Mali vs South Africa: Surface area

Mali

1.24 million sq. km

in 2023

South Africa

1.22 million sq. km

in 2023

Mali rank

23rd

South Africa rank

24th

Surface area over time

Mali currently reports 1.24 million sq. km against 1.22 million sq. km in South Africa, a difference of 21,100 sq. km.

Across all 63 years both countries report, Mali has been ahead every year.

Globally, Mali ranks 23rd and South Africa ranks 24th of 216 countries.

Indicator: Surface area (sq. km)
Unit: sq. km
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 263 places, 16,395 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.