EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Guinea vs Mali
Side-by-side comparison of Guinea and Mali from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Guinea scores 26.7 in the NationsTree Index (171st in the world) and Mali scores 25.3 (175th), a gap of 1.4 points. Their trees are 4.5 m and 4.9 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Mali has 67% more people than Guinea. Mali is 5.0 times larger than Guinea by land area. The economy of Mali is 18% larger than that of Guinea (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Guinea 15.1 million and Mali 25.2 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $4,935 in Guinea and $3,503 in Mali (2025, international dollars). Life expectancy is almost the same: 60.9 and 60.7 years.
Of 27 indicators reported by both countries, Guinea ranks higher in the world on 15 and Mali on 12. Guinea is clearly stronger in trade and main industries. Mali is clearly stronger in tourism and military.
As a nation, Guinea is the older of the two (statehood since 1958, 68 years), compared with Mali (since 1960). Over the last five years Guinea improved faster (direction score 64 vs 49 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Guinea and Mali.
Guinea
-6.4%
167th of 192
Malibetter
-1.5%
63rd of 192
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Guineabetter
2.40
96th of 164
Mali
2.00
148th of 164
UnemploymentEconomy
Guinea
5.2%
94th of 187
Malibetter
2.8%
35th of 187
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Guineabetter
16,080
38th of 183
Mali
2,600
89th of 183
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Guinea overtook Mali in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
Guinea overtook Mali in GDP per person (PPP) in 2017 and has stayed ahead since.
Mali has been ahead of Guinea in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Guinea has been ahead of Mali in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
GuineaMali All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Guinea | Mali |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 245,85778th/216 · 2024 | 1,241,23823rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 245,72078th/216 · 2024 | 1,220,19023rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 15.1 m74th/217 · 2025 | 25.2 m58th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.31%34th/217 · 2025 | 2.90%14th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 60.0145th/216 · 2024 | 20.1186th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 38.5%177th/217 · 2025 | 32.2%190th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 40.5%19th/217 · 2025 | 45.8%6th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.5%179th/217 · 2025 | 2.4%211th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $28.35 bn117th/210 · 2025 | $30.07 bn114th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $74.51 bn114th/199 · 2025 | $88.27 bn107th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $63.67 bn114th/199 · 2025 | $75.43 bn107th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,877178th/210 · 2025 | $1,193190th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $4,935166th/199 · 2025 | $3,503181st/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,730170th/201 · 2025 | $1,120182nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 7.4%17th/210 · 2025 | 5.6%42nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.6%107th/180 · 2025 | 3.3%94th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 5.2%94th/187 · 2025 | 2.8%35th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 36.3%53rd/189 · 2025 | 40.3%60th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.4%167th/192 · 2025 | -1.5%63rd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 31.3%11th/197 · 2025 | 33.0%8th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.4%79th/200 · 2025 | 23.4%103rd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 12.7%67th/192 · 2022 | 7.5%129th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 35.7%194th/200 · 2025 | 36.6%191st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $11.74 bn107th/182 · 2025 | $6.64 bn121st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $17.65 bn98th/182 · 2025 | $8.03 bn124th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 41.4%75th/183 · 2025 | 22.1%136th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 62.3%52nd/183 · 2025 | 26.7%147th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 103.7%57th/183 · 2025 | 48.8%147th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%2016 | 1.6%109th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 3.7%2016 | 6.5%143rd/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 4.3%2016 | 6.2%135th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 25.8%2016 | 0.7%139th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.9%2016 | 5.4%95th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -14.7%177th/191 · 2025 | 0.1%75th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 27.4%6th/196 · 2025 | 2.8%75th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 4.5%76th/209 · 2021 | 18.4%27th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 16.18%6th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 4.52%17th/209 · 2021 | 2.23%32nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 24.7%40th/206 · 2024 | 5.5%133rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 16,08038th/183 · 2022 | 2,60089th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 99,000163rd/194 · 2017 | 217,000150th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.3 m175th/175 · 2020 | $231.0 m119th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.0%168th/168 · 2020 | 5.5%81st/168 · 2018 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 60.9210th/217 · 2024 | 60.7211th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 92.1191st/196 · 2024 | 73.0184th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.21145th/174 · 2022 | 0.19148th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.32011 | 0.32018 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 63%180th/193 · 2024 | 82%141st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 12.6%2018 | 10.2%151st/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 38.6%2014 | 38.9%164th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 10.5%2018 | 35.3%39th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.2%175th/217 · 2025 | 4.6%205th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.7%162nd/193 · 2023 | 3.8%158th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 39.6%2018 | 35.6%97th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.9%2014 | 5.1%2015 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.500179th/193 · 2023 | 0.419188th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 29.62018 | 35.763rd/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 11.7%2018 | 36.1%95th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 53.8%196th/215 · 2024 | 49.5%201st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 20.0%127th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 33.3%164th/186 · 2024 | 36.8%160th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 98143rd/210 · 2023 | 112116th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.0204th/208 · 2022 | 0.8174th/208 · 2022 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 2.00148th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 7332002 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 58,5001999 | 02014 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3534th/203 · 2024 | 0.3031st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 66.6%31st/212 · 2022 | 71.1%28th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 27.3145th/200 · 2023 | 35.5168th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 20.0%131st/214 · 2024 | 8.7%172nd/214 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 33.9177th/205 · 2025 | 24.3191st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 26.6172nd/207 · 2025 | 29.1163rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 38.7179th/207 · 2025 | 39.1177th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 52.8169th/207 · 2025 | 21.8206th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 39.1177th/205 · 2025 | 41.6166th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 36.1162nd/205 · 2025 | 34.7168th/205 · 2025 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $600.5 m99th/156 · 2025 | $952.9 m84th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.0%61st/156 · 2025 | 3.9%14th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 10.6%28th/154 · 2025 | 14.8%18th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 13,000121st/170 · 2020 | 41,00079th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.32%144th/168 · 2020 | 0.54%107th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 6.0 m125th/163 · 2025 | 64.0 m58th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.15%92nd/110 · 2023 |
| Scientific articles articles | 55151st/197 · 2023 | 117137th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Guinea or Mali?
Mali has the larger population: 25.2 m (2025) compared with 15.1 m for Guinea (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Guinea or Mali?
Mali is larger: 1,241,238 km² (2024) compared with 245,857 km² for Guinea (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Guinea or Mali?
Mali has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $88.27 bn intl. (2025) compared with $74.51 bn intl. for Guinea (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Guinea or Mali?
Guinea has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $4,935 intl. (2025) compared with $3,503 intl. for Mali (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Guinea or Mali?
Guinea has the higher life expectancy at birth: 60.9 years (2024) compared with 60.7 years for Mali (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Guinea or Mali?
Mali spends more on the military: $952.9 m (2025) compared with $600.5 m for Guinea (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Guinea or Mali?
Guinea: 26.7 points (171st in the world); Mali: 25.3 points (175th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Benin
Burkina Faso
Madagascar
Senegal
Sudan
Zambia
ZimbabweSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Guinea vs Mali — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/guinea-vs-mali. Data as of 26 October 2026.