Mali’s population rose to 25.2 m people in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. A larger population can mean a bigger workforce and domestic market, and it can also mean more pressure on schools, farmland and jobs. A smaller one reverses each of those, so the direction has no fixed good or bad. Mali's population stood at 25.2 million in January 2025, up from 24.5 million a year earlier. That is a rise of 0.72 million, or 2.9%. The figure is the highest since 2016, when it was 19.2 million, so the series has climbed throughout the period.

Why it matters. At 25.2 million people and growth of 2.9% a year, Mali adds a large cohort of new residents every year. Households share land and income among more people. Firms see a growing pool of workers and customers. The state has to open more schools and clinics each year just to keep services at their current reach.