Regions of Mali: population and official figures
Mali is divided into 20 regions. The largest by population is Bamako with 4,227,569 people (18.9% of the total); the smallest is Kidal with 83,192. Population and almost every other figure come from Mali's 2022 census (RGPH5) as published by INSTAT for the 19 regions and the District of Bamako set by the 2023 law, so Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti, Tombouctou and Gao now cover smaller areas than before the newer regions were created. Herds are from the 2023 Statistical Yearbook and poverty from the 2024 household survey (EMOP), which INSTAT reports for eight regions only.
Who governs Mali's regions?
Regions (19 in law; about 10 fully operational in 2021) and the District of Bamako: Governor appointed by central government; regional council elected (last in 2009, mandates extended); interim authorities in some northern regions since 2017. Regional planning and development.
How local power works in Mali · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 20 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bamako | 4,227,569 | 2022 | – |
| 2 | Ségou | 2,455,263 | 2022 | – |
| 3 | Koulikoro | 2,255,157 | 2022 | – |
| 4 | Kayes | 1,840,329 | 2022 | – |
| 5 | Bougouni | 1,570,979 | 2022 | – |
| 6 | Sikasso | 1,533,123 | 2022 | – |
| 7 | Koutiala | 1,169,882 | 2022 | – |
| 8 | Tombouctou | 974,278 | 2022 | – |
| 9 | Mopti | 935,579 | 2022 | – |
| 10 | Bandiagara | 868,916 | 2022 | – |
| 11 | San | 820,807 | 2022 | – |
| 12 | Gao | 727,517 | 2022 | – |
| 13 | Kita | 681,671 | 2022 | – |
| 14 | Nioro | 678,061 | 2022 | – |
| 15 | Dioïla | 675,965 | 2022 | – |
| 16 | Ménaka | 318,876 | 2022 | – |
| 17 | Nara | 307,777 | 2022 | – |
| 18 | Douentza | 170,189 | 2022 | – |
| 19 | Taoudenni | 100,358 | 2022 | – |
| 20 | Kidal | 83,192 | 2022 | – |
Cities: the largest cities of Mali.
More on Mali: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: état et structure de la population (Table 2.3, resident population by region and sex), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4d41cfc2e543…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022: résultats globaux (Tables 4 urban and rural population, 13 disability, 19 households), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2ebb4230e94b…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: scolarisation, instruction et alphabétisation (Tables 2.10, 3.10, 3.17, 3.23, 4.1), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f1354be81add…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: caractéristiques économiques de la population (Tables 4.5, 4.17, 4.28, 5.2), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4502014c1444…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: caractéristiques des habitations et cadre de vie (Tables 3.3, 3.14, 3.23, 4.17, 5.2, 6.2, 6.6), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e71c382c55b0…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: mortalité (Tables 2.09 life expectancy, 3.08 under-five mortality), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2541dcfd34a2…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: natalité et fécondité (Table 4.02), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9f0d77a12d0c…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali: Annuaire statistique du Mali 2023 (Statistical Yearbook): Table 47, livestock by region (DNPIA report 2023), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2519f7272dd9…)
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