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Mali vs Senegal
Side-by-side comparison of Mali and Senegal from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Senegal scores 34.8 in the NationsTree Index (147th in the world) and Mali scores 25.3 (175th), a gap of 9.5 points. Their trees are 4.9 m and 5.6 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Mali has 33% more people than Senegal. Mali is 6.3 times larger than Senegal by land area. The economy of Senegal is 17% larger than that of Mali (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Mali 25.2 million and Senegal 18.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $5,463 in Senegal and $3,503 in Mali (2025, international dollars). People in Senegal live on average 8.2 years longer (68.9 vs 60.7 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Mali ranks higher in the world on 10 and Senegal on 25. Mali is clearly stronger in military. Senegal is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, science & innovation and tourism.
Over the last five years Mali improved faster (direction score 49 vs 24 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Mali and Senegal.
Malibetter
40.3%
60th of 189
Senegal
127.7%
180th of 189
Government budget balanceEconomy
Malibetter
-1.5%
63rd of 192
Senegal
-6.4%
167th of 192
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Mali
24.3
191st of 205
Senegalbetter
57.5
83rd of 205
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Mali
29.1
163rd of 207
Senegalbetter
51.1
82nd of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Senegal overtook Mali in GDP (PPP) in 2019 and has stayed ahead since.
Senegal overtook Mali in the NationsTree Index in 2010 and has stayed ahead since.
Senegal has been ahead of Mali in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Mali has been ahead of Senegal in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
MaliSenegal 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 | Mali | Senegal |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,241,23823rd/216 · 2024 | 196,71087th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,220,19023rd/216 · 2024 | 192,53086th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 25.2 m58th/217 · 2025 | 18.9 m68th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.90%14th/217 · 2025 | 2.30%35th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 20.1186th/216 · 2024 | 96.1111th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 32.2%190th/217 · 2025 | 55.8%141st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 45.8%6th/217 · 2025 | 37.7%35th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.4%211th/217 · 2025 | 3.6%175th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $30.07 bn114th/210 · 2025 | $37.01 bn108th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $88.27 bn107th/199 · 2025 | $103.43 bn102nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $75.43 bn107th/199 · 2025 | $88.38 bn101st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,193190th/210 · 2025 | $1,955177th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,503181st/199 · 2025 | $5,463163rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,120182nd/201 · 2025 | $1,780169th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.6%42nd/210 · 2025 | 6.7%23rd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.3%94th/180 · 2025 | 1.5%47th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.8%35th/187 · 2025 | 2.7%30th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 40.3%60th/189 · 2025 | 127.7%180th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.5%63rd/192 · 2025 | -6.4%167th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 33.0%8th/197 · 2025 | 17.1%41st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 23.4%103rd/200 · 2025 | 26.1%74th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.5%129th/192 · 2025 | 13.2%60th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 36.6%191st/200 · 2025 | 46.3%164th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.64 bn121st/182 · 2025 | $12.02 bn103rd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $8.03 bn124th/182 · 2025 | $14.28 bn106th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.1%136th/183 · 2025 | 32.5%101st/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 26.7%147th/183 · 2025 | 38.6%106th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 48.8%147th/183 · 2025 | 71.1%111th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.6%109th/170 · 2023 | 32.7%29th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 6.5%143rd/171 · 2023 | 22.3%100th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 6.2%135th/171 · 2023 | 21.6%69th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.7%139th/171 · 2023 | 7.9%47th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 5.4%95th/168 · 2023 | 3.0%117th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 0.1%75th/191 · 2025 | -1.2%95th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.8%75th/196 · 2025 | 0.1%172nd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 18.4%27th/209 · 2021 | 4.4%77th/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%89th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 16.18%6th/209 · 2021 | 2.90%32nd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.23%32nd/209 · 2021 | 1.50%43rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 5.5%133rd/206 · 2024 | 19.9%55th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,60089th/183 · 2022 | 1,462111th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 217,000150th/194 · 2019 | 1.4 m84th/194 · 2017 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $231.0 m119th/175 · 2018 | $557.0 m92nd/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.5%81st/168 · 2018 | 10.5%56th/168 · 2018 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 60.7211th/217 · 2024 | 68.9161st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 73.0184th/196 · 2024 | 36.5147th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.19148th/174 · 2023 | 0.11162nd/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.32018 | 0.7131st/145 · 2019 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 82%141st/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 10.2%151st/153 · 2022 | 14.7%148th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 38.9%164th/173 · 2023 | 44.1%161st/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 35.3%39th/55 · 2021 | 33.9%40th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.6%205th/217 · 2025 | 6.2%174th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.8%158th/193 · 2023 | 4.3%147th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 35.6%97th/98 · 2024 | 50.4%93rd/98 · 2023 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 5.1%2015 | 15.3%128th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.419188th/193 · 2023 | 0.530169th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.763rd/108 · 2021 | 36.269th/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 36.1%95th/108 · 2021 | 17.9%88th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 49.5%201st/215 · 2024 | 82.9%168th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 27.2%133rd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 20.0%127th/144 · 2024 | 30.1%110th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 36.8%160th/186 · 2024 | 60.1%139th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 112116th/210 · 2022 | 12480th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.8174th/208 · 2022 | 4.0146th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.00148th/164 · 2022 | 2.22130th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 7332002 | 9062004 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 02014 | 1.1 m97th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3031st/203 · 2024 | 0.7755th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 71.1%28th/212 · 2022 | 35.4%68th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 35.5168th/200 · 2023 | 41.6180th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 8.7%172nd/214 · 2024 | 45.0%66th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 324141st/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 24.3191st/205 · 2025 | 57.583rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 29.1163rd/207 · 2025 | 51.182nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 39.1177th/207 · 2025 | 55.5111th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 21.8206th/207 · 2025 | 62.7129th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 41.6166th/205 · 2025 | 51.0117th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 34.7168th/205 · 2025 | 60.793rd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 0.32015 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $952.9 m84th/156 · 2025 | $566.9 m101st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.9%14th/156 · 2025 | 1.6%85th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 14.8%18th/154 · 2025 | 5.2%76th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 41,00079th/170 · 2020 | 19,000108th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.54%107th/168 · 2020 | 0.37%134th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 64.0 m58th/163 · 2025 | 79.0 m54th/163 · 2024 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.15%92nd/110 · 2023 | 0.58%2015 |
| Scientific articles articles | 117137th/197 · 2023 | 490102nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Mali or Senegal?
Mali has the larger population: 25.2 m (2025) compared with 18.9 m for Senegal (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Mali or Senegal?
Mali is larger: 1,241,238 km² (2024) compared with 196,710 km² for Senegal (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Mali or Senegal?
Senegal has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $103.43 bn intl. (2025) compared with $88.27 bn intl. for Mali (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Mali or Senegal?
Senegal has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $5,463 intl. (2025) compared with $3,503 intl. for Mali (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Mali or Senegal?
Senegal has the higher life expectancy at birth: 68.9 years (2024) compared with 60.7 years for Mali (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Mali or Senegal?
Mali spends more on the military: $952.9 m (2025) compared with $566.9 m for Senegal (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Mali or Senegal?
Senegal: 34.8 points (147th 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.
Burkina Faso
Guinea
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). Mali vs Senegal — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/mali-vs-senegal. Data as of 26 October 2026.