Updated
Overview
Mali has 4.7 times the population of Mauritania: 25.20 million people against 5.32 million (2025).
Mali's economy is 2.6 times the size of Mauritania's, at $30.07B versus $11.68B.
Per person, Mauritania is the wealthier of the two: $2,198 against $1,193 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mali | Mauritania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.07B | $11.68B | 2025 | $26.59B / $10.77B |
| GDP per capita | $1,193 | Higher: $2,198 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.6% | 4.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 3.2% / 2.5% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.8% | 10.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 34 | 31 | 2025 / 2023 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $176 | Higher: $1,650 | 2024 / 2019 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $66 | Higher: $81 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 25.20 million | 5.32 million | 2025 | 22.63 million / 5.20 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.7 yrs | 17.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.42 | 4.56 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 60.7 yrs | Higher: 68.7 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 32% | 61% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 37% | Higher: 46% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,240,192 km² | 1,030,700 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 20.3/km² | 5.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 6.98 Mt | Lower: 5.24 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.3 t | 1.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $929.28M | $260.06M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 2.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 41,000 | 21,000 | 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
Mali is growing faster: 5.6% annual GDP growth versus 4.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Mali and 1.5% in Mauritania.
Average monthly earnings favour Mauritania: $1,650 against $176 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 15.7 (Mali) and 17.4 (Mauritania).
Life expectancy is 8.0 years longer in Mauritania (68.7 vs 60.7).
Mauritania is considerably more urbanized: 61% of people live in cities, against 32%.
Geography
By land area, Mali is 20% larger than Mauritania: 1,240,192 km² versus 1,030,700 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Mali is far more densely settled: 20 people per km² against 5.
Military
Mali spends 3.6 times as much on defence as Mauritania: $929.28M versus $260.06M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Mali carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 2.2%.
Mali fields the larger armed forces: 41,000 personnel against 21,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mali bigger than Mauritania?
- Mali is larger by land area. Mali covers 1,240,192 km² while Mauritania covers 1,030,700 km², so Mali is 20% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Mali or Mauritania?
- Mali has the larger population: 25.20 million versus 5.32 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mali richer than Mauritania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Mauritania is richer: $2,198 against $1,193. Total GDP tells a different story: $30.07B for Mali versus $11.68B for Mauritania.
- Who spends more on their military, Mali or Mauritania?
- Mali spends more: $929.28M versus $260.06M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).