24%
2093 0.56% 0.24%
2092 0.59% 0.27%
2091 0.62% 0.25%
2090 0.65% 0.26%
2089 0.68% 0.26%
2088 0.71% 0.27%
2087 0.73% 0.27%
2086 0.76% 0.25%
2085 0.79% 0.27%
2084 0.83% 0.29%
2083 0.85% 0.29%
2082 0.89% 0.3%
2081 0.91% 0.3%
2080 0.95% 0.3%
2079 0.98% 0.31%
2078 1.01% 0.31%
2077 1.03% 0.3%
2076 1.06% 0.31%
2075 1.1% 0.32%
2074 1.14% 0.32%
2073 1.17% 0.32%
2072 1.21% 0.37%
2071 1.23% 0.38%
2070 1.27% 0.35%
2069 1.3% 0.36%
2068 1.33% 0.37%
2067 1.36% 0.39%
2066 1.38% 0.39%
2065 1.42% 0.42%
2064 1.46% 0.44%
2063 1.49% 0.44%
2062 1.52% 0.44%
2061 1.56% 0.46%
2060 1.59% 0.47%
2059 1.62% 0.49%
2058 1.66% 0.5%
2057 1.69% 0.5%
2056 1.73% 0.53%
2055 1.76% 0.54%
2054 1.8% 0.54%
2053 1.84% 0.56%
2052 1.88% 0.6%
2051 1.92% 0.6%
2050 1.94% 0.62%
2049 1.99% 0.62%
2048 2.03% 0.66%
2047 2.08% 0.68%
2046 2.12% 0.67%
2045 2.17% 0.68%
2044 2.21% 0.7%
2043 2.26% 0.71%
2042 2.29% 0.73%
2041 2.35% 0.73%
2040 2.38% 0.74%
2039 2.46% 0.76%
2038 2.49% 0.79%
2037 2.55% 0.8%
2036 2.58% 0.83%
2035 2.63% 0.85%
2034 2.67% 0.87%
2033 2.71% 0.9%
2032 2.76% 0.93%
2031 2.77% 0.94%
2030 2.81% 0.99%
2029 2.84% 1.03%
2028 2.87% 1.05%
2027 2.89% 1.06%
2026 2.93% 1.12%
2025 2.94% 1.16%
2024 2.98% 1.26%
2023 3.02% 1.34%
2022 3.06% 1.42%
2021 3.11% 1.55%
2020 3.06% 1.64%
2019 3.06% 1.66%
2018 3.17% 1.7%
2017 3.24% 0.66%
2016 3.22% 0.94%
2015 3.18% 2.03%
2014 3.21% 1.68%
2013 2.96% 1.67%
2012 2.96% 1.49%
2011 3.29% 1.24%
2010 3.3% 1.19%
2009 3.31% 1.2%
2008 3.34% 1.16%
2007 3.34% 1.06%
2006 3.33% 1.03%
2005 3.33% 1.02%
2004 3.29% 1.01%
2003 3.23% 1%
2002 3.16% 0.95%
2001 3.05% 0.86%
2000 2.96% 0.92%
1999 2.82% 1.1%
1998 2.56% 1.22%
1997 2.3% 1.21%
1996 2.18% 1.31%
1995 2.19% 1.22%
1994 2.18% 1.63%
1993 2.11% 2.01%
1992 2.04% 1.81%
1991 2.01% 2.31%
1990 1.99% 2.82%
1989 1.88% 2.98%
1988 1.76% 3.09%
1987 1.76% 3.17%
1986 1.87% 3.25%
1985 2.02% 3.39%
1984 2.17% 3.52%
1983 2.22% 3.56%
1982 2.18% 3.52%
1981 2.15% 3.46%
1980 2.1% 3.09%
1979 2.01% 2.74%
1978 1.96% 2.77%
1977 1.87% 2.74%
1976 1.81% 2.74%
1975 1.81% 2.81%
1974 1.79% 2.86%
1973 1.75% 2.9%
1972 1.66% 2.91%
1971 1.62% 2.97%
1970 1.6% 3.08%
1969 1.56% 3.14%
1968 1.54% 3.17%
1967 1.5% 3.17%
1966 1.49% 3.15%
1965 1.49% 3.12%
1964 1.48% 3.1%
1963 1.49% 3.08%
1962 1.49% 3.02%
1961 1.48% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mali grew by 2.94%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Mali South Africa
Current population
26322576
65829368
Population rank 58/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.79%
One net population change
43.9 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
32.6 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.52 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,973 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +720,226 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +2.94% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 14/197 91/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -48,019 +146,370
Net migration rank 173/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - 146,370
2024 759,375 -46,880 591,618 166,972
2023 746,398 -39,953 602,793 228,222
2022 726,465 -39,951 603,636 233,284
2021 703,674 -22,210 456,411 458,246
2020 683,053 -14,962 595,873 369,901
2019 667,110 -44,373 652,130 331,124
2018 670,723 -40,710 648,319 318,260
2017 661,973 -33,942 645,975 343,146
2016 645,652 -30,251 641,365 -879,235
2015 630,006 -48,872 668,771 641,150
2014 614,419 -50,068 674,754 272,697
2013 597,887 -40,951 652,427 232,230
2012 588,748 -140,507 643,723 264,091
2011 570,899 -43,160 601,708 65,166
2010 554,447 -34,483 566,834 68,563
2009 533,730 -34,383 554,115 41,528
2008 514,665 -24,509 595,332 36,869
2007 495,800 -19,945 503,567 36,339
2006 477,665 -18,247 487,584 33,159
2005 460,964 -17,413 464,464 31,286
2004 439,717 -10,796 442,540 58,924
2003 417,766 -11,768 415,018 65,604
2002 396,732 -8,914 430,926 50,313
2001 376,472 -12,507 484,801 -60,793
2000 359,159 -17,395 526,963 -136,794
1999 343,705 -21,702 594,643 -126,011
1998 323,940 -30,255 627,027 -82,722
1997 308,429 -55,978 667,969 -98,181
1996 293,953 -67,974 710,868 -193,007
1995 285,598 -67,763 743,488 -98,403
1994 282,356 -63,533 698,609 -268,849
1993 274,480 -68,816 789,220 194,977
1992 267,605 -70,789 794,415 -71,342
1991 261,656 -77,172 827,296 -39,131
1990 252,308 -68,668 835,421 259,718
1989 249,929 -75,771 884,629 255,605
1988 245,682 -87,952 909,221 246,382
1987 238,871 -90,940 922,330 231,009
1986 233,799 -81,970 903,644 234,378
1985 224,734 -63,347 893,889 244,940
1984 218,078 -47,331 869,011 290,789
1983 211,795 -34,132 837,013 310,172
1982 204,892 -34,140 807,550 293,195
1981 198,227 -34,130 767,833 279,985
1980 190,560 -30,156 738,415 258,127
1979 182,449 -32,353 716,541 56,323
1978 172,652 -31,520 694,341 62,121
1977 165,071 -28,853 680,929 63,739
1976 157,778 -33,999 675,011 27,333
1975 150,222 -26,572 667,862 38,809
1974 142,448 -22,449 658,438 38,518
1973 135,801 -19,137 651,596 41,125
1972 129,687 -19,594 638,754 38,163
1971 123,591 -22,127 624,761 32,961
1970 118,952 -17,479 605,102 61,514
1969 114,361 -18,302 590,794 73,225
1968 111,403 -18,015 571,841 78,932
1967 107,650 -16,900 553,741 81,932
1966 103,684 -17,032 534,862 77,417
1965 100,451 -13,662 506,632 82,514
1964 97,166 -13,226 490,606 76,298
1963 95,055 -11,951 473,821 72,844
1962 93,101 -10,821 455,634 69,771
1961 91,115 -10,139 437,851 57,728
1960 88,802 -10,314 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/mali/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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