The mum of the world's only surviving nonuplets has spoken of the "important and exciting step" for the children as they prepare to start school after turning five years old this week.

The siblings, comprising five girls and four boys, celebrated their birthday in their home country of Mali alongside their parents, Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby, and elder sister Arby, who is seven.

“The children are doing very well, Alhamdulillah. They are healthy, active, and full of joy. They continue to grow beautifully, and we are very grateful,” their mother Halima Cissé told the Guiness World Records website.

She added: “They will begin school soon, which is an important and exciting step for them. As parents, we are focusing on their education while making sure they continue to enjoy their childhood. This new stage is a big change for the family.”

Their birth was a medical marvel that attracted global attention after being born prematurely at 30 weeks via Caesarean section in Casablanca, Morocco.

Each baby had weighed between 0.5-1 kg. They spent their first nine months in Morocco, where they were born, before being taken to Mali.

The girls are named Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama, and Oumou, and the boys are named Mohammed, Oumar, Elhadji, and Bah.

The family has shared photos of the birthday, an important milestone in the family's journey that has received widespread support and admiration.

“The children get along very well with each other and with their big sister. They share a strong bond and spend most of their time playing together. Like all siblings, they sometimes have small disagreements, but they are very united and caring towards one another,” Halima is quoted as saying.

“Each child has a unique personality,” she added. “Some are more energetic and expressive, while others are calmer and more observant. It is wonderful to see how different they are, yet how connected they remain.”