Updated
Overview
Mali has 33% more people than Senegal: 25.20 million against 18.93 million (2025).
Senegal's economy is 23% larger than Mali's, at $37.01B versus $30.07B.
Per person, Senegal is the wealthier of the two: $1,955 against $1,193 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mali | Senegal | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $30.07B | Higher: $37.01B | 2025 | $26.59B / $32.27B |
| GDP per capita | $1,193 | Higher: $1,955 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.6% | Higher: 6.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 3.2% / 0.8% |
| Unemployment | 2.8% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 34 | 36 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $176 | Higher: $279 | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $66 | Higher: $106 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 25.20 million | 18.93 million | 2025 | 22.63 million / 18.85 million |
| Population growth | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.7 yrs | 19.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.42 | 3.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 60.7 yrs | Higher: 68.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 32% | 56% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 37% | Higher: 60% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,240,192 km² | 196,722 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 20.3/km² | 96.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 6.98 Mt | 14 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.3 t | 0.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $929.28M | $514.94M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 41,000 | 19,000 | 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
Senegal is growing faster: 6.7% annual GDP growth versus 5.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in Mali and 1.5% in Senegal.
Average monthly earnings favour Senegal: $279 against $176 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mali is the younger society: median age 15.7 versus 19.6 years.
Life expectancy is 8.2 years longer in Senegal (68.9 vs 60.7).
Senegal is considerably more urbanized: 56% of people live in cities, against 32%.
Internet adoption is higher in Senegal (60% vs 37% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Mali is 6.3 times the size of Senegal: 1,240,192 km² versus 196,722 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Senegal is far more densely settled: 96 people per km² against 20.
Military
Mali spends about 80% more on defence than Senegal: $929.28M versus $514.94M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Mali carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 1.6%.
Mali fields the larger armed forces: 41,000 personnel against 19,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mali bigger than Senegal?
- Mali is larger by land area. Mali covers 1,240,192 km² while Senegal covers 196,722 km², so Mali is 6.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Mali or Senegal?
- Mali has the larger population: 25.20 million versus 18.93 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mali richer than Senegal?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Senegal is richer: $1,955 against $1,193. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.07B for Mali versus $37.01B for Senegal.
- Who spends more on their military, Mali or Senegal?
- Mali spends more: $929.28M versus $514.94M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).