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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Mali was 25,198,821 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mali's population is 26,322,576 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 1.51 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Mali is ranked the 58th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.53% of the world: 0.32% for Mali vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Mali has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mali has increased from 14M people to 26.3M (88.2% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Mali vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Mali
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mali Zimbabwe
2100 80,362,778 37,486,352
2099 80,043,103 37,415,690
2098 79,704,143 37,331,540
2097 79,354,569 37,238,819
2096 78,987,874 37,146,184
2095 78,602,449 37,035,388
2094 78,192,601 36,915,996
2093 77,771,649 36,814,133
2092 77,337,997 36,691,740
2091 76,884,320 36,570,481
2090 76,409,599 36,428,812
2089 75,916,129 36,284,166
2088 75,405,009 36,144,627
2087 74,874,565 35,980,805
2086 74,331,613 35,811,286
2085 73,769,979 35,640,228
2084 73,189,821 35,459,328
2083 72,588,675 35,271,139
2082 71,975,720 35,081,992
2081 71,340,622 34,876,198
2080 70,699,377 34,662,013
2079 70,036,857 34,442,751
2078 69,359,523 34,220,306
2077 68,668,133 33,985,899
2076 67,965,034 33,742,198
2075 67,249,105 33,498,815
2074 66,516,075 33,247,764
2073 65,768,739 32,981,390
2072 65,009,716 32,708,937
2071 64,232,600 32,448,602
2070 63,450,597 32,183,952
2069 62,657,123 31,909,601
2068 61,850,168 31,633,783
2067 61,035,806 31,348,096
2066 60,215,831 31,065,618
2065 59,394,005 30,769,538
2064 58,560,766 30,482,622
2063 57,720,905 30,178,760
2062 56,873,801 29,870,308
2061 56,020,633 29,559,670
2060 55,160,220 29,254,998
2059 54,298,509 28,947,636
2058 53,431,783 28,634,199
2057 52,559,686 28,309,796
2056 51,686,173 27,993,176
2055 50,807,502 27,661,321
2054 49,930,546 27,334,325
2053 49,048,457 26,989,310
2052 48,161,836 26,645,898
2051 47,275,159 26,289,905
2050 46,385,854 25,937,176
2049 45,500,920 25,587,491
2048 44,612,126 25,230,302
2047 43,725,546 24,876,838
2046 42,836,054 24,515,600
2045 41,946,522 24,149,762
2044 41,057,406 23,785,181
2043 40,168,481 23,404,024
2042 39,281,666 23,037,316
2041 38,402,142 22,649,943
2040 37,521,801 22,275,480
2039 36,648,491 21,904,908
2038 35,768,661 21,532,024
2037 34,898,973 21,161,527
2036 34,032,460 20,792,863
2035 33,174,985 20,415,452
2034 32,324,451 20,049,783
2033 31,482,783 19,678,070
2032 30,652,485 19,313,685
2031 29,830,213 18,960,968
2030 29,025,640 18,615,376
2029 28,232,427 18,271,657
2028 27,453,124 17,935,044
2027 26,687,226 17,602,533
2026 25,937,442 17,274,728
2025 25,198,821 16,950,795
2024 24,478,595 16,634,373
2023 23,769,127 16,340,822
2022 23,072,640 16,069,056
2021 22,388,630 15,797,210
2020 21,713,836 15,526,888
2019 21,068,405 15,271,368
2018 20,442,030 15,034,452
2017 19,813,011 14,812,482
2016 19,191,289 14,600,294
2015 18,593,022 14,399,013
2014 18,020,267 14,207,359
2013 17,459,615 14,013,808
2012 16,957,033 13,817,887
2011 16,469,049 13,595,424
2010 15,945,198 13,356,548
2009 15,435,539 13,142,790
2008 14,940,782 12,959,149
2007 14,457,775 12,804,058
2006 13,990,139 12,636,445
2005 13,538,647 12,483,432
2004 13,102,409 12,365,896
2003 12,684,955 12,232,323
2002 12,288,050 12,087,653
2001 11,912,158 11,971,901
2000 11,559,290 11,892,055
1999 11,227,415 11,783,458
1998 10,919,573 11,594,297
1997 10,646,495 11,369,827
1996 10,407,278 11,158,360
1995 10,185,365 10,974,599
1994 9,967,031 10,873,148
1993 9,754,786 10,860,288
1992 9,553,540 10,702,700
1991 9,362,888 10,404,816
1990 9,178,830 10,137,281
1989 8,999,938 9,864,798
1988 8,833,996 9,583,094
1987 8,681,164 9,284,644
1986 8,531,277 8,982,578
1985 8,374,663 8,686,813
1984 8,208,599 8,391,488
1983 8,034,400 8,098,404
1982 7,860,194 7,796,496
1981 7,692,766 7,498,635
1980 7,530,515 7,041,303
1979 7,375,266 6,647,556
1978 7,229,651 6,543,575
1977 7,090,979 6,449,512
1976 6,960,979 6,287,105
1975 6,837,261 6,098,658
1974 6,715,436 5,908,328
1973 6,597,106 5,720,404
1972 6,483,726 5,542,445
1971 6,377,944 5,374,712
1970 6,276,472 5,215,918
1969 6,177,704 5,058,181
1968 6,082,979 4,900,440
1967 5,990,906 4,748,307
1966 5,902,204 4,601,217
1965 5,815,487 4,458,462
1964 5,730,125 4,320,006
1963 5,646,605 4,185,877
1962 5,563,917 4,055,959
1961 5,482,283 3,930,401
1960 5,402,550 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mali increased by 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mali gained 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

Mali was ranked 66th most populous country in 2006 and is 58th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Mali
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mali Zimbabwe
2100 0.4% 0.19%
2099 0.43% 0.23%
2098 0.44% 0.25%
2097 0.46% 0.25%
2096 0.49% 0.3%
2095 0.52% 0.32%
2094 0.54% 0.28%
2093 0.56% 0.33%
2092 0.59% 0.33%
2091 0.62% 0.39%
2090 0.65% 0.4%
2089 0.68% 0.39%
2088 0.71% 0.46%
2087 0.73% 0.47%
2086 0.76% 0.48%
2085 0.79% 0.51%
2084 0.83% 0.53%
2083 0.85% 0.54%
2082 0.89% 0.59%
2081 0.91% 0.62%
2080 0.95% 0.64%
2079 0.98% 0.65%
2078 1.01% 0.69%
2077 1.03% 0.72%
2076 1.06% 0.73%
2075 1.1% 0.76%
2074 1.14% 0.81%
2073 1.17% 0.83%
2072 1.21% 0.8%
2071 1.23% 0.82%
2070 1.27% 0.86%
2069 1.3% 0.87%
2068 1.33% 0.91%
2067 1.36% 0.91%
2066 1.38% 0.96%
2065 1.42% 0.94%
2064 1.46% 1.01%
2063 1.49% 1.03%
2062 1.52% 1.05%
2061 1.56% 1.04%
2060 1.59% 1.06%
2059 1.62% 1.09%
2058 1.66% 1.15%
2057 1.69% 1.13%
2056 1.73% 1.2%
2055 1.76% 1.2%
2054 1.8% 1.28%
2053 1.84% 1.29%
2052 1.88% 1.35%
2051 1.92% 1.36%
2050 1.94% 1.37%
2049 1.99% 1.42%
2048 2.03% 1.42%
2047 2.08% 1.47%
2046 2.12% 1.51%
2045 2.17% 1.53%
2044 2.21% 1.63%
2043 2.26% 1.59%
2042 2.29% 1.71%
2041 2.35% 1.68%
2040 2.38% 1.69%
2039 2.46% 1.73%
2038 2.49% 1.75%
2037 2.55% 1.77%
2036 2.58% 1.85%
2035 2.63% 1.82%
2034 2.67% 1.89%
2033 2.71% 1.89%
2032 2.76% 1.86%
2031 2.77% 1.86%
2030 2.81% 1.88%
2029 2.84% 1.88%
2028 2.87% 1.89%
2027 2.89% 1.9%
2026 2.93% 1.91%
2025 2.94% 1.9%
2024 2.98% 1.8%
2023 3.02% 1.69%
2022 3.06% 1.72%
2021 3.11% 1.74%
2020 3.06% 1.67%
2019 3.06% 1.58%
2018 3.17% 1.5%
2017 3.24% 1.45%
2016 3.22% 1.4%
2015 3.18% 1.35%
2014 3.21% 1.38%
2013 2.96% 1.42%
2012 2.96% 1.64%
2011 3.29% 1.79%
2010 3.3% 1.63%
2009 3.31% 1.42%
2008 3.34% 1.21%
2007 3.34% 1.33%
2006 3.33% 1.23%
2005 3.33% 0.95%
2004 3.29% 1.09%
2003 3.23% 1.2%
2002 3.16% 0.97%
2001 3.05% 0.67%
2000 2.96% 0.92%
1999 2.82% 1.63%
1998 2.56% 1.97%
1997 2.3% 1.9%
1996 2.18% 1.67%
1995 2.19% 0.93%
1994 2.18% 0.12%
1993 2.11% 1.47%
1992 2.04% 2.86%
1991 2.01% 2.64%
1990 1.99% 2.76%
1989 1.88% 2.94%
1988 1.76% 3.21%
1987 1.76% 3.36%
1986 1.87% 3.4%
1985 2.02% 3.52%
1984 2.17% 3.62%
1983 2.22% 3.87%
1982 2.18% 3.97%
1981 2.15% 6.49%
1980 2.1% 5.92%
1979 2.01% 1.59%
1978 1.96% 1.46%
1977 1.87% 2.58%
1976 1.81% 3.09%
1975 1.81% 3.22%
1974 1.79% 3.29%
1973 1.75% 3.21%
1972 1.66% 3.12%
1971 1.62% 3.04%
1970 1.6% 3.12%
1969 1.56% 3.22%
1968 1.54% 3.2%
1967 1.5% 3.2%
1966 1.49% 3.2%
1965 1.49% 3.2%
1964 1.48% 3.2%
1963 1.49% 3.2%
1962 1.49% 3.19%
1961 1.48% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Mali grew by 2.94%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Mali Zimbabwe
Current population
26322576
17443108
Population rank 58/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.21%
One net population change
43.9 seconds
1.67 minutes
One birth every
32.6 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
2.52 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,973 +867
Annual growth/decline +720,226 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +2.94% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 14/197 53/197
One migration net change every
11 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -48,019 -54,555
Net migration rank 173/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 545,323 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 76/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 131/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mali
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mali Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -48,019 - -54,555
2024 759,375 -46,880 372,494 -60,528
2023 746,398 -39,953 372,505 -97,380
2022 726,465 -39,951 371,243 -102,828
2021 703,674 -22,210 349,908 -74,623
2020 683,053 -14,962 354,790 -89,440
2019 667,110 -44,373 348,798 -103,107
2018 670,723 -40,710 345,883 -117,758
2017 661,973 -33,942 344,035 -128,241
2016 645,652 -30,251 348,772 -140,181
2015 630,006 -48,872 356,203 -162,220
2014 614,419 -50,068 366,350 -177,029
2013 597,887 -40,951 374,757 -176,972
2012 588,748 -140,507 371,135 -177,061
2011 570,899 -43,160 359,572 -108,714
2010 554,447 -34,483 335,570 -108,671
2009 533,730 -34,383 309,316 -108,689
2008 514,665 -24,509 280,527 -113,858
2007 495,800 -19,945 261,805 -118,299
2006 477,665 -18,247 248,963 -57,257
2005 460,964 -17,413 248,545 -134,212
2004 439,717 -10,796 248,307 -127,550
2003 417,766 -11,768 243,057 -96,667
2002 396,732 -8,914 244,170 -101,212
2001 376,472 -12,507 227,909 -139,361
2000 359,159 -17,395 236,343 -165,181
1999 343,705 -21,702 232,393 -86,343
1998 323,940 -30,255 225,614 6,645
1997 308,429 -55,978 216,288 395
1996 293,953 -67,974 205,269 978
1995 285,598 -67,763 206,695 -45,428
1994 282,356 -63,533 216,343 -174,723
1993 274,480 -68,816 228,045 -243,947
1992 267,605 -70,789 255,291 75,788
1991 261,656 -77,172 260,943 3,749
1990 252,308 -68,668 265,444 4,948
1989 249,929 -75,771 270,838 3,736
1988 245,682 -87,952 277,498 11,327
1987 238,871 -90,940 286,766 21,308
1986 233,799 -81,970 289,894 6,154
1985 224,734 -63,347 290,756 4,718
1984 218,078 -47,331 290,052 5,124
1983 211,795 -34,132 286,545 4,456
1982 204,892 -34,140 279,934 32,899
1981 198,227 -34,130 271,361 11,523
1980 190,560 -30,156 241,179 390,593
1979 182,449 -32,353 223,657 -67,937
1978 172,652 -31,520 222,979 -170,727
1977 165,071 -28,853 225,139 -89,270
1976 157,778 -33,999 221,419 -32,495
1975 150,222 -26,572 216,947 -28,988
1974 142,448 -22,449 208,806 -16,105
1973 135,801 -19,137 201,885 -18,733
1972 129,687 -19,594 193,725 -20,959
1971 123,591 -22,127 185,427 -22,719
1970 118,952 -17,479 178,979 -24,102
1969 114,361 -18,302 172,626 -12,028
1968 111,403 -18,015 166,865 -11,997
1967 107,650 -16,900 161,205 -11,814
1966 103,684 -17,032 156,014 -11,211
1965 100,451 -13,662 151,164 -10,465
1964 97,166 -13,226 145,848 -9,631
1963 95,055 -11,951 140,984 -8,936
1962 93,101 -10,821 136,317 -8,529
1961 91,115 -10,139 131,531 -8,204
1960 88,802 -10,314 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/mali/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 545,323 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Mali, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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