Skip to content

Population in Mali compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 24,478,595 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,143,152 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 1.18 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.12% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.1M (86.9% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Mali vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Sri Lanka
2100 80,371,693 20,270,496
2099 80,051,982 20,383,669
2098 79,712,985 20,498,567
2097 79,363,373 20,611,123
2096 78,996,636 20,723,560
2095 78,611,169 20,834,629
2094 78,201,275 20,943,809
2093 77,780,277 21,052,131
2092 77,346,576 21,158,833
2091 76,892,849 21,263,961
2090 76,418,075 21,371,263
2089 75,924,551 21,475,426
2088 75,413,374 21,577,177
2087 74,882,872 21,677,510
2086 74,339,859 21,777,420
2085 73,778,163 21,876,464
2084 73,197,940 21,970,336
2083 72,596,727 22,062,801
2082 71,983,705 22,151,745
2081 71,348,537 22,240,834
2080 70,707,220 22,326,555
2079 70,044,626 22,411,438
2078 69,367,218 22,489,772
2077 68,675,750 22,565,028
2076 67,972,574 22,637,463
2075 67,256,565 22,707,112
2074 66,523,454 22,778,489
2073 65,776,035 22,844,703
2072 65,016,928 22,905,707
2071 64,239,726 22,964,866
2070 63,457,636 23,022,515
2069 62,664,074 23,076,310
2068 61,857,029 23,129,541
2067 61,042,577 23,184,596
2066 60,222,511 23,234,419
2065 59,400,594 23,285,901
2064 58,567,263 23,331,390
2063 57,727,308 23,372,184
2062 56,880,111 23,409,522
2061 56,026,848 23,441,893
2060 55,166,339 23,474,032
2059 54,304,533 23,502,132
2058 53,437,711 23,528,076
2057 52,565,517 23,550,580
2056 51,691,907 23,570,923
2055 50,813,138 23,582,432
2054 49,936,085 23,591,414
2053 49,053,898 23,601,371
2052 48,167,179 23,605,361
2051 47,280,403 23,606,194
2050 46,390,999 23,603,330
2049 45,505,968 23,597,604
2048 44,617,075 23,587,307
2047 43,730,396 23,570,881
2046 42,840,806 23,547,409
2045 41,951,176 23,515,133
2044 41,061,960 23,483,546
2043 40,172,937 23,446,242
2042 39,286,024 23,404,983
2041 38,406,403 23,357,358
2040 37,525,963 23,306,148
2039 36,652,557 23,248,341
2038 35,772,629 23,187,512
2037 34,902,845 23,120,775
2036 34,036,236 23,053,427
2035 33,178,665 22,981,808
2034 32,328,037 22,906,587
2033 31,486,276 22,826,414
2032 30,655,886 22,742,267
2031 29,833,522 22,655,907
2030 29,028,860 22,564,038
2029 28,235,559 22,470,759
2028 27,456,170 22,370,999
2027 26,690,187 22,266,017
2026 25,940,320 22,155,543
2025 25,201,616 22,039,908
2024 24,478,595 21,916,000
2023 23,769,127 22,037,000
2022 23,072,640 22,181,000
2021 22,388,630 22,156,000
2020 21,713,836 21,919,000
2019 21,068,405 21,803,000
2018 20,442,030 21,670,000
2017 19,813,011 21,453,000
2016 19,191,289 21,209,000
2015 18,593,022 20,970,000
2014 18,020,267 20,778,000
2013 17,459,615 20,585,000
2012 16,957,033 21,169,458
2011 16,469,049 21,009,048
2010 15,945,198 20,879,089
2009 15,435,539 20,756,435
2008 14,940,782 20,629,378
2007 14,457,775 20,492,545
2006 13,990,139 20,352,411
2005 13,538,647 20,216,524
2004 13,102,409 20,087,605
2003 12,684,955 19,951,521
2002 12,288,050 19,805,752
2001 11,912,158 19,600,362
2000 11,559,290 19,293,054
1999 11,227,415 18,944,731
1998 10,919,573 18,596,003
1997 10,646,495 18,248,200
1996 10,407,278 17,905,018
1995 10,185,365 17,564,068
1994 9,967,031 17,275,773
1993 9,754,786 17,025,918
1992 9,553,540 16,739,284
1991 9,362,888 16,475,354
1990 9,178,830 16,352,458
1989 8,999,938 16,248,557
1988 8,833,996 16,078,621
1987 8,681,164 15,916,576
1986 8,531,277 15,731,256
1985 8,374,663 15,544,154
1984 8,208,599 15,441,860
1983 8,034,400 15,388,794
1982 7,860,194 15,286,567
1981 7,692,766 15,099,414
1980 7,530,515 14,847,974
1979 7,375,266 14,579,614
1978 7,229,651 14,310,128
1977 7,090,979 14,049,371
1976 6,960,979 13,796,770
1975 6,837,261 13,548,984
1974 6,715,436 13,305,693
1973 6,597,106 13,060,916
1972 6,483,726 12,809,205
1971 6,377,944 12,551,910
1970 6,276,472 12,287,110
1969 6,177,704 12,013,858
1968 6,082,979 11,736,088
1967 5,990,906 11,457,328
1966 5,902,204 11,183,928
1965 5,815,487 10,916,965
1964 5,730,125 10,653,397
1963 5,646,605 10,395,040
1962 5,563,917 10,143,754
1961 5,482,283 9,899,372
1960 5,402,550 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali Sri Lanka
2100 0.4% -0.56%
2099 0.43% -0.56%
2098 0.44% -0.55%
2097 0.46% -0.54%
2096 0.49% -0.53%
2095 0.52% -0.52%
2094 0.54% -0.51%
2093 0.56% -0.5%
2092 0.59% -0.49%
2091 0.62% -0.5%
2090 0.65% -0.49%
2089 0.68% -0.47%
2088 0.71% -0.46%
2087 0.73% -0.46%
2086 0.76% -0.45%
2085 0.79% -0.43%
2084 0.83% -0.42%
2083 0.85% -0.4%
2082 0.89% -0.4%
2081 0.91% -0.38%
2080 0.95% -0.38%
2079 0.98% -0.35%
2078 1.01% -0.33%
2077 1.03% -0.32%
2076 1.06% -0.31%
2075 1.1% -0.31%
2074 1.14% -0.29%
2073 1.17% -0.27%
2072 1.21% -0.26%
2071 1.23% -0.25%
2070 1.27% -0.23%
2069 1.3% -0.23%
2068 1.33% -0.24%
2067 1.36% -0.21%
2066 1.38% -0.22%
2065 1.42% -0.19%
2064 1.46% -0.17%
2063 1.49% -0.16%
2062 1.52% -0.14%
2061 1.56% -0.14%
2060 1.59% -0.12%
2059 1.62% -0.11%
2058 1.66% -0.1%
2057 1.69% -0.09%
2056 1.73% -0.05%
2055 1.76% -0.04%
2054 1.8% -0.04%
2053 1.84% -0.02%
2052 1.88% -0.004%
2051 1.92% 0.01%
2050 1.94% 0.02%
2049 1.99% 0.04%
2048 2.03% 0.07%
2047 2.08% 0.1%
2046 2.12% 0.14%
2045 2.17% 0.13%
2044 2.21% 0.16%
2043 2.26% 0.18%
2042 2.29% 0.2%
2041 2.35% 0.22%
2040 2.38% 0.25%
2039 2.46% 0.26%
2038 2.49% 0.29%
2037 2.55% 0.29%
2036 2.58% 0.31%
2035 2.63% 0.33%
2034 2.67% 0.35%
2033 2.71% 0.37%
2032 2.76% 0.38%
2031 2.77% 0.41%
2030 2.81% 0.42%
2029 2.84% 0.45%
2028 2.87% 0.47%
2027 2.89% 0.5%
2026 2.93% 0.52%
2025 2.95% 0.57%
2024 2.98% -0.55%
2023 3.02% -0.65%
2022 3.06% 0.11%
2021 3.11% 1.08%
2020 3.06% 0.53%
2019 3.06% 0.61%
2018 3.17% 1.01%
2017 3.24% 1.15%
2016 3.22% 1.14%
2015 3.18% 0.92%
2014 3.21% 0.94%
2013 2.96% -2.76%
2012 2.96% 0.76%
2011 3.29% 0.62%
2010 3.3% 0.59%
2009 3.31% 0.62%
2008 3.34% 0.67%
2007 3.34% 0.69%
2006 3.33% 0.67%
2005 3.33% 0.64%
2004 3.29% 0.68%
2003 3.23% 0.74%
2002 3.16% 1.05%
2001 3.05% 1.59%
2000 2.96% 1.84%
1999 2.82% 1.88%
1998 2.56% 1.91%
1997 2.3% 1.92%
1996 2.18% 1.94%
1995 2.19% 1.67%
1994 2.18% 1.47%
1993 2.11% 1.71%
1992 2.04% 1.6%
1991 2.01% 0.75%
1990 1.99% 0.64%
1989 1.88% 1.06%
1988 1.76% 1.02%
1987 1.76% 1.18%
1986 1.87% 1.2%
1985 2.02% 0.66%
1984 2.17% 0.34%
1983 2.22% 0.67%
1982 2.18% 1.24%
1981 2.15% 1.69%
1980 2.1% 1.84%
1979 2.01% 1.88%
1978 1.96% 1.86%
1977 1.87% 1.83%
1976 1.81% 1.83%
1975 1.81% 1.83%
1974 1.79% 1.87%
1973 1.75% 1.97%
1972 1.66% 2.05%
1971 1.62% 2.16%
1970 1.6% 2.27%
1969 1.56% 2.37%
1968 1.54% 2.43%
1967 1.5% 2.44%
1966 1.49% 2.45%
1965 1.49% 2.47%
1964 1.48% 2.49%
1963 1.49% 2.48%
1962 1.49% 2.47%
1961 1.48% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mali grew by 2.98%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Mali Sri Lanka
Current population
26143152
22185425
Population rank 58/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.27%
One net population change
44.5 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
33.1 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.56 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,944 -332
Annual growth/decline +709,468 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.98% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 15/197 188/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -48,019 -30,724
Net migration rank 173/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - -30,724
2024 - -46,880 - -27,245
2023 746,398 -39,953 66,111 -28,011
2022 726,465 -39,951 95,378 -27,435
2021 703,674 -22,210 121,858 -29,586
2020 683,053 -14,962 170,968 -29,875
2019 667,110 -44,373 172,243 -28,426
2018 670,723 -40,710 183,610 -28,607
2017 661,973 -33,942 187,993 -22,324
2016 645,652 -30,251 194,232 -18,388
2015 630,006 -48,872 201,815 -29,797
2014 614,419 -50,068 211,541 -33,672
2013 597,887 -40,951 221,021 -37,754
2012 588,748 -140,507 229,138 -41,955
2011 570,899 -43,160 224,461 -90,839
2010 554,447 -34,483 224,325 -98,060
2009 533,730 -34,383 200,175 -81,130
2008 514,665 -24,509 232,225 -97,144
2007 495,800 -19,945 248,287 -109,695
2006 477,665 -18,247 248,706 -107,045
2005 460,964 -17,413 248,683 -118,594
2004 439,717 -10,796 212,527 -84,795
2003 417,766 -11,768 252,008 -107,573
2002 396,732 -8,914 252,840 -105,718
2001 376,472 -12,507 244,377 19,273
2000 359,159 -17,395 227,060 123,894
1999 343,705 -21,702 206,876 138,799
1998 323,940 -30,255 201,059 150,724
1997 308,429 -55,978 208,193 135,636
1996 293,953 -67,974 215,290 127,236
1995 285,598 -67,763 221,957 117,416
1994 282,356 -63,533 228,904 8,323
1993 274,480 -68,816 226,257 36,232
1992 267,605 -70,789 222,230 88,542
1991 261,656 -77,172 218,117 -1,047
1990 252,308 -68,668 224,454 -195,736
1989 249,929 -75,771 212,401 -33,305
1988 245,682 -87,952 219,184 -58,415
1987 238,871 -90,940 226,414 -63,105
1986 233,799 -81,970 233,782 -26,460
1985 224,734 -63,347 247,836 -80,950
1984 218,078 -47,331 263,175 -225,450
1983 211,795 -34,132 277,768 -209,362
1982 204,892 -34,140 300,030 -163,987
1981 198,227 -34,130 328,096 -89,824
1980 190,560 -30,156 328,155 -63,541
1979 182,449 -32,353 329,791 -57,683
1978 172,652 -31,520 317,055 -50,189
1977 165,071 -28,853 300,038 -45,383
1976 157,778 -33,999 291,816 -41,258
1975 150,222 -26,572 282,496 -37,475
1974 142,448 -22,449 275,521 -33,979
1973 135,801 -19,137 278,577 -30,582
1972 129,687 -19,594 282,494 -27,071
1971 123,591 -22,127 281,200 -22,021
1970 118,952 -17,479 286,719 -16,299
1969 114,361 -18,302 286,218 -10,152
1968 111,403 -18,015 286,642 -7,163
1967 107,650 -16,900 284,738 -6,696
1966 103,684 -17,032 275,549 -6,794
1965 100,451 -13,662 272,422 -7,249
1964 97,166 -13,226 269,584 -7,614
1963 95,055 -11,951 262,880 -8,118
1962 93,101 -10,821 256,719 -8,909
1961 91,115 -10,139 251,087 -10,144
1960 88,802 -10,314 247,631 -12,610

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/mali/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.