Urban Population: Mali

Analysis# Mali Urban Population Mali's urban population reached 31.608% in 2024, marking the highest level recorded since tracking began in 1960. The nation has experienced dramatic urbanization over six decades, with the urban share expanding 350.1% from a mere 7.023% in 1960. Despite this substantial growth, Mali remains predominantly rural compared to global averages, indicating significant room for continued urban expansion. The past decade reveals consistent upward momentum, with annual increases averaging roughly 0.6 percentage points. Urban growth accelerated between 2015 and 2024, climbing from 25.847% to 31.608%, suggesting sustained rural-to-urban migration and natural population increase in cities. Current trends point toward Mali's urban population continuing its steady rise, likely driven by economic opportunities in major centers like Bamako and demographic pressures in rural regions.