Timbuktu Population 2026

Timbuktu has a population of 84,208, making it the #12 biggest city in 🇲🇱 Mali, located in Tombouctou. Roughly 0.3% of Mali's population lives here. It is about 50× smaller than Bamako, the country's biggest city.

BamakoTimbuktu
Location of Timbuktu (capital Bamako shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
84,208
Rank in Mali
#12
Coordinates
16.77°N, 3.01°W
~274 m elevation · Africa/Bamako
Distance to capital (Bamako)
707 km
439 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Tombouctou

CityPopulationRank in Mali
Diré31,348#32
Goundam19,400#55

Cities near Timbuktu

  • Diré31,348 people · ~71 km away
  • Goundam19,400 people · ~81 km away
  • Douentza37,002 people · ~197 km away
  • Bandiagara26,460 people · ~277 km away
  • Mopti186,187 people · ~284 km away
  • Bourem42,371 people · ~284 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Timbuktu?
Timbuktu has a population of 84,208 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #12 biggest city in Mali.
What region is Timbuktu in?
Timbuktu is located in Tombouctou, Mali.
Is Timbuktu the capital of Mali?
No, the capital of Mali is Bamako, about 707 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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