Demographics of Mali

Demographics of Mali
Population pyramid of Mali in 2020
Population	20,741,769 (2022 est.)
Growth rate	2.95% (2022 est.)
Birth rate	41.07 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate	8.53 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy	62.41 years
• male	60.19 years
• female	64.7 years
Fertility rate	5.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate	60.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate	-3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years	47.69%
65 and over	3.02%
Nationality
Nationality	Malian
Language
Official	French

Demographic features of the population of Mali include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Mali's population (1890-2021)

Population

In 2021, Mali's population was an estimated 21.9 million, with an annual growth rate of 2.7%. This figure can be compared to 4,638,000 in 1950. The population is predominantly rural (68% in 2002), and 5–10% of Malians are nomadic. More than 90% of the population lives in the southern part of the country, especially in Bamako, which has over 1 million residents.

In 2007, about 48% of Malians were less than 15 years old, 49% were 15–64 years old, and 3% were 65 and older. The median age was 15.9 years. The birth rate in 2007 was 49.6 births per 1,000, and the total fertility rate was 7.4 children per woman.

The death rate in 2007 was 16.5 deaths per 1,000. Life expectancy at birth was 49.5 years total (47.6 for males and 51.5 for females). Mali has one of the world's highest rates of infant mortality, with 106 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The proportion of the population aged below 15 in 2010 was 47.2%. 50.6% of the population were aged between 15 and 65 years of age. 2.2% of the population were aged 65 years or older.

	Total population	Population aged 0–14 (%)	Population aged 15–64 (%)	Population aged 65+ (%)
1950	4 638 000	38.9	58.3	2.8
1955	4 928 000	40.1	57.4	2.5
1960	5 248 000	40.5	57.2	2.3
1965	5 597 000	41.5	56.2	2.3
1970	6 034 000	42.3	55.2	2.4
1975	6 604 000	43.3	54.1	2.6
1980	7 246 000	44.6	52.6	2.8
1985	8 010 000	45.8	51.3	2.9
1990	8 673 000	47.5	49.5	3.0
1995	9 825 000	47.4	49.9	2.8
2000	11 295 000	47.2	50.3	2.5
2005	13 177 000	47.1	50.6	2.3
2010	15 370 000	47.2	50.6	2.2

Structure of the population

Population pyramid 2016

Structure of the population (Census 01.IV.2009):

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	7 204 990	7 323 672	14 528 662	100
0-4	1 328 871	1 294 514	2 623 385	18.06
5-9	1 202 875	1 154 948	2 357 823	16.23
10-14	918 866	865 138	1 784 004	12.28
15-19	732 526	783 620	1 516 146	10.44
20-24	529 535	612 368	1 141 903	7.86
25-29	449 099	546 603	995 702	6.85
30-34	385 003	427 795	812 798	5.59
35-39	325 005	326 894	651 949	4.49
40-44	271 239	275 364	546 603	3.76
45-49	228 626	217 261	445 887	3.07
50-54	189 424	192 382	381 806	2.63
55-59	148 594	134 083	282 677	1.95
60-64	127 557	123 461	251 018	1.73
65-69	88 292	77 082	165 374	1.14
70-74	67 319	66 063	133 382	0.92
75-79	40 904	36 197	77 101	0.53
80+	41 992	43 602	85 594	0.59
unknown	129 213	146 297	275 510	1.90
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0-14	3 450 612	3 314 600	6 765 212	46.56
15-64	3 386 658	3 639 831	7 026 489	48.36
65+	238 507	222 944	461 451	3.18

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2018) (Projections considering also the results of the 2009 Population Census.):

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	9 631 376	9 786 721	19 418 097	100
0–4	1 824 718	1 854 149	3 678 867	18.95
5–9	1 481 610	1 505 507	2 987 117	15.38
10–14	1 235 790	1 255 722	2 491 512	12.83
15–19	1 027 744	1 044 321	2 072 065	10.67
20–24	872 370	886 440	1 758 810	9.06
25–29	740 900	752 850	1 493 750	7.69
30–34	608 309	618 121	1 226 430	6.32
35–39	481 340	489 104	970 444	5.00
40–44	363 798	369 665	733 463	3.78
45–49	270 771	275 138	545 909	2.81
50–54	211 869	215 287	427 156	2.20
55–59	172 475	175 257	347 731	1.79
60–64	127 886	129 949	257 835	1.33
65-69	103 184	104 848	208 033	1.07
70-74	60 828	61 809	122 637	0.63
75-79	31 964	32 479	64 443	0.33
80+	15 820	16 075	31 895	0.16
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	4 542 118	4 615 378	9 157 496	47.16
15–64	4 877 462	4 956 132	9 833 594	50.64
65+	211 796	215 211	427 007	2.20

Ethnic groups

A family in Djenné, Mali.

Ethnic groups include:

• 33.3% Bambara
• 13.3% Fula
• 9.8% Soninke
• 9.6% Senufo / Bwa / Malinke
• 8.7% Dogon
• 6.1% Bobo
• 5.9% Songhai
• 1.7% Tuareg
• 11.6% Others

Mali's population consists of Sub-Saharan ethnic groups, sharing similar historic, cultural, and religious traditions. Exceptions are two nomadic northern groups, the Tuaregs, a Berber people, and Maurs (or Moors), of Arabo-Berber origins. In Mali and Niger, the Moors are also known as Azawagh Arabs, named after the Azawagh region of the Sahara. Azawagh Arabs speak mainly Hassaniya Arabic which is one of the regional varieties of Arabic.

The Tuaregs traditionally have opposed the central government. Starting in June 1990 in the north, Tuaregs seeking greater autonomy led to clashes with the military. In April 1992, the government and most opposing factions signed a pact to end the fighting and restore stability in the north. Its major aims are to allow greater autonomy to the north and increase government resource allocation to what has been a traditionally impoverished region. The peace agreement was celebrated in 1996 in Timbuktu during an official and highly publicized ceremony called "Flamme de la Paix"--(peace flame).

Historically, interethnic relations throughout the rest of the country were facilitated by easy mobility on the Niger River and across the country's vast savannahs. Each ethnic group was traditionally tied to a specific occupation, all working within proximity to each other, although the distinctions were often blurred.

The Bambara, Malinké, Sarakole, Dogon and Songhay are farmers; the Fula or Fulani, Maur, and Tuareg are herders, while the Bozo are fishers. In recent years this linkage has shifted considerably, as ethnic groups seek nontraditional sources of income.

Europeans in Mali

People of European origin form a small minority in the country. They include those of mixed European and African descendant, as well as those of full European background. The latter includes the French, as well as the Spanish, Irish, Italian and Portuguese origins. Some of them descend from the Arma people (1% of the nation's population). They mainly live in Bamako, Sikasso, Kalabancoro, Koutiala, Ségou, Kayes, Kati, Mopti, Niono, Gao, San, Koro, Bla, Bougouni, Mandé, Baguineda-Camp, Kolondiéba, Kolokani, and others.

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events in Mali is not complete. The website Our World in Data prepared the following estimates based on statistics from the Population Department of the United Nations.

	Mid-year population (thousands)	Live births (thousands)	Deaths (thousands)	Natural change (thousands)	Crude birth rate (per 1000)	Crude death rate (per 1000)	Natural change (per 1000)	Total fertility rate (TFR)	Infant mortality (per 1000 live births)	Life expectancy (in years)
1950	4 695	245	176	69	52.2	37.5	14.7	6.96	211.1	28.17
1951	4 760	247	178	69	51.8	37.3	14.6	6.96	210.2	28.29
1952	4 825	249	178	70	51.5	36.9	14.6	6.95	208.4	28.53
1953	4 888	250	179	72	51.1	36.5	14.6	6.95	206.9	28.76
1954	4 951	252	179	73	50.8	36.1	14.7	6.94	205.5	28.97
1955	5 015	254	180	74	50.5	35.8	14.7	6.94	204.3	29.13
1956	5 079	256	180	76	50.4	35.5	14.9	6.94	203.3	29.37
1957	5 145	259	182	77	50.2	35.3	15.0	6.95	202.5	29.47
1958	5 209	262	183	79	50.2	35.1	15.1	6.95	201.8	29.59
1959	5 275	267	185	81	50.5	35.1	15.4	6.99	201.2	29.65
1960	5 347	270	187	83	50.5	35.0	15.5	7.00	200.6	29.75
1961	5 420	274	189	84	50.4	34.9	15.5	7.00	200.0	29.83
1962	5 495	277	191	86	50.4	34.8	15.6	7.02	199.3	29.94
1963	5 570	281	193	88	50.4	34.6	15.8	7.03	198.4	30.15
1964	5 647	285	194	91	50.4	34.3	16.1	7.05	197.3	30.42
1965	5 726	290	195	94	50.5	34.1	16.4	7.08	195.8	30.62
1966	5 807	294	197	97	50.6	33.9	16.7	7.10	194.0	30.87
1967	5 888	299	198	101	50.6	33.6	17.1	7.13	191.8	31.21
1968	5 974	303	198	105	50.7	33.1	17.5	7.15	189.4	31.63
1969	6 062	306	199	108	50.4	32.7	17.7	7.17	186.9	32.05
1970	6 154	310	198	112	50.4	32.2	18.2	7.18	183.9	32.53
1971	6 248	315	199	116	50.4	31.8	18.6	7.20	181.3	32.94
1972	6 347	320	196	124	50.3	30.8	19.5	7.20	177.8	33.86
1973	6 455	326	195	131	50.4	30.2	20.3	7.21	174.8	34.57
1974	6 569	332	193	139	50.4	29.3	21.1	7.23	171.9	35.43
1975	6 687	338	192	146	50.5	28.6	21.9	7.24	169.0	36.23
1976	6 808	344	189	155	50.4	27.7	22.7	7.25	165.5	37.20
1977	6 935	350	187	163	50.4	26.9	23.5	7.28	162.0	38.11
1978	7 073	357	185	172	50.4	26.1	24.3	7.30	158.5	39.06
1979	7 218	365	183	182	50.5	25.3	25.2	7.32	155.0	39.95
1980	7 373	372	182	190	50.3	24.7	25.7	7.33	151.5	40.75
1981	7 533	379	183	195	50.1	24.3	25.9	7.32	148.2	41.22
1982	7 696	383	183	200	49.6	23.7	25.9	7.27	144.6	41.82
1983	7 864	387	184	204	49.1	23.3	25.8	7.23	141.2	42.14
1984	8 030	394	183	210	48.9	22.8	26.1	7.22	138.0	42.70
1985	8 188	399	183	216	48.5	22.3	26.2	7.21	134.9	43.21
1986	8 335	405	181	224	48.3	21.6	26.7	7.24	131.7	43.98
1987	8 474	408	179	229	47.8	21.0	26.9	7.25	128.9	44.69
1988	8 617	413	176	237	47.7	20.4	27.3	7.26	126.3	45.39
1989	8 774	416	176	241	47.2	19.9	27.3	7.28	123.8	45.88
1990	8 945	419	173	246	46.7	19.3	27.4	7.25	121.8	46.62
1991	9 124	430	172	258	47.0	18.8	28.2	7.23	119.8	47.22
1992	9 311	437	173	263	46.7	18.5	28.2	7.18	118.1	47.50
1993	9 507	443	174	269	46.4	18.3	28.1	7.12	116.5	47.73
1994	9 712	452	177	275	46.4	18.2	28.2	7.07	115.2	47.74
1995	9 921	455	179	275	45.7	18.0	27.7	6.99	113.6	47.82
1996	10 132	464	182	282	45.7	17.9	27.8	6.95	112.1	47.79
1997	10 359	477	180	297	45.9	17.4	28.6	6.91	110.0	48.53
1998	10 620	492	180	312	46.2	16.9	29.3	6.89	107.9	49.16
1999	10 917	513	180	333	47.0	16.5	30.5	6.88	105.5	49.80
2000	11 239	530	180	350	47.1	16.0	31.1	6.87	102.8	50.54
2001	11 584	549	180	369	47.3	15.5	31.8	6.85	100.0	51.28
2002	11 953	568	178	390	47.5	14.9	32.6	6.82	97.1	52.22
2003	12 342	588	178	410	47.6	14.4	33.2	6.78	94.2	52.89
2004	12 752	611	179	432	47.9	14.0	33.9	6.74	91.4	53.54
2005	13 181	633	180	453	48.0	13.7	34.3	6.72	88.7	54.00
2006	13 624	649	180	469	47.6	13.2	34.4	6.69	86.2	54.62
2007	14 081	666	182	484	47.3	12.9	34.4	6.66	83.7	54.94
2008	14 551	684	184	501	47.0	12.6	34.4	6.64	81.2	55.29
2009	15 033	705	183	521	46.8	12.2	34.6	6.61	78.8	55.87
2010	15 529	724	184	541	46.6	11.8	34.8	6.58	76.5	56.38
2011	16 040	743	185	558	46.2	11.5	34.7	6.55	74.2	56.76
2012	16 515	762	186	576	45.9	11.2	34.7	6.52	72.0	57.08
2013	17 004	771	186	585	45.3	10.9	34.3	6.49	70.0	57.36
2014	17 552	788	185	602	44.8	10.5	34.2	6.44	67.8	57.90
2015	18 113	804	185	619	44.3	10.2	34.1	6.39	65.8	58.36
2016	18 700	820	186	634	43.8	9.9	33.9	6.32	63.9	58.73
2017	19 311	839	186	652	43.4	9.6	33.7	6.25	62.1	59.13
2018	19 934	856	188	668	42.9	9.4	33.5	6.18	60.4	59.39
2019	20 567	873	190	683	42.4	9.2	33.2	6.10	58.7	59.66
2020	21 224	892	202	689	42.0	9.5	32.5	6.04	57.1	58.63
2021	21 905	913	203	710	41.6	9.3	32.4	5.96	55.4	58.94

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):

Year	CBR (Total)	TFR (Total)	CBR (Urban)	TFR (Urban)	CBR (Rural)	TFR (Rural)
1981-1983		7.10		6.85		7.17
1984-1986		6.73		6.09		6.97
1995-1996	45.1	6.7 (6.0)	39.9	5.4 (4.8)	47.2	7.3 (6.6)
2001	45.1	6.8 (6.1)	42.1	5.5 (4.8)	45.9	7.3 (6.6)
2006	45.2	6.6 (6.0)	41.8	5.4 (5.1)	46.6	7.2 (6.5)
2012-2013	38.8	6.1 (5.3)	36.7	5.0 (4.3)	39.2	6.5 (5.6)
2018	40.9	6.3 (5.5)	36.3	4.9 (4.2)	42.3	6.8 (6.0)

Fertility data as of 2012-2013 (DHS Program):

Region	Total fertility rate	Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant	Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
Kayes	6.0	11.3	6.0
Koulikoro	6.0	14.3	5.8
Sikasso	6.6	11.5	6.2
Ségou	6.1	12.2	6.1
Mopti	6.5	11.7	5.9
Bamako	5.1	6.5	5.1

Immigration and emigration

Mali had an estimated net migration rate of –6.6 migrants per 1,000 people in 2006. About 3 million Malians are believed to reside in Côte d'Ivoire and France. Conversely, according to a 2003 estimate, Mali hosts about 11,000 Mauritanians; most are Fulani herders who routinely engage in cross-border migration. In addition, there are several thousand refugees from Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in Bamako and other urban areas of Mali.

Demographic statistics

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.

• One birth every 37 seconds
• One death every 3 minutes
• One net migrant every 13 minutes
• Net gain of one person every 51 seconds

The following demographic are from the CIA World Factbook unless otherwise indicated.

Population

20,741,769 (2022 est.)

18,429,893 (July 2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 93.9%, Christian 2.8%, animist 0.7%, none 2.5% (2018 est.)

Age structure

Population pyramid of Mali in 2020

0-14 years: 47.69% (male 4,689,121/female 4,636,685)

15-24 years: 19% (male 1,768,772/female 1,945,582)

25-54 years: 26.61% (male 2,395,566/female 2,806,830)

55-64 years: 3.68% (male 367,710/female 352,170)

65 years and over: 3.02% (male 293,560/female 297,401) (2020 est.)

0-14 years: 48.03% (male 4,449,790 /female 4,402,076)

15-24 years: 18.89% (male 1,657,609 /female 1,823,453)

25-54 years: 26.36% (male 2,243,158 /female 2,615,695)

55-64 years: 3.7% (male 346,003 /female 335,733)

65 years and over: 3.02% (male 277,834 /female 278,542) (2018 est.)

Birth rate

41.07 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 4th

43.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 3rd

Death rate

8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 79th

8.53 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 73rd

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 45th

Total fertility rate

5.45 children born/woman (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 4th

5.54 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 4th

5.9 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 5th

Population growth rate

2.95% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 11th

2.98% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 8th

Median age

total: 16 years. Country comparison to the world: 224th

male: 15.3 years

female: 16.7 years (2020 est.)

total: 15.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 127th

male: 15.2 years

female: 16.5 years (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2018 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

18.8 years (2012/13 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Contraceptive prevalence rate

17.2% (2018)

15.6% (2015)

Net migration rate

-3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 181st

-3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 181st

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 101.9 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 96.8 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio: 19.5 (2015 est.)

Urbanization

Main article: List of cities in Mali

urban population: 45.4% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population: 42.4% of total population (2018)

rate of urbanization: 4.86% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.41 years. Country comparison to the world: 211st

male: 60.19 years

female: 64.7 years (2022 est.)

total population: 60.8 years (2018 est.)

male: 58.6 years (2018 est.)

female: 63 years (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

animal contact diseases: rabies

respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2019) Country comparison to the world: 131st

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

total population: 35.5%

male: 46.2%

female: 25.7% (2018)

total population: 33.1% (2015 est.)

male: 45.1% (2015 est.)

female: 22.2% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years

male: 8 years

female: 7 years (2017)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 2.4%

male: 2.6%

female: 2.3% (2018 est.)

Languages

Main article: Languages of Mali

Although each ethnic group speaks a separate language, nearly 80% of Malians communicate over ethnic borders in Bambara, which is the common language of the marketplace. French is the country's official language and is spoken somewhat by 30% of Malians.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Mali

An estimated 95% of Malians are Sunni Muslim, 4% adhere to indigenous or traditional animist beliefs, and 1% are Christian (about two-thirds Roman Catholic and one-third Protestant). Atheism and agnosticism are believed to be rare among Malians, most of whom practice their religion on a daily basis. Islam as practiced in Mali can be moderate, tolerant, and adapted to local conditions; relations between Muslims and practitioners of minority religious faiths are generally amicable. The constitution establishes a secular state and provides for freedom of religion.

Health

Main article: Health in Mali

Life expectancy in Mali

Mali's health and development indicators rank among the worst in the world. In 2000 only 62–65 percent of the population was estimated to have access to safe drinking water and only 69 percent to sanitation services of some kind; only 8 percent was estimated to have access to modern sanitation facilities. Only 20 percent of the nation’s villages and livestock watering holes had modern water facilities.

There were an estimated 140,000 cases of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) reported in 2003, and an estimated 1.9 percent of the adult population was afflicted with HIV/AIDS that year, among the lowest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (see also HIV/AIDS in Africa). In the same year, there were 12,000 AIDS deaths. The infant mortality rate is 69.5 deaths/1,000 live births (75.3/1,000 among males and 63.5/1,000 among females) (2017 est.). Life expectancy at birth is 60.3 years (58.2 years among males and 62.5 years among females) (2017 est.).

Life expectancy

Period	Life expectancy in Years
1950–1955	26.96
1955–1960	27.98
1960–1965	28.61
1965–1970	30.79
1970–1975	34.20
1975–1980	37.71
1980–1985	41.55
1985–1990	44.51
1990–1995	46.57
1995–2000	46.75
2000–2005	49.96
2005–2010	54.03
2010–2015	56.24

Education

Main article: Education in Mali

In the 2000–01 school year, the primary school enrollment rate was 61% (71% of males and 51% of females). The primary school completion rate is also low: only 36 percent of students in 2003 (and lower for females). The majority of students reportedly leave school by age 12. In the late 1990s, the secondary school enrollment rate was 15% percent (20% of males and 10% of females).

According to United States government estimates, the adult literacy rate (defined as those over age 15 who can read and write) was 46.4 percent for the total population in 2003 (53.5 percent for males and 39.6 percent for females). According to United Nations sources, however, the literacy rate is actually much lower—only 27–30 percent overall and as low as 12 percent for females, among the lowest rates in Africa.

Further reading

• Samaké, Salif; Traoré, Seydou Moussa; Ba, Souleymane; Dembélé, Étienne; Diop, Mamadou; Mariko, Soumaïla; Libité, Paul Roger (2007), Mali: Enquête Démographique et de Santé (EDSM-IV) 2006 (PDF), Calverton, MD, USA: Demographic and Health Surveys.