# Demographics of Mali

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.

## 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

Structure of the population (census January 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 (January 2018):
| 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 |

## 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. (UN World Population Prospects 2024).
| | 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 | 21 380 | 889 | 206 | 668 | 41.0 | 9.5 | 30.8 | 5.85 | 57.1 | 65.5 |
| 2021 | 22 048 | 911 | 208 | 681 | 40.7 | 9.3 | 30.4 | 5.78 | 55.4 | 63.8 |
| 2022 | 22 729 | 931 | 204 | 687 | 40.3 | 8.9 | 29.8 | 5.69 | 57.1 | 62.4 |
| 2023 | 23 416 | 951 | 205 | 706 | 40.0 | 8.6 | 29.7 | 5.61 | 60.8 | 58.63 |

### Demographic and Health Surveys

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) |
| 2023-24 | 42.0 | 6.0 | 38.8 | 5.0 | 42.9 | 6.4 |
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.

## Ethnic groups

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 and Somono 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.

## Languages

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

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

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 |