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Mali vs Zambia
Side-by-side comparison of Mali and Zambia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Zambia scores 31.3 in the NationsTree Index (160th in the world) and Mali scores 25.3 (175th), a gap of 6.0 points. Their trees are 4.9 m and 5.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Mali has 15% more people than Zambia. Mali has 65% more land area than Zambia. Mali and Zambia have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Mali 25.2 million and Zambia 21.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $4,379 in Zambia and $3,503 in Mali (2025, international dollars). People in Zambia live on average 5.9 years longer (66.5 vs 60.7 years).
Of 33 indicators reported by both countries, Mali ranks higher in the world on 10 and Zambia on 23. Mali is clearly stronger in military and economy. Zambia is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, environment & energy and science & innovation.
As a nation, Mali is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Zambia (since 1964). Over the last five years Zambia improved faster (direction score 71 vs 49 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Mali and Zambia.
Malibetter
40.3%
60th of 189
Zambia
100.6%
170th of 189
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Mali
21.8
206th of 207
Zambiabetter
64.6
121st of 207
Income inequality (Gini)Society & health
Malibetter
35.7
63rd of 108
Zambia
51.5
106th of 108
InflationEconomy
Malibetter
3.3%
94th of 180
Zambia
13.9%
165th of 180
High-tech exportsTrade
Malibetter
5.4%
95th of 168
Zambia
1.5%
143rd of 168
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Zambia overtook Mali in the NationsTree Index in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia overtook Mali in life expectancy in 2009 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia overtook Mali in GDP (PPP) in 2004 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia has been ahead of Mali in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Mali has been ahead of Zambia 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
MaliZambia 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 | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,241,23823rd/216 · 2024 | 752,61238th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,220,19023rd/216 · 2024 | 743,39037th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 25.2 m58th/217 · 2025 | 21.9 m61st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.90%14th/217 · 2025 | 2.77%19th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 20.1186th/216 · 2024 | 28.7175th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 32.2%190th/217 · 2025 | 45.9%159th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 45.8%6th/217 · 2025 | 41.0%18th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.4%211th/217 · 2025 | 2.0%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $30.07 bn114th/210 · 2025 | $28.88 bn116th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $88.27 bn107th/199 · 2025 | $95.97 bn103rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $75.43 bn107th/199 · 2025 | $82.01 bn104th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,193190th/210 · 2025 | $1,318187th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,503181st/199 · 2025 | $4,379173rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,120182nd/201 · 2025 | $1,200180th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.6%42nd/210 · 2025 | 3.8%86th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.3%94th/180 · 2025 | 13.9%165th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.8%35th/187 · 2025 | 5.9%108th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 71.4%39th/55 · 2021 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 40.3%60th/189 · 2025 | 100.6%170th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.5%63rd/192 · 2025 | -3.8%125th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 33.0%8th/197 · 2025 | 4.1%113th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 23.4%103rd/200 · 2025 | 35.3%31st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.5%129th/192 · 2025 | 8.7%114th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 36.6%191st/200 · 2025 | 57.0%106th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.64 bn121st/182 · 2025 | $8.85 bn115th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $8.03 bn124th/182 · 2025 | $6.97 bn128th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.1%136th/183 · 2025 | 35.0%97th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 26.7%147th/183 · 2025 | 27.6%145th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 48.8%147th/183 · 2025 | 62.5%122nd/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.6%109th/170 · 2023 | 2.7%90th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 6.5%143rd/171 · 2023 | 14.1%121st/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 6.2%135th/171 · 2023 | 8.7%122nd/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.7%139th/171 · 2023 | 73.0%2nd/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 5.4%95th/168 · 2023 | 1.5%143rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 0.1%75th/191 · 2025 | -5.5%144th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.8%75th/196 · 2025 | 4.5%46th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 18.4%27th/209 · 2021 | 35.3%5th/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 | 0.23%23rd/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 16.18%6th/209 · 2021 | 28.25%2nd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.23%32nd/209 · 2021 | 6.78%11th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 5.5%133rd/206 · 2024 | 5.1%138th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,60089th/183 · 2022 | 3,98070th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 217,000150th/194 · 2019 | 502,000122nd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $231.0 m119th/175 · 2018 | — |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.5%81st/168 · 2018 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 60.7211th/217 · 2024 | 66.5181st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 73.0184th/196 · 2024 | 48.4165th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.19148th/174 · 2023 | 0.32132nd/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.32018 | 2.02010 |
| 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 | 44.1%118th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 38.9%164th/173 · 2023 | 56.8%149th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 35.3%39th/55 · 2021 | 2.3%2015 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.6%205th/217 · 2025 | 3.5%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.8%158th/193 · 2023 | 6.0%105th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 35.6%97th/98 · 2024 | 71.8%77th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 5.1%2015 | 4.0%2012 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.419188th/193 · 2023 | 0.595154th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.763rd/108 · 2021 | 51.5106th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 36.1%95th/108 · 2021 | 71.7%107th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 49.5%201st/215 · 2024 | 53.6%197th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 20.0%127th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 36.8%160th/186 · 2024 | 17.1%180th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 112116th/210 · 2022 | 109122nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.8174th/208 · 2022 | 0.8173rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.00148th/164 · 2022 | 2.30117th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 7332002 | 1,24862nd/82 · 2019 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 02014 | 321,739124th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3031st/203 · 2024 | 0.5445th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 71.1%28th/212 · 2022 | 83.0%10th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 35.5168th/200 · 2023 | 20.2120th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 8.7%172nd/214 · 2024 | 60.5%31st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 812103rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 24.3191st/205 · 2025 | 44.4136th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 29.1163rd/207 · 2025 | 38.9129th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 39.1177th/207 · 2025 | 50.5135th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 21.8206th/207 · 2025 | 64.6121st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 41.6166th/205 · 2025 | 47.7132nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 34.7168th/205 · 2025 | 52.1120th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 5.22015 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $952.9 m84th/156 · 2025 | $405.9 m111th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.9%14th/156 · 2025 | 1.3%102nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 14.8%18th/154 · 2025 | 4.5%92nd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 41,00079th/170 · 2020 | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.54%107th/168 · 2020 | 0.24%150th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 64.0 m58th/163 · 2025 | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2024 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 2.0 m1990 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.15%92nd/110 · 2023 | 0.28%2008 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 1892nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 117137th/197 · 2023 | 367112th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Mali or Zambia?
Mali has the larger population: 25.2 m (2025) compared with 21.9 m for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Mali or Zambia?
Mali is larger: 1,241,238 km² (2024) compared with 752,612 km² for Zambia (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Mali or Zambia?
Zambia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $95.97 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 Zambia?
Zambia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $4,379 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 Zambia?
Zambia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 66.5 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 Zambia?
Mali spends more on the military: $952.9 m (2025) compared with $405.9 m for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Mali or Zambia?
Zambia: 31.3 points (160th 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
Senegal
Sudan
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 Zambia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/mali-vs-zambia. Data as of 26 October 2026.