Updated
Overview
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has 30% more people than Mali: 32.71 million against 25.20 million (2025).
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)'s economy is 3.3 times the size of Mali's, at $99.77B versus $30.07B.
Per person, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is the wealthier of the two: $3,050 against $1,193 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Mali | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $99.77B | $30.07B | 2025 | $86.54B / $26.59B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $3,050 | $1,193 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 5.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 3.3% | 2025 | 3.5% / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.3% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | 34 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $207 | $176 | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $124 | $66 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 32.71 million | 25.20 million | 2025 | 31.86 million / 22.63 million |
| Population growth | 2.4% | 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 18.3 yrs | 15.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.17 | 5.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 62.1 yrs | 60.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 55% | 32% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 41% | 37% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 322,463 km² | 1,240,192 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 101.4/km² | 20.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 15 Mt | Lower: 6.98 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.5 t | Lower: 0.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $658.35M | $929.28M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.8% | 4.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 27,000 | 41,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is growing faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 5.6%.
Mali runs the hotter price environment: 3.3% inflation versus 0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast): $207 against $176 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mali is the younger society: median age 15.7 versus 18.3 years.
Life expectancy is 1.4 years longer in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) (62.1 vs 60.7).
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is considerably more urbanized: 55% of people live in cities, against 32%.
Geography
By land area, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is 74% smaller than Mali: 322,463 km² versus 1,240,192 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is far more densely settled: 101 people per km² against 20.
Military
Mali spends about 40% more on defence than Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast): $929.28M versus $658.35M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Mali carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 0.8%.
Mali fields the larger armed forces: 41,000 personnel against 27,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) bigger than Mali?
- Mali is larger by land area. Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) covers 322,463 km² while Mali covers 1,240,192 km², so Mali is 3.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) or Mali?
- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has the larger population: 32.71 million versus 25.20 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) richer than Mali?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is richer: $3,050 against $1,193. Total GDP tells the same story: $99.77B for Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) versus $30.07B for Mali.
- Who spends more on their military, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) or Mali?
- Mali spends more: $929.28M versus $658.35M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
Related comparisons
Full profiles
Every comparison for Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) · Mali