Updated
Overview
Mali and Burkina Faso are nearly matched in population: 25.20 million versus 24.07 million people (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $30.07B for Mali and $27.63B for Burkina Faso.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mali | Burkina Faso | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.07B | $27.63B | 2025 | $26.59B / $23.25B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,193 | $1,148 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.6% | 5.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: -0.6% | 2025 | 3.2% / 4.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.8% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 34 | 37 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $176 | Higher: $212 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $66 | Higher: $74 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 25.20 million | 24.07 million | 2025 | 22.63 million / 23.49 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.7 yrs | 17.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.42 | 4.00 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 60.7 yrs | Higher: 61.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 32% | 29% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 37% | 28% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,240,192 km² | 272,967 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 20.3/km² | 88.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 6.98 Mt | Lower: 6.51 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.3 t | Lower: 0.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $929.28M | $1.02B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 4.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 41,000 | 11,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (5.6% for Mali, 5.3% for Burkina Faso).
Mali runs the hotter price environment: 3.3% inflation versus -0.6%.
Average monthly earnings favour Burkina Faso: $212 against $176 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mali is the younger society: median age 15.7 versus 17.7 years.
Geography
By land area, Mali is 4.5 times the size of Burkina Faso: 1,240,192 km² versus 272,967 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Burkina Faso is far more densely settled: 88 people per km² against 20.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $929.28M (Mali) and $1.02B (Burkina Faso).
Mali fields the larger armed forces: 41,000 personnel against 11,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mali bigger than Burkina Faso?
- Mali is larger by land area. Mali covers 1,240,192 km² while Burkina Faso covers 272,967 km², so Mali is 4.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Mali or Burkina Faso?
- Mali has the larger population: 25.20 million versus 24.07 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mali richer than Burkina Faso?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Mali is richer: $1,193 against $1,148. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.07B for Mali versus $27.63B for Burkina Faso.
- Who spends more on their military, Mali or Burkina Faso?
- Burkina Faso spends more: $1.02B versus $929.28M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).