Mali

republicIndependence 22 September 1960 (from France

Mali as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBamako

Area1,240,000 km2

Populationas each edition published it

8.64 million July 1992 · 8.14m in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.66% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 45.45 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

7.3 children per woman 1992 · 7.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

110 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 116 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $265 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -0.2% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Total area

1,240,000km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries

7,243km

Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Ivory Coast 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km

Disputes

the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept;
Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Climate

subtropical to arid;
hot and dry February to June;
rainy, humid, and mild June to November;
cool and dry November to February

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Natural resources

gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium; bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

Land use

arable land 2%;
permanent crops NEGL%;
meadows and pastures 25%;
forest and woodland 7%;
other 66%;
includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment

hot, dust-laden harmattan;
haze common during dry seasons;
desertification

People

14 fields

Population

8,641,178

(July 1992), growth rate 2.5% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

52Death

21Net migration

-5

Ethnic divisions

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

Religions

Muslim 90%indigenous beliefs 9%Christian 1%

Labor force

2,666,000

(1986 est.); agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981); 50% of population of working age (1985)

Literacy

32%

(male 41%, female 24%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Languages

French (official);
Bambara spoken by about 80% of the population;
numerous African languages

Organized labor

National Union of Malian Workers (UNTM) is umbrella organization for over 13 national unions

Government

Republic

18 fields

republic; an interim government appointed by the national reform conference has organized a series of democratic elections and is scheduled to hand over power to an elected government on 26 March 1992

Capital

Bamako

Administrative divisions

8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

Independence

22 September 1960 (from France; formerly French Sudan)

Constitution

2 June 1974, effective 19 June 1979;
amended September 1981 and March 1985;
new constitution presented during national reform conference in August 1991;
a constitutional referendum is scheduled for 16 January 1992

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Section of Court of State;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday

Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)

Executive branch

Transition Committee for the Salvation of the People (CTSP) composed of 25 members, predominantly civilian

Legislative branch

Transition Committee for the Salvation of the People (CTSP)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Leaders

Chief of State:: Lt. Col. Amadou Toumani TOURE
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Soumana SAKO (since 2 April 1991)

Political parties and leaders

formerly the only party, the Democratic Union of Malian People (UDPM), was disbanded after the coup of 26 March 1991, and the new regime legalized the formation of political parties on 5 April 1991;
new political parties are Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), Demba DIALLO;
Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), Moussa Bala COULIBALY;
Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally (US-RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA;
African Party for Solidarity and Justice (ADEMA), Alpha Oumar KONARE;
Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE;
Democratic Party for Justice (PDJ), Abdul BA;
Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Almany SYLLA;
Party for the Unity of Malian People (PUPM), Nock AGATTIA;
Hisboulah al Islamiya, Hamidou DRAMERA;
Union of Progressive Forces (UFP), Yacouba SIDIBE;
National Congress of Democratic Initiative (CNID), Mountaga TALL;
Assembly for Justice and Progress, Kady DRAME;
Sudanese Progressive Party (PPS), Sekene Mody SISSOKO;
numerous small parties formed in 1991;
46 total parties

Suffrage

universal at age 21

Elections

President:: last held on 9 June 1985 (next to be held March 1992); results - Gen. Moussa TRAORE was reelected without opposition
National Assembly:: last held on 26 June 1988 (next to be held NA 1992);
results - UDPM was the only party;
seats - (82 total) UDPM 82;
note - following the military coup of 26 March 1991, President TRAORE was deposed and the UDPM was disbanded;
the 25-member CTSP has instituted a multiparty system, and presidential elections are to be held on 26 March 1992 and legislative elections on 9 February 1992 (new National Assembly to have 116 seats)

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Mohamed Alhousseyni TOURE;
Chancery at 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008;
telephone (202) 332-2249 or 939-8950

US:: Ambassador Herbert D. GELBER;
Embassy at Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V., Bamako (mailing address is B. P. 34, Bamako);
telephone [223] 225470;
FAX [233] 22-80-59

Flag

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 70% of its land | area desert or semidesert.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

-1.6%

(1990)

External debt

$2.2billion

(1989 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$329 millionExpenditures

$519 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $178 (1989 est.)

Overview

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 70% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population live as nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, per capita $265; real growth rate 2.2% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$285 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)

commodities:: livestock, peanuts, dried fish, cotton, skins
partners:: mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Imports

$513 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)

commodities:: textiles, vehicles, petroleum products, machinery, sugar, cereals
partners:: mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Industrial production

growth rate 19.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

Electricity

260,000 kW capacity; 750 million kWh produced, 90 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

small local consumer goods and processing, construction, phosphate, gold, fishing

Agriculture

accounts for 50% of GDP;
most production based on small subsistence farms;
cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports;
other crops - millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts;
livestock - cattle, sheep, and goats

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,020 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $190 million

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural - francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 269.01 (January 1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 35 total, 27 usable

permanent-surface runways

8runways | over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

5runways 1,220-2,439 m

Networkskm

Railroads

642Inland waterways

1,815

Railroads: ; linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes

domestic system poor but improving;
provides only minimal service with radio relay, wire, and radio communications stations;
expansion of radio relay in progress;
11,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV;
satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT