Country Guide

Mali Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger


Geographic coordinates:
17 00 N, 4 00 W


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:1,240,192 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 24
land:1,220,190 sq km
water:20,002 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas


Land boundaries:
total:7,243 km
border countries:Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Senegal River 23 m
highest point:Hombori Tondo 1,155 m


    Natural resources:
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:5.53%
permanent crops:0.1%
other:94.37% (2011)


Irrigated land:
2,358 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
100 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
100 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Malian(s)
adjective:Malian


Ethnic groups:
Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%


Languages:
French (official), Bambara 46.3%, Peul/foulfoulbe 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, unspecified 0.6%, other 8.5%


Religions:
Muslim 94.8%, Christian 2.4%, Animist 2%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.3% (2009 Census)


Population:
16,455,903 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 67


Age structure:
0-14 years:47.6% (male 3,931,818/female 3,899,535)
15-24 years:19% (male 1,489,830/female 1,638,995)
25-54 years:26.7% (male 2,042,666/female 2,348,337)
55-64 years:3.7% (male 307,167/female 306,470)
65 years and over:3% (male 246,084/female 245,001) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:100.9 %
youth dependency ratio:95.4 %
elderly dependency ratio:5.5 %
potential support ratio:18.2 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:16 years
male:15.4 years
female:16.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
3% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 12


Birth rate:
45.53 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 2


Death rate:
13.22 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 18


Net migration rate:
-2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 171


Urbanization:
urban population:34.9% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:4.77% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
BAMAKO (capital) 2.037 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.91 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.87 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:1.01 male(s)/female
total population:0.95 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
18.6


Maternal mortality rate:
540 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:104.34 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 2
male:111.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female:97.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:54.95 yearscountry comparison to the world: 206
male:53.12 years
female:56.83 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
6.16 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 2


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
8.2% (2006)


Health expenditures:
6.8% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
0.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 90.9% of population
rural: 54.2% of population
total: 67.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 9.1% of population
rural: 45.8% of population
total: 32.8% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 35.3% of population
rural: 14.5% of population
total: 21.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 64.7% of population
rural: 85.5% of population
total: 78.1% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 50


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100,300 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 44


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,900 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 41


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
4.3% (2008)country comparison to the world: 166


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
27.9% (2006)country comparison to the world: 23


Education expenditures:
4.8% of GDP (2011)country comparison to the world: 83

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:33.4%
male:43.1%
female:24.6% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:9 years
male:10 years
female:8 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form:Mali
local long form:Republique de Mali
local short form:Mali
former:French Sudan and Sudanese Republic


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Bamako
geographic coordinates:12 39 N, 8 00 W
time difference:UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region), 1 district*; District de Bamako*, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou (Timbuktu)


Independence:
22 September 1960 (from France)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)


Constitution:
several previous; latest drafted August 1991, approved by referendum 12 January 1992, effective 25 February 1992; amended 1999; note - suspended briefly in 2012 (2012)


Legal system:
civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since 4 September 2013)
head of government:Prime Minister Moussa MARA (since 9 April 2014)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); the election scheduled for 29 April 2012 and delayed following the March 2012 coup took place 28 July 2013 and a runoff election was held on 11 August 2013; prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 77.6%, Soumaila CISSE 22.4%


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats: 147 seats elected in single seat constituencies and 13 seats elected by Malians abroad; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held in two rounds on 24 November 2013 and on 15 December 2013 (next to be held in 2017); note the scheduled July 2012 election was cancelled due to a coup d'etat and the Tuareg Rebellion
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDR coalition 64 (RPM 61, PARENA 3), ADP coalition 42 (ADEMA 20, URD 18, CNID 4), FARE 5, CODEM 5, SADI 4, ASMA-CFP 4, Yelema 2, independents 16, other 5; note - 13 seats were from voters abroad


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 19 members organized into 3 civil chambers and a criminal chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court members appointed by the Ministry of Justice to serve 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members selected - 3 each by the president, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; members serve single renewable 7-year terms
subordinate courts:High Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases of high treason or criminal offenses by the president or ministers while in office)


Political parties and leaders:
African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary general]
Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Dionconda TRAORE]
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE)
Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region)
Alliance for the Solidarity of Mali-Convergence of Patriotic Forces or ASMA-CFP [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]
Alternative Forces for Renewal and Emergence or FARE [Modibo SIDIBE]
Convergence for the development of Mali or CODEM [Housseyni GUINDO]
Economic and Social Development Party or PDES [Jamille BITTAR]
Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (a coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE)
Movement for a Common Destiny or MODEC [Koniba SIDIBE]
National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]
Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Mady KONATE]
Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]
Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel Kokalla MAIGA]
Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Amadou Ali NIANGADOU]
Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA]
Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE]
Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Tieman Hubert COULIBALY]
Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Younoussi TOURE]
Yelema [Moussa Mara]


    Political pressure groups and leaders:
African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary general]
Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Dionconda TRAORE]
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE)
Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region)
Alliance for the Solidarity of Mali-Convergence of Patriotic Forces or ASMA-CFP [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]
Alternative Forces for Renewal and Emergence or FARE [Modibo SIDIBE]
Convergence for the development of Mali or CODEM [Housseyni GUINDO]
Economic and Social Development Party or PDES [Jamille BITTAR]
Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (a coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE)
Movement for a Common Destiny or MODEC [Koniba SIDIBE]
National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]
Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Mady KONATE]
Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]
Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel Kokalla MAIGA]
Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Amadou Ali NIANGADOU]
Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA]
Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE]
Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Tieman Hubert COULIBALY]
Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Younoussi TOURE]
Yelema [Moussa Mara]



International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Al Maamoun Baba Lamine KEITA (since 8 January 2013)
chancery:2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
FAX:[1] (202) 332-6603


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mary Beth LEONARD (since 7 November 2011)
embassy:located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of the Bamako central district
mailing address:ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako
telephone:[223] 2070-2300
FAX:[223] 2070-2479


Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red


National anthem:
name:'Le Mali' (Mali)
lyrics/music:Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO
note:adopted 1962; the anthem is also known as 'Pour L'Afrique et pour toi, Mali' (For Africa and for You, Mali) and 'A ton appel Mali' (At Your Call, Mali)

Economy

Economy - overview:
Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, Mali is a landlocked country that depends on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River and about 65% of its land area is desert or semidesert. About 10% of the population is nomadic and about 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest; cotton and gold exports make up around 80% of export earnings. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is developing its iron ore extraction industry to diversify foreign exchange earnings away from gold. Mali has invested in tourism but security issues hurt the industry. Mali experienced economic growth of about 5% per year between 1996-2011, but the global recession, a military coup, and terrorist activity in the north of the country caused a decline in output in 2012; growth resumed at a slow pace in 2013. The main threat to Mali’s economy is a return to physical insecurity. Other long term threats to the economy include high population growth, corruption, a weak infrastructure, and low levels of human capital.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18.9 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$18.03 billion (2012 est.)
$18.25 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.37 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
-1.2% (2012 est.)
2.7% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
$1,100 (2012 est.)
$1,200 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
15.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
12.1% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:68.8%
government consumption:18.6%
investment in fixed capital:23.5%
investment in inventories:0.6%
exports of goods and services:22.5%
imports of goods and services:-34%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:38.5%
industry:24.4%
services:37% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats


Industries:
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining


Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Labor force:
3.241 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:80%
industry and services:20% (2005 est.)


Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

Population below poverty line:
36.1% (2005 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:3.5%
highest 10%:25.8% (2010 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.1 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 58
50.5 (1994)


Budget:
revenues:$2.868 billion
expenditures:$2.948 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
25.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60


Public debt:
30.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
27.5% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
5.4% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
16% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.3% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
9.3% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$2.848 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$2.583 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$3.942 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$3.446 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$2.234 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$2.102 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$918 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
-$737.5 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$2.577 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$2.756 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, livestock


Exports - partners:
China 52.9%, Malaysia 11%, Indonesia 5.3%, India 4.1% (2012)


Imports:
$2.895 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$2.794 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles


Imports - partners:
France 11.2%, Senegal 9.9%, Cote dIvoire 8.7%, China 8.6% (2012)


Debt - external:
$3.349 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$3.041 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.75 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$2.545 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA (31 December 2013 est.)
$848.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
500.7 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010 est.)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
520 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


Electricity - consumption:
483.6 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
304,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
48.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
51.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
4,994 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198


Refined petroleum products - imports:
4,698 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
742,300 Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
112,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 142


Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.613 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 59


Telephone system:
general assessment:domestic system unreliable but improving; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas
domestic:fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to about 70 per 100 persons
international:country code - 223; satellite communications center and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2010)



    Broadcast media:
national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately owned companies provide subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of privately owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)


Internet country code:
.ml


Internet hosts:
437 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 186


Internet users:
249,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135

Transportation

Airports
25 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 129


Airports - with paved runways
total:8
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:2
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:17
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:9
under 914 m:
5 (2013)


    Heliports
2 (2013)


Railways
total:593 kmcountry comparison to the world: 109
narrow gauge:593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:22,474 kmcountry comparison to the world: 103
paved:5,522 km
unpaved:16,952 km (2009)


Waterways
1,800 km (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 44


Ports and terminals
river port(s):Koulikoro (Niger)

Military

Military branches
Malian Armed Forces: Army (Armee de Terre), Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (Garde National du Mali) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:2,848,412
females age 16-49:2,981,106 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,825,779
females age 16-49:1,968,563 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:158,031
female:159,733 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.44% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 69
1.51% of GDP (2011)
1.44% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
demarcation is underway with Burkina Faso


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):12,897 (Mauritania) (2013)
IDPs:151,150 (Tuareg rebellion since 2012) (2014)



    Trafficking in persons

 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook