Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 25,198,821 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,322,576 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 1.2 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 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.3M (88.2% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Mali vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Sri Lanka
2100 80,362,778 20,009,380
2099 80,043,103 20,121,095
2098 79,704,143 20,234,513
2097 79,354,569 20,345,619
2096 78,987,874 20,456,607
2095 78,602,449 20,566,246
2094 78,192,601 20,674,019
2093 77,771,649 20,780,946
2092 77,337,997 20,886,274
2091 76,884,320 20,990,047
2090 76,409,599 21,095,968
2089 75,916,129 21,198,788
2088 75,405,009 21,299,229
2087 74,874,565 21,398,269
2086 74,331,613 21,496,892
2085 73,769,979 21,594,661
2084 73,189,821 21,687,323
2083 72,588,675 21,778,597
2082 71,975,720 21,866,395
2081 71,340,622 21,954,337
2080 70,699,377 22,038,953
2079 70,036,857 22,122,744
2078 69,359,523 22,200,069
2077 68,668,133 22,274,355
2076 67,965,034 22,345,857
2075 67,249,105 22,414,609
2074 66,516,075 22,485,066
2073 65,768,739 22,550,427
2072 65,009,716 22,610,645
2071 64,232,600 22,669,042
2070 63,450,597 22,725,948
2069 62,657,123 22,779,050
2068 61,850,168 22,831,596
2067 61,035,806 22,885,941
2066 60,215,831 22,935,123
2065 59,394,005 22,985,942
2064 58,560,766 23,030,844
2063 57,720,905 23,071,114
2062 56,873,801 23,107,970
2061 56,020,633 23,139,924
2060 55,160,220 23,171,649
2059 54,298,509 23,199,387
2058 53,431,783 23,224,997
2057 52,559,686 23,247,211
2056 51,686,173 23,267,292
2055 50,807,502 23,278,653
2054 49,930,546 23,287,520
2053 49,048,457 23,297,347
2052 48,161,836 23,301,287
2051 47,275,159 23,302,108
2050 46,385,854 23,299,282
2049 45,500,920 23,293,630
2048 44,612,126 23,283,465
2047 43,725,546 23,267,251
2046 42,836,054 23,244,081
2045 41,946,522 23,212,221
2044 41,057,406 23,181,041
2043 40,168,481 23,144,217
2042 39,281,666 23,103,489
2041 38,402,142 23,056,478
2040 37,521,801 23,005,928
2039 36,648,491 22,948,866
2038 35,768,661 22,888,821
2037 34,898,973 22,822,943
2036 34,032,460 22,756,462
2035 33,174,985 22,685,766
2034 32,324,451 22,611,514
2033 31,482,783 22,532,374
2032 30,652,485 22,449,310
2031 29,830,213 22,364,063
2030 29,025,640 22,273,377
2029 28,232,427 22,181,300
2028 27,453,124 22,082,826
2027 26,687,226 21,979,196
2026 25,937,442 21,870,145
2025 25,198,821 21,756,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% 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 76.2% to 46,385,854 people with a rank change from 58th to 47th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 23.3M 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 2.94% -0.73%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mali/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mali grew by 2.94%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Mali Sri Lanka
Current population
26322576
21926160
Population rank 58/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.26%
One net population change
43.9 seconds
3.29 minutes
One birth every
32.6 seconds
2.37 minutes
One death every
2.52 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,973 -438
Annual growth/decline +720,226 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.94% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 14/197 190/197
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 759,375 -46,880 50,407 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/mali/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 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 226K
Segou 131K
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 (1960–2025, 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/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 2026-07-08)
  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)

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.