Mali

Republique de Mali

republicIndependence 22 September 1960 (from France)

Mali as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 95 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

Position17 00 N, 4 00 W

Area1.24 million sq km

LocationWestern Africa, southwest of Algeria

Populationas each edition published it

9.79 million July 1997 est. · 8.14m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.18% 1997 est. · 2.66% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

46.56 years 1997 est. · 45.45 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

7.09 children per woman 1997 est. · 7.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

124 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 116 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$600 1995 est. · $265 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.2% 1995 est. · -0.2% in 1993

Geography

Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

18 fields

Land use(1993 est.)

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 25%forests and woodland 6%other 67% (1993 est.)irrigated 780 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

1.24million sq km

land: 1.22 million sq kmwater: 20,000 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of Texas

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

1,155m

Hombori Tondolowest point: Senegal River 23 m

Land boundaries

7,243km

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

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

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation;
soil erosion;
desertification;
inadequate supplies of potable water;
poaching

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified :: Nuclear Test Ban

People

15 fields

Population

9,788,904

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 3.18% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

50.26Death

19.52Net migration

1.1

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Muslim 90%indigenous beliefs 9%Christian 1%

Literacy

31%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: 39.4%female: 23.1% (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 47% (male 2,329,669; female 2,307,248)
15-64 years:: 50% (male 2,287,769; female 2,546,981) 65 years and over : 3% (male 150,732; female 166,505) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years :: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

124 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 46.56 years
male:: 45.25 years
female :: 47.9 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Malian(s)
adjective:: Malian

Languages

French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

Government

Republic; President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992); Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since NA March 1994)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

85.15%

Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%Mamadou DIABY 4.09%other 10.76%election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002)

National Assembly, 116 seats, elected 8 March 1992one dot, one seat

ADEMA 76CNID 9US/RAD 8Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa 6RDP 4UDD 4RDT 3UFDP 3PDP 2UMDD 1

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

Administrative divisions

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

National holiday

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

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994);
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
head of government:: Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since NA March 1994)
cabinet :: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of vote - Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%, Mamadou DIABY 4.09%, other 10.76%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (116 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 8 March 1992 (next to be held in two rounds on 20 July and 3 August 1997)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADEMA 76, CNID 9, US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3, UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Ibrahim N'DIAYE];
National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL];
Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Madeira KEITA];
Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa;
Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA];
Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY];
Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT;
Union of Democratic Forces for Progress or UFDP [Dembo DIALLO];
Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Idrissa TRAORE];
Malian Union for Democracy and Development or UMDD;
Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA [Mohammed Lamine TRAORE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

United Movement and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA; Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Kaye or MPGK

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH
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 David P. RAWSON
embassy:: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address:: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone:: [223] 22 54 70

FAX

[223] 22 37 12

Flag description

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 65% of its land area desert or semidesert.

22 fields

Real growth rate

5.2%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 1% (1994)

Inflation, consumer prices

12.7%

(1995 est.)

Labor force

2.666million

(1986 est.)by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981)

Debt - external

$2.8billion

(1995)

GDP - composition by sector(1995)

agriculture 49%industry 17%services 34% (1995)

Budget

Revenues

$730 millionExpenditures

$770 million (1997 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Economy - overview

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% 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 is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing.

Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export. Nonetheless the government has successfully implemented an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment.

Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50% devaluation of the African Franc in January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996 and the government projects that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $600 (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

minor local consumer goods production and food processing;
construction;
phosphate and gold mining

Electricity - capacity

84,100 kW (1990)

Electricity - production

235 million kWh (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

28 kWh (1991 est.)

Agriculture - products

cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports

total value:: $320 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities:: cotton, livestock, gold
partners:: mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Imports

total value :: $422 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities:: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials, petroleum, textiles
partners:: mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 541.69 (January 1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

11,000

(1982 est.)

Telephone system

domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service

domestic:: network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress
international:: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

430,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1987 est.)

Televisions

11,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2

Networkskm

Highways

14,776Railways

641Waterways

1,815

Highways: paved : 1,773 km · unpaved: 13,003 km (1995 est.) · Railways: ; (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes) · narrow gauge: 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)