Updated
Overview
Mali has about 65% more people than Guinea: 25.20 million against 15.10 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $30.07B for Mali and $28.35B for Guinea.
Per person, Guinea is the wealthier of the two: $1,877 against $1,193 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mali | Guinea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.07B | $28.35B | 2025 | $26.59B / $25.33B |
| GDP per capita | $1,193 | Higher: $1,877 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.6% | Higher: 7.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.3% | 3.5% | 2025 | 3.2% / 8.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.8% | 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 34 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $176 | Higher: $192 | 2024 / 2019 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $66 | $46 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 25.20 million | 15.10 million | 2025 | 22.63 million / 14.37 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.7 yrs | 18.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.42 | 4.04 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 60.7 yrs | Higher: 60.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 32% | 39% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 37% | 33% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,240,192 km² | 245,857 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 20.3/km² | 61.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 6.98 Mt | Lower: 4.03 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.3 t | Lower: 0.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $929.28M | $562.46M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 41,000 | 13,000 | 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
Guinea is growing faster: 7.4% annual GDP growth versus 5.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Mali and 3.5% in Guinea.
Average monthly earnings favour Guinea: $192 against $176 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mali is the younger society: median age 15.7 versus 18.3 years.
Geography
By land area, Mali is 5.0 times the size of Guinea: 1,240,192 km² versus 245,857 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Guinea is far more densely settled: 61 people per km² against 20.
Military
Mali spends about 65% more on defence than Guinea: $929.28M versus $562.46M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Mali carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 2.1%.
Mali fields the larger armed forces: 41,000 personnel against 13,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mali bigger than Guinea?
- Mali is larger by land area. Mali covers 1,240,192 km² while Guinea covers 245,857 km², so Mali is 5.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Mali or Guinea?
- Mali has the larger population: 25.20 million versus 15.10 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mali richer than Guinea?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Guinea is richer: $1,877 against $1,193. Total GDP tells a different story: $30.07B for Mali versus $28.35B for Guinea.
- Who spends more on their military, Mali or Guinea?
- Mali spends more: $929.28M versus $562.46M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).