Population in largest city in Mali
Mali: Population in largest city was 3.18 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.18 million
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
61st
of 153 countries
All-time high
3.18 million
in 2025
All-time low
130,017
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Mali, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in largest city in Mali stood at 3.18 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 43.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Mali peaked at 3.18 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 130,017, in 1960.
Mali ranks 61st of 153 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Mali, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 130,017 | — |
| 1961 | 134,784 | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 140,267 | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 145,973 | +4.1% |
| 1964 | 151,920 | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 158,092 | +4.1% |
| 1966 | 165,218 | +4.5% |
| 1967 | 173,401 | +5.0% |
| 1968 | 182,000 | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 200,841 | +10.4% |
| 1970 | 221,663 | +10.4% |
| 1971 | 244,644 | +10.4% |
| 1972 | 270,044 | +10.4% |
| 1973 | 298,000 | +10.4% |
| 1974 | 328,895 | +10.4% |
| 1975 | 362,992 | +10.4% |
| 1976 | 400,679 | +10.4% |
| 1977 | 429,198 | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 448,285 | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 468,220 | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 489,071 | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 510,789 | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 533,504 | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 557,229 | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 582,043 | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 607,890 | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 634,923 | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 662,721 | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 689,548 | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 717,383 | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 746,382 | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 776,554 | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 807,989 | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 840,605 | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 874,585 | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 909,939 | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 946,774 | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 984,992 | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 1.03 million | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 1.08 million | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 1.14 million | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 1.20 million | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 1.27 million | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 1.34 million | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 1.41 million | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 1.49 million | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 1.57 million | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 1.65 million | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 1.74 million | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 1.83 million | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 1.89 million | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 1.95 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 2.01 million | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 2.08 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 2.15 million | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 2.22 million | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 2.29 million | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 2.37 million | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 2.45 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 2.53 million | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 2.62 million | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 2.71 million | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 2.82 million | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 2.93 million | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 3.05 million | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 3.18 million | +4.3% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 3.18 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.98 million, 1.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mali's 3.18 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 1.5× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 158,251 | 130,017 | 200,841 | 10 |
| 1970s | 347,262 | 221,663 | 468,220 | 10 |
| 1980s | 598,510 | 489,071 | 717,383 | 10 |
| 1990s | 899,874 | 746,382 | 1.08 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.46 million | 1.14 million | 1.83 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.19 million | 1.89 million | 2.53 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.88 million | 2.62 million | 3.18 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More urban development data for Mali
- Population in the largest city 39.2% (2025)
- Population density 19.48 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 35.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1262 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 3.18 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 2.4 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 43.3 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Mali?
- Population in largest city in Mali was 3.18 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 3.18 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 130,017 in 1960.
- How does Mali rank for population in largest city?
- Mali ranks 61st out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mali data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.