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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 25,198,821 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,322,576 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 2.09 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.3M (88.2% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Mali vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali South Sudan
2100 80,362,778 24,078,379
2099 80,043,103 24,072,957
2098 79,704,143 24,054,947
2097 79,354,569 24,056,753
2096 78,987,874 24,045,972
2095 78,602,449 24,037,837
2094 78,192,601 24,039,267
2093 77,771,649 24,030,512
2092 77,337,997 24,010,555
2091 76,884,320 23,991,816
2090 76,409,599 23,970,012
2089 75,916,129 23,929,017
2088 75,405,009 23,883,712
2087 74,874,565 23,848,809
2086 74,331,613 23,794,890
2085 73,769,979 23,750,772
2084 73,189,821 23,678,728
2083 72,588,675 23,609,290
2082 71,975,720 23,532,790
2081 71,340,622 23,458,146
2080 70,699,377 23,383,482
2079 70,036,857 23,286,011
2078 69,359,523 23,188,860
2077 68,668,133 23,078,416
2076 67,965,034 22,979,198
2075 67,249,105 22,860,496
2074 66,516,075 22,718,148
2073 65,768,739 22,575,682
2072 65,009,716 22,431,004
2071 64,232,600 22,280,140
2070 63,450,597 22,143,813
2069 62,657,123 21,995,874
2068 61,850,168 21,822,076
2067 61,035,806 21,654,546
2066 60,215,831 21,489,275
2065 59,394,005 21,309,913
2064 58,560,766 21,134,522
2063 57,720,905 20,957,705
2062 56,873,801 20,777,701
2061 56,020,633 20,601,672
2060 55,160,220 20,423,629
2059 54,298,509 20,227,862
2058 53,431,783 20,041,880
2057 52,559,686 19,846,671
2056 51,686,173 19,652,407
2055 50,807,502 19,457,411
2054 49,930,546 19,250,667
2053 49,048,457 19,053,773
2052 48,161,836 18,833,795
2051 47,275,159 18,626,605
2050 46,385,854 18,427,690
2049 45,500,920 18,224,430
2048 44,612,126 18,014,650
2047 43,725,546 17,799,982
2046 42,836,054 17,572,953
2045 41,946,522 17,348,901
2044 41,057,406 17,115,914
2043 40,168,481 16,882,303
2042 39,281,666 16,639,465
2041 38,402,142 16,390,966
2040 37,521,801 16,137,104
2039 36,648,491 15,884,330
2038 35,768,661 15,622,514
2037 34,898,973 15,358,539
2036 34,032,460 15,085,936
2035 33,174,985 14,810,066
2034 32,324,451 14,538,365
2033 31,482,783 14,273,128
2032 30,652,485 14,002,178
2031 29,830,213 13,725,779
2030 29,025,640 13,460,850
2029 28,232,427 13,201,804
2028 27,453,124 12,942,501
2027 26,687,226 12,688,278
2026 25,937,442 12,434,895
2025 25,198,821 12,188,788
2024 24,478,595 11,943,408
2023 23,769,127 11,483,374
2022 23,072,640 11,021,177
2021 22,388,630 10,865,780
2020 21,713,836 10,698,467
2019 21,068,405 10,423,384
2018 20,442,030 10,122,977
2017 19,813,011 10,259,154
2016 19,191,289 10,830,102
2015 18,593,022 11,107,561
2014 18,020,267 11,235,073
2013 17,459,615 11,166,275
2012 16,957,033 10,756,240
2011 16,469,049 10,288,109
2010 15,945,198 9,745,953
2009 15,435,539 9,243,556
2008 14,940,782 8,817,647
2007 14,457,775 8,388,788
2006 13,990,139 7,976,526
2005 13,538,647 7,590,143
2004 13,102,409 7,233,041
2003 12,684,955 6,903,127
2002 12,288,050 6,596,806
2001 11,912,158 6,308,391
2000 11,559,290 6,032,267
1999 11,227,415 5,771,628
1998 10,919,573 5,620,068
1997 10,646,495 5,509,136
1996 10,407,278 5,356,925
1995 10,185,365 5,225,836
1994 9,967,031 5,071,184
1993 9,754,786 4,956,002
1992 9,553,540 4,909,749
1991 9,362,888 4,836,677
1990 9,178,830 4,737,633
1989 8,999,938 4,713,229
1988 8,833,996 4,848,029
1987 8,681,164 4,962,395
1986 8,531,277 4,921,240
1985 8,374,663 4,834,296
1984 8,208,599 4,750,627
1983 8,034,400 4,661,574
1982 7,860,194 4,557,686
1981 7,692,766 4,447,272
1980 7,530,515 4,339,030
1979 7,375,266 4,232,605
1978 7,229,651 4,127,657
1977 7,090,979 4,024,032
1976 6,960,979 3,921,910
1975 6,837,261 3,821,494
1974 6,715,436 3,723,259
1973 6,597,106 3,627,383
1972 6,483,726 3,542,497
1971 6,377,944 3,468,646
1970 6,276,472 3,409,614
1969 6,177,704 3,365,533
1968 6,082,979 3,321,528
1967 5,990,906 3,277,648
1966 5,902,204 3,236,423
1965 5,815,487 3,189,835
1964 5,730,125 3,129,918
1963 5,646,605 3,072,669
1962 5,563,917 3,024,308
1961 5,482,283 2,976,724
1960 5,402,550 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali South Sudan
2100 0.4% 0.02%
2099 0.43% 0.07%
2098 0.44% -0.008%
2097 0.46% 0.04%
2096 0.49% 0.03%
2095 0.52% -0.006%
2094 0.54% 0.04%
2093 0.56% 0.08%
2092 0.59% 0.08%
2091 0.62% 0.09%
2090 0.65% 0.17%
2089 0.68% 0.19%
2088 0.71% 0.15%
2087 0.73% 0.23%
2086 0.76% 0.19%
2085 0.79% 0.3%
2084 0.83% 0.29%
2083 0.85% 0.33%
2082 0.89% 0.32%
2081 0.91% 0.32%
2080 0.95% 0.42%
2079 0.98% 0.42%
2078 1.01% 0.48%
2077 1.03% 0.43%
2076 1.06% 0.52%
2075 1.1% 0.63%
2074 1.14% 0.63%
2073 1.17% 0.64%
2072 1.21% 0.68%
2071 1.23% 0.62%
2070 1.27% 0.67%
2069 1.3% 0.8%
2068 1.33% 0.77%
2067 1.36% 0.77%
2066 1.38% 0.84%
2065 1.42% 0.83%
2064 1.46% 0.84%
2063 1.49% 0.87%
2062 1.52% 0.85%
2061 1.56% 0.87%
2060 1.59% 0.97%
2059 1.62% 0.93%
2058 1.66% 0.98%
2057 1.69% 0.99%
2056 1.73% 1%
2055 1.76% 1.07%
2054 1.8% 1.03%
2053 1.84% 1.17%
2052 1.88% 1.11%
2051 1.92% 1.08%
2050 1.94% 1.12%
2049 1.99% 1.16%
2048 2.03% 1.21%
2047 2.08% 1.29%
2046 2.12% 1.29%
2045 2.17% 1.36%
2044 2.21% 1.38%
2043 2.26% 1.46%
2042 2.29% 1.52%
2041 2.35% 1.57%
2040 2.38% 1.59%
2039 2.46% 1.68%
2038 2.49% 1.72%
2037 2.55% 1.81%
2036 2.58% 1.86%
2035 2.63% 1.87%
2034 2.67% 1.86%
2033 2.71% 1.94%
2032 2.76% 2.01%
2031 2.77% 1.97%
2030 2.81% 1.96%
2029 2.84% 2%
2028 2.87% 2%
2027 2.89% 2.04%
2026 2.93% 2.02%
2025 2.94% 2.05%
2024 2.98% 4.01%
2023 3.02% 4.19%
2022 3.06% 1.43%
2021 3.11% 1.56%
2020 3.06% 2.64%
2019 3.06% 2.97%
2018 3.17% -1.33%
2017 3.24% -5.27%
2016 3.22% -2.5%
2015 3.18% -1.13%
2014 3.21% 0.62%
2013 2.96% 3.81%
2012 2.96% 4.55%
2011 3.29% 5.56%
2010 3.3% 5.44%
2009 3.31% 4.83%
2008 3.34% 5.11%
2007 3.34% 5.17%
2006 3.33% 5.09%
2005 3.33% 4.94%
2004 3.29% 4.78%
2003 3.23% 4.64%
2002 3.16% 4.57%
2001 3.05% 4.58%
2000 2.96% 4.52%
1999 2.82% 2.7%
1998 2.56% 2.01%
1997 2.3% 2.84%
1996 2.18% 2.51%
1995 2.19% 3.05%
1994 2.18% 2.32%
1993 2.11% 0.94%
1992 2.04% 1.51%
1991 2.01% 2.09%
1990 1.99% 0.52%
1989 1.88% -2.78%
1988 1.76% -2.3%
1987 1.76% 0.84%
1986 1.87% 1.8%
1985 2.02% 1.76%
1984 2.17% 1.91%
1983 2.22% 2.28%
1982 2.18% 2.48%
1981 2.15% 2.49%
1980 2.1% 2.51%
1979 2.01% 2.54%
1978 1.96% 2.58%
1977 1.87% 2.6%
1976 1.81% 2.63%
1975 1.81% 2.64%
1974 1.79% 2.64%
1973 1.75% 2.4%
1972 1.66% 2.13%
1971 1.62% 1.73%
1970 1.6% 1.31%
1969 1.56% 1.32%
1968 1.54% 1.34%
1967 1.5% 1.27%
1966 1.49% 1.46%
1965 1.49% 1.91%
1964 1.48% 1.86%
1963 1.49% 1.6%
1962 1.49% 1.6%
1961 1.48% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mali grew by 2.94%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Mali South Sudan
Current population
26322576
12565048
Population rank 58/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.15%
One net population change
43.9 seconds
2.15 minutes
One birth every
32.6 seconds
1.51 minutes
One death every
2.52 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,973 +672
Annual growth/decline +720,226 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.94% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 14/197 48/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -48,019 +6,145
Net migration rank 173/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - 6,145
2024 759,375 -46,880 231,714 15,374
2023 746,398 -39,953 217,966 455,000
2022 726,465 -39,951 211,166 40,259
2021 703,674 -22,210 213,567 -154,359
2020 683,053 -14,962 212,332 62,935
2019 667,110 -44,373 209,708 65,198
2018 670,723 -40,710 168,497 157,408
2017 661,973 -33,942 72,193 -670,477
2016 645,652 -30,251 110,553 -654,225
2015 630,006 -48,872 148,542 -159,822
2014 614,419 -50,068 227,611 -471,523
2013 597,887 -40,951 315,983 65,337
2012 588,748 -140,507 312,974 125,771
2011 570,899 -43,160 303,181 194,325
2010 554,447 -34,483 287,409 299,402
2009 533,730 -34,383 278,859 139,129
2008 514,665 -24,509 268,268 165,557
2007 495,800 -19,945 256,546 167,350
2006 477,665 -18,247 246,706 153,926
2005 460,964 -17,413 239,272 132,869
2004 439,717 -10,796 231,877 110,182
2003 417,766 -11,768 225,822 91,951
2002 396,732 -8,914 212,014 82,847
2001 376,472 -12,507 204,108 77,856
2000 359,159 -17,395 196,055 74,227
1999 343,705 -21,702 180,721 70,271
1998 323,940 -30,255 -12,157 64,285
1997 308,429 -55,978 121,454 48,280
1996 293,953 -67,974 116,728 17,953
1995 285,598 -67,763 110,417 17,077
1994 282,356 -63,533 165,407 16,407
1993 274,480 -68,816 32,779 15,772
1992 267,605 -70,789 28,874 15,077
1991 261,656 -77,172 87,873 14,327
1990 252,308 -68,668 82,900 12,988
1989 249,929 -75,771 83,735 -130,821
1988 245,682 -87,952 -125,447 -97,065
1987 238,871 -90,940 5,756 -11,976
1986 233,799 -81,970 99,502 -10,973
1985 224,734 -63,347 95,342 -9,986
1984 218,078 -47,331 90,970 -8,984
1983 211,795 -34,132 104,107 -7,986
1982 204,892 -34,140 118,641 -6,983
1981 198,227 -34,130 115,163 -5,994
1980 190,560 -30,156 112,307 -4,997
1979 182,449 -32,353 109,540 -3,997
1978 172,652 -31,520 107,352 -2,998
1977 165,071 -28,853 104,886 -1,997
1976 157,778 -33,999 102,346 -995
1975 150,222 -26,572 99,882 -395
1974 142,448 -22,449 97,181 -192
1973 135,801 -19,137 94,765 0
1972 129,687 -19,594 74,803 193
1971 123,591 -22,127 72,308 394
1970 118,952 -17,479 44,776 587
1969 114,361 -18,302 42,015 786
1968 111,403 -18,015 44,213 995
1967 107,650 -16,900 41,357 1,194
1966 103,684 -17,032 38,523 1,386
1965 100,451 -13,662 51,682 1,591
1964 97,166 -13,226 64,786 1,785
1963 95,055 -11,951 46,333 1,591
1962 93,101 -10,821 47,406 1,386
1961 91,115 -10,139 45,186 1,194
1960 88,802 -10,314 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/mali/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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