Kayes Population 2026

Kayes has a population of 194,716, making it the #5 biggest city in 🇲🇱 Mali, located in Kayes. Roughly 0.8% of Mali's population lives here. It is about 22× smaller than Bamako, the country's biggest city.

Location of Kayes (capital Bamako shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

194,716

Rank in Mali

Coordinates

14.45°N, 11.44°W

~47 m elevation · Africa/Bamako

Distance to capital (Bamako)

427 km

265 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Kayes

City	Population	Rank in Mali
Kita	75,598	#13
Nioro	51,933	#19
Diéma	30,592	#33
Bafoulabé	26,823	#37
Mahina	26,754	#38
Sagalo	15,830	#59

Cities near Kayes

Bafoulabé26,823 people · ~97 km away
Mahina26,754 people · ~157 km away
Nioro51,933 people · ~217 km away
Diéma30,592 people · ~243 km away
Sagalo15,830 people · ~263 km away
Kita75,598 people · ~263 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Kayes?

Kayes has a population of 194,716 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #5 biggest city in Mali.

What region is Kayes in?

Kayes is located in Kayes, Mali.

Is Kayes the capital of Mali?

No, the capital of Mali is Bamako, about 427 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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