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
Mali vs Zimbabwe
Side-by-side comparison of Mali and Zimbabwe from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Zimbabwe
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 46 years
In short
Mali scores 25.3 in the NationsTree Index (175th in the world) and Zimbabwe scores 25.2 (176th), a gap of 0.1 points. Their trees are 4.9 m and 5.4 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Mali has 49% more people than Zimbabwe. Mali is 3.2 times larger than Zimbabwe by land area. The economy of Zimbabwe is 24% larger than that of Mali (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Mali 25.2 million and Zimbabwe 17.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $6,470 in Zimbabwe and $3,503 in Mali (2025, international dollars). People in Zimbabwe live on average 2.4 years longer (63.1 vs 60.7 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Mali ranks higher in the world on 10 and Zimbabwe on 20. Mali is clearly stronger in military. Zimbabwe is clearly stronger in science & innovation, main industries and environment & energy.
As a nation, Mali is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Zimbabwe (since 1980). Over the last five years Mali improved faster (direction score 49 vs 35 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Mali and Zimbabwe.
Malibetter
2.8%
35th of 187
Zimbabwe
9.3%
146th of 187
InflationEconomy
Malibetter
3.3%
94th of 180
Zimbabwe
104.7%
178th of 180
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Mali
35.5
168th of 200
Zimbabwebetter
15.0
82nd of 200
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Mali
2.00
148th of 164
Zimbabwebetter
2.40
96th of 164
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Malibetter
2,600
89th of 183
Zimbabwe
763
142nd of 183
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Mali overtook Zimbabwe in the NationsTree Index in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Zimbabwe overtook Mali in life expectancy in 2014 and has stayed ahead since.
Zimbabwe overtook Mali in GDP (PPP) in 2010 and has stayed ahead since.
Mali overtook Zimbabwe in population in 2002 and has stayed ahead since.
Zimbabwe has been ahead of Mali in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
MaliZimbabwe 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 | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,241,23823rd/216 · 2024 | 390,76062nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,220,19023rd/216 · 2024 | 386,85061st/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 25.2 m58th/217 · 2025 | 17.0 m73rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.90%14th/217 · 2025 | 1.88%54th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 20.1186th/216 · 2024 | 43.0161st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 32.2%190th/217 · 2025 | 40.5%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 45.8%6th/217 · 2025 | 40.3%23rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.4%211th/217 · 2025 | 3.6%177th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $30.07 bn114th/210 · 2025 | $51.22 bn96th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $88.27 bn107th/199 · 2025 | $109.68 bn100th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $75.43 bn107th/199 · 2025 | $93.72 bn100th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,193190th/210 · 2025 | $3,021163rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,503181st/199 · 2025 | $6,470157th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,120182nd/201 · 2025 | $2,660158th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.6%42nd/210 · 2025 | 8.1%10th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.3%94th/180 · 2025 | 104.7%178th/180 · 2022 |
| Unemployment % | 2.8%35th/187 · 2025 | 9.3%146th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 40.3%60th/189 · 2025 | 38.0%54th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.5%63rd/192 · 2025 | 0.1%36th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 33.0%8th/197 · 2025 | 9.5%73rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 23.4%103rd/200 · 2025 | 37.1%23rd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.5%129th/192 · 2025 | 14.9%45th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 36.6%191st/200 · 2025 | 48.2%154th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.64 bn121st/182 · 2025 | $7.50 bn118th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $8.03 bn124th/182 · 2025 | $9.74 bn119th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.1%136th/183 · 2025 | 18.1%152nd/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 26.7%147th/183 · 2025 | 23.4%156th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 48.8%147th/183 · 2025 | 41.5%158th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.6%109th/170 · 2023 | 2.9%88th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 6.5%143rd/171 · 2023 | 6.7%142nd/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 6.2%135th/171 · 2023 | 21.6%68th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.7%139th/171 · 2023 | 33.8%13th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 5.4%95th/168 · 2023 | 2.8%124th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 0.1%75th/191 · 2025 | 3.6%46th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.8%75th/196 · 2025 | 1.9%107th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 18.4%27th/209 · 2021 | 6.4%64th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.05%84th/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 | 0.29%19th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 16.18%6th/209 · 2021 | 4.24%25th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.23%32nd/209 · 2021 | 1.82%39th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 5.5%133rd/206 · 2024 | 10.4%101st/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 2,60089th/183 · 2022 | 763142nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 217,000150th/194 · 2019 | 639,000114th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $231.0 m119th/175 · 2018 | $66.0 m150th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.5%81st/168 · 2018 | 1.3%147th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 3.3 m36th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 60.7211th/217 · 2024 | 63.1200th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 73.0184th/196 · 2024 | 64.7180th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.19148th/174 · 2023 | 0.14158th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.32018 | 2.02014 |
| 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 | 64.9%2017 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 38.9%164th/173 · 2023 | 52.4%2013 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 35.3%39th/55 · 2021 | 36.7%38th/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.6%205th/217 · 2025 | 6.3%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.8%158th/193 · 2023 | 2.9%179th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 35.6%97th/98 · 2024 | 93.2%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 5.1%2015 | 7.7%143rd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.419188th/193 · 2023 | 0.598153rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.763rd/108 · 2021 | 50.32019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 36.1%95th/108 · 2021 | 49.2%2019 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 49.5%201st/215 · 2024 | 62.0%184th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 25.5%134th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 20.0%127th/144 · 2024 | 23.6%123rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 36.8%160th/186 · 2024 | 41.6%154th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 112116th/210 · 2022 | 94150th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.8174th/208 · 2022 | 1.9158th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.00148th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 7332002 | 3,12040th/82 · 2020 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 02014 | 92,494138th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3031st/203 · 2024 | 0.7756th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 71.1%28th/212 · 2022 | 82.4%13th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 35.5168th/200 · 2023 | 15.082nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 8.7%172nd/214 · 2024 | 35.7%93rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 490121st/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 24.3191st/205 · 2025 | 34.2175th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 29.1163rd/207 · 2025 | 22.0186th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 39.1177th/207 · 2025 | 38.6181st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 21.8206th/207 · 2025 | 50.3174th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 41.6166th/205 · 2025 | 33.5187th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 34.7168th/205 · 2025 | 33.9175th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 6.8105th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $952.9 m84th/156 · 2025 | $159.6 m133rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.9%14th/156 · 2025 | 0.6%141st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 14.8%18th/154 · 2025 | 5.3%2005 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 41,00079th/170 · 2020 | 51,00069th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.54%107th/168 · 2020 | 0.88%78th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 64.0 m58th/163 · 2025 | 20.0 m90th/163 · 2023 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 4.0 m2001 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.15%92nd/110 · 2023 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 2688th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 117137th/197 · 2023 | 52096th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Mali or Zimbabwe?
Mali has the larger population: 25.2 m (2025) compared with 17.0 m for Zimbabwe (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Mali or Zimbabwe?
Mali is larger: 1,241,238 km² (2024) compared with 390,760 km² for Zimbabwe (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Mali or Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $109.68 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 Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $6,470 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 Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has the higher life expectancy at birth: 63.1 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 Zimbabwe?
Mali spends more on the military: $952.9 m (2025) compared with $159.6 m for Zimbabwe (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Mali or Zimbabwe?
Mali: 25.3 points (175th in the world); Zimbabwe: 25.2 points (176th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Burkina Faso
Guinea
Senegal
Sudan
ZambiaSources
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 Zimbabwe — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/mali-vs-zimbabwe. Data as of 26 October 2026.