What is the population of Bamako?
Bamako's metropolitan area has about 2,926,000 people, making it the 108th largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.
In Mali
Metro population
2,926,000
0.035% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+4.95%
About 397 people a day
Archive estimateDensity
11,943/km²
245 km² metro area
City proper
4,227,569
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNamesAbout Bamako
With a city-proper population of 4,227,569, Bamako ranks among Africa's largest urban centers. The metropolitan area extends to 2,926,000 residents, growing at 5% annually—a rate that reflects sustained demographic expansion. At an elevation of 374 m, the city experiences a notably high population density of 11,943 people per km², concentrating substantial human activity across its territory.
Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO) serves as the primary air gateway to the city. The rapid annual growth rate suggests ongoing urbanization pressures, with infrastructure and services responding to an expanding population base.
This summary is AI-generated from the statistics on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Key Facts
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Modibo Keita International AirportBKO
9 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
Metropolitan population against the fifteen largest metro areas.
| Name | Metro population |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 37.4M |
| Delhi | 32.9M |
| Shanghai | 29.2M |
| São Paulo | 22.6M |
| Dhaka | 22.5M |
| Mexico City | 22.3M |
| Cairo | 22.2M |
| Mumbai | 21.7M |
| Beijing | 21.5M |
| Osaka | 19M |
| New York | 18.9M |
| Karachi | 17.1M |
| Kinshasa | 17.1M |
| Chongqing | 16.9M |
| Lagos | 15.9M |
| Bamako | 2.93M |
Population Trend in Mali
No free source publishes metropolitan population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 4,696,911 |
| 1960 | 5,402,550 |
| 1970 | 6,276,472 |
| 1980 | 7,530,515 |
| 1990 | 9,178,830 |
| 2000 | 11,559,290 |
| 2010 | 15,945,198 |
| 2020 | 21,713,836 |
| 2030 | 29,002,865 |
| 2040 | 37,413,643 |
| 2050 | 46,154,079 |
| 2060 | 54,787,469 |
| 2070 | 62,919,460 |
| 2080 | 69,994,175 |
| 2090 | 75,539,858 |
| 2100 | 79,354,048 |
Nearest Major Cities
Closest cities in our dataset by great-circle distance.
Bamako Population FAQ
What is the difference between Bamako's city and metro population?
About 4,227,569 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 2,926,000. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.
Is Bamako growing or shrinking?
Bamako is growing at +4.95% a year.
What share of Mali's population lives in Bamako?
Bamako's metro area holds about 11.6% of Mali's total population.
How densely populated is Bamako?
Bamako has roughly 11,943 people per km² across a metro area of about 245 km².
Which airports serve Bamako?
The nearest major airports are Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO).
Which country is Bamako in?
Bamako is in Mali, in Africa.
Explore More Cities
- #1 TokyoJapan · 37.4M · −0.14%
- #2 DelhiIndia · 32.9M · +2.78%
- #3 ShanghaiChina · 29.2M · +0.86%
- #4 São PauloBrazil · 22.6M · +0.75%
- #5 DhakaBangladesh · 22.5M · +2.89%
- #6 Mexico CityMexico · 22.3M · +0.80%