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Population in Mali compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 24,478,595 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,143,152 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 1.15 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.12% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.1M (86.9% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Mali vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Zambia
2100 80,371,693 65,217,429
2099 80,051,982 64,871,545
2098 79,712,985 64,515,891
2097 79,363,373 64,148,736
2096 78,996,636 63,777,313
2095 78,611,169 63,393,169
2094 78,201,275 62,992,652
2093 77,780,277 62,590,327
2092 77,346,576 62,175,930
2091 76,892,849 61,750,591
2090 76,418,075 61,321,399
2089 75,924,551 60,880,148
2088 75,413,374 60,434,676
2087 74,882,872 59,970,107
2086 74,339,859 59,499,234
2085 73,778,163 59,023,040
2084 73,197,940 58,535,857
2083 72,596,727 58,040,512
2082 71,983,705 57,538,672
2081 71,348,537 57,027,491
2080 70,707,220 56,506,421
2079 70,044,626 55,983,242
2078 69,367,218 55,449,777
2077 68,675,750 54,906,771
2076 67,972,574 54,361,075
2075 67,256,565 53,806,856
2074 66,523,454 53,246,777
2073 65,776,035 52,677,348
2072 65,016,928 52,101,139
2071 64,239,726 51,519,691
2070 63,457,636 50,931,614
2069 62,664,074 50,334,700
2068 61,857,029 49,737,479
2067 61,042,577 49,135,488
2066 60,222,511 48,530,443
2065 59,400,594 47,918,592
2064 58,567,263 47,299,740
2063 57,727,308 46,677,439
2062 56,880,111 46,048,819
2061 56,026,848 45,416,657
2060 55,166,339 44,777,347
2059 54,304,533 44,137,306
2058 53,437,711 43,494,451
2057 52,565,517 42,851,923
2056 51,691,907 42,206,898
2055 50,813,138 41,558,284
2054 49,936,085 40,906,492
2053 49,053,898 40,255,629
2052 48,167,179 39,603,888
2051 47,280,403 38,949,958
2050 46,390,999 38,294,607
2049 45,505,968 37,634,194
2048 44,617,075 36,971,309
2047 43,730,396 36,309,749
2046 42,840,806 35,645,868
2045 41,951,176 34,981,812
2044 41,061,960 34,316,981
2043 40,172,937 33,652,420
2042 39,286,024 32,990,657
2041 38,406,403 32,329,447
2040 37,525,963 31,664,262
2039 36,652,557 31,001,305
2038 35,772,629 30,335,662
2037 34,902,845 29,668,561
2036 34,036,236 29,000,264
2035 33,178,665 28,333,498
2034 32,328,037 27,671,195
2033 31,486,276 27,011,974
2032 30,655,886 26,356,580
2031 29,833,522 25,702,812
2030 29,028,860 25,055,216
2029 28,235,559 24,414,405
2028 27,456,170 23,780,809
2027 26,690,187 23,151,479
2026 25,940,320 22,529,742
2025 25,201,616 21,918,187
2024 24,478,595 21,314,956
2023 23,769,127 20,723,965
2022 23,072,640 20,152,938
2021 22,388,630 19,603,607
2020 21,713,836 19,059,395
2019 21,068,405 18,513,839
2018 20,442,030 17,973,569
2017 19,813,011 17,441,320
2016 19,191,289 16,914,423
2015 18,593,022 16,399,089
2014 18,020,267 15,895,315
2013 17,459,615 15,398,997
2012 16,957,033 14,913,629
2011 16,469,049 14,437,796
2010 15,945,198 13,965,594
2009 15,435,539 13,490,389
2008 14,940,782 13,021,324
2007 14,457,775 12,565,085
2006 13,990,139 12,129,553
2005 13,538,647 11,718,819
2004 13,102,409 11,338,198
2003 12,684,955 10,983,595
2002 12,288,050 10,647,949
2001 11,912,158 10,325,185
2000 11,559,290 10,017,631
1999 11,227,415 9,740,005
1998 10,919,573 9,482,408
1997 10,646,495 9,237,063
1996 10,407,278 9,004,053
1995 10,185,365 8,785,763
1994 9,967,031 8,576,269
1993 9,754,786 8,373,921
1992 9,553,540 8,176,680
1991 9,362,888 7,981,650
1990 9,178,830 7,786,169
1989 8,999,938 7,589,216
1988 8,833,996 7,391,440
1987 8,681,164 7,191,282
1986 8,531,277 6,986,471
1985 8,374,663 6,780,953
1984 8,208,599 6,580,490
1983 8,034,400 6,381,038
1982 7,860,194 6,178,637
1981 7,692,766 5,983,289
1980 7,530,515 5,802,833
1979 7,375,266 5,631,728
1978 7,229,651 5,465,374
1977 7,090,979 5,302,480
1976 6,960,979 5,143,842
1975 6,837,261 4,990,086
1974 6,715,436 4,842,746
1973 6,597,106 4,702,693
1972 6,483,726 4,569,309
1971 6,377,944 4,442,525
1970 6,276,472 4,321,718
1969 6,177,704 4,197,116
1968 6,082,979 4,065,593
1967 5,990,906 3,936,343
1966 5,902,204 3,812,003
1965 5,815,487 3,692,086
1964 5,730,125 3,577,017
1963 5,646,605 3,465,907
1962 5,563,917 3,358,099
1961 5,482,283 3,254,086
1960 5,402,550 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali Zambia
2100 0.4% 0.53%
2099 0.43% 0.55%
2098 0.44% 0.57%
2097 0.46% 0.58%
2096 0.49% 0.61%
2095 0.52% 0.64%
2094 0.54% 0.64%
2093 0.56% 0.67%
2092 0.59% 0.69%
2091 0.62% 0.7%
2090 0.65% 0.72%
2089 0.68% 0.74%
2088 0.71% 0.77%
2087 0.73% 0.79%
2086 0.76% 0.81%
2085 0.79% 0.83%
2084 0.83% 0.85%
2083 0.85% 0.87%
2082 0.89% 0.9%
2081 0.91% 0.92%
2080 0.95% 0.93%
2079 0.98% 0.96%
2078 1.01% 0.99%
2077 1.03% 1%
2076 1.06% 1.03%
2075 1.1% 1.05%
2074 1.14% 1.08%
2073 1.17% 1.11%
2072 1.21% 1.13%
2071 1.23% 1.15%
2070 1.27% 1.19%
2069 1.3% 1.2%
2068 1.33% 1.23%
2067 1.36% 1.25%
2066 1.38% 1.28%
2065 1.42% 1.31%
2064 1.46% 1.33%
2063 1.49% 1.37%
2062 1.52% 1.39%
2061 1.56% 1.43%
2060 1.59% 1.45%
2059 1.62% 1.48%
2058 1.66% 1.5%
2057 1.69% 1.53%
2056 1.73% 1.56%
2055 1.76% 1.59%
2054 1.8% 1.62%
2053 1.84% 1.65%
2052 1.88% 1.68%
2051 1.92% 1.71%
2050 1.94% 1.75%
2049 1.99% 1.79%
2048 2.03% 1.82%
2047 2.08% 1.86%
2046 2.12% 1.9%
2045 2.17% 1.94%
2044 2.21% 1.97%
2043 2.26% 2.01%
2042 2.29% 2.05%
2041 2.35% 2.1%
2040 2.38% 2.14%
2039 2.46% 2.19%
2038 2.49% 2.25%
2037 2.55% 2.3%
2036 2.58% 2.35%
2035 2.63% 2.39%
2034 2.67% 2.44%
2033 2.71% 2.49%
2032 2.76% 2.54%
2031 2.77% 2.58%
2030 2.81% 2.62%
2029 2.84% 2.66%
2028 2.87% 2.72%
2027 2.89% 2.76%
2026 2.93% 2.79%
2025 2.95% 2.83%
2024 2.98% 2.85%
2023 3.02% 2.83%
2022 3.06% 2.8%
2021 3.11% 2.86%
2020 3.06% 2.95%
2019 3.06% 3.01%
2018 3.17% 3.05%
2017 3.24% 3.12%
2016 3.22% 3.14%
2015 3.18% 3.17%
2014 3.21% 3.22%
2013 2.96% 3.25%
2012 2.96% 3.3%
2011 3.29% 3.38%
2010 3.3% 3.52%
2009 3.31% 3.6%
2008 3.34% 3.63%
2007 3.34% 3.59%
2006 3.33% 3.5%
2005 3.33% 3.36%
2004 3.29% 3.23%
2003 3.23% 3.15%
2002 3.16% 3.13%
2001 3.05% 3.07%
2000 2.96% 2.85%
1999 2.82% 2.72%
1998 2.56% 2.66%
1997 2.3% 2.59%
1996 2.18% 2.48%
1995 2.19% 2.44%
1994 2.18% 2.42%
1993 2.11% 2.41%
1992 2.04% 2.44%
1991 2.01% 2.51%
1990 1.99% 2.6%
1989 1.88% 2.68%
1988 1.76% 2.78%
1987 1.76% 2.93%
1986 1.87% 3.03%
1985 2.02% 3.05%
1984 2.17% 3.13%
1983 2.22% 3.28%
1982 2.18% 3.26%
1981 2.15% 3.11%
1980 2.1% 3.04%
1979 2.01% 3.04%
1978 1.96% 3.07%
1977 1.87% 3.08%
1976 1.81% 3.08%
1975 1.81% 3.04%
1974 1.79% 2.98%
1973 1.75% 2.92%
1972 1.66% 2.85%
1971 1.62% 2.8%
1970 1.6% 2.97%
1969 1.56% 3.24%
1968 1.54% 3.28%
1967 1.5% 3.26%
1966 1.49% 3.25%
1965 1.49% 3.22%
1964 1.48% 3.21%
1963 1.49% 3.21%
1962 1.49% 3.2%
1961 1.48% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mali grew by 2.98%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Mali Zambia
Current population
26143152
22697916
Population rank 58/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.27%
One net population change
44.5 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
33.1 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.56 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,944 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +709,468 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.98% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 15/197 21/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -48,019 +6,562
Net migration rank 173/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - 6,562
2024 - -46,880 - 7,381
2023 746,398 -39,953 577,660 9,521
2022 726,465 -39,951 563,456 -8,566
2021 703,674 -22,210 535,629 8,143
2020 683,053 -14,962 536,484 8,156
2019 667,110 -44,373 528,089 18,385
2018 670,723 -40,710 515,644 18,431
2017 661,973 -33,942 504,630 25,789
2016 645,652 -30,251 497,521 25,860
2015 630,006 -48,872 491,021 16,261
2014 614,419 -50,068 483,663 16,574
2013 597,887 -40,951 476,846 15,542
2012 588,748 -140,507 469,406 8,958
2011 570,899 -43,160 459,743 13,569
2010 554,447 -34,483 448,337 22,761
2009 533,730 -34,383 434,458 44,867
2008 514,665 -24,509 419,560 39,249
2007 495,800 -19,945 403,729 49,945
2006 477,665 -18,247 387,891 29,517
2005 460,964 -17,413 368,756 35,316
2004 439,717 -10,796 349,352 7,819
2003 417,766 -11,768 331,189 20,845
2002 396,732 -8,914 316,041 3,206
2001 376,472 -12,507 302,682 23,582
2000 359,159 -17,395 293,186 -4,338
1999 343,705 -21,702 283,297 -16,888
1998 323,940 -30,255 275,568 -26,796
1997 308,429 -55,978 268,198 -26,276
1996 293,953 -67,974 262,468 -38,358
1995 285,598 -67,763 257,897 -45,423
1994 282,356 -63,533 252,023 -45,504
1993 274,480 -68,816 245,917 -47,739
1992 267,605 -70,789 239,953 -43,656
1991 261,656 -77,172 237,957 -44,203
1990 252,308 -68,668 235,835 -38,619
1989 249,929 -75,771 233,429 -36,736
1988 245,682 -87,952 230,118 -31,270
1987 238,871 -90,940 227,813 -26,338
1986 233,799 -81,970 224,768 -16,610
1985 224,734 -63,347 221,351 -18,474
1984 218,078 -47,331 216,695 -18,652
1983 211,795 -34,132 212,712 -11,849
1982 204,892 -34,140 207,621 -3,676
1981 198,227 -34,130 202,822 -16,072
1980 190,560 -30,156 198,817 -24,664
1979 182,449 -32,353 197,578 -29,515
1978 172,652 -31,520 194,933 -30,284
1977 165,071 -28,853 191,557 -30,423
1976 157,778 -33,999 186,762 -30,612
1975 150,222 -26,572 182,258 -30,886
1974 142,448 -22,449 174,484 -31,178
1973 135,801 -19,137 168,258 -31,472
1972 129,687 -19,594 161,648 -31,672
1971 123,591 -22,127 155,249 -31,651
1970 118,952 -17,479 149,380 -31,370
1969 114,361 -18,302 142,660 -11,469
1968 111,403 -18,015 137,315 -5,447
1967 107,650 -16,900 131,938 -5,298
1966 103,684 -17,032 127,164 -5,129
1965 100,451 -13,662 122,814 -5,023
1964 97,166 -13,226 117,197 -4,851
1963 95,055 -11,951 114,555 -4,676
1962 93,101 -10,821 110,173 -4,428
1961 91,115 -10,139 106,318 -4,043
1960 88,802 -10,314 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/mali/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | CC BY

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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)

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