Mali

Republic of MaliRepublique de Mali

republicIndependence 22 September 1960 (from France)

Mali as the 2010 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 130 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, UTC
Position17 00 N, 4 00 W
Area1,240,192 sq km
LocationWestern Africa, southwest of Algeria
Populationas each edition published it
13.8 million July 2010 est. · 8.14m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.607% 2010 est. · 2.66% in 1993
Median ageyears
16.2 years 2010 est. · 16.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
52.17 years 2010 est. · 45.45 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.54 children per woman 2010 est. · 7.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
113.66 deaths per 1,000 live births 2010 est. · 116 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,200 2010 est. · $265 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5.2% 2010 est. · -0.2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a military coup - led by the current president Amadou TOURE - enabling Mali's emergence as one of the strongest democracies on the continent. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997.

In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE, who was subsequently elected to a second term in 2007. The elections were widely judged to be free and fair.

Geography

Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

20 fields

Land useshare of 1,240,192 sq km

arable land 3.76%permanent crops 0.03%other 96.21% (2005)irrigated 2,360 sq km (2003)
Area
1,240,192sq km
country comparison to the world: 24land: 1,220,190 sq kmwater: 20,002 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

Location

Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Geographic coordinates

17 00 N, 4 00 W

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, gypsum, granite, hydropower note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%)
per capita:
484 cu m/yr (2000)

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

23 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2010 est.)

189,886
65 and over3%
207,018
3,241,250
15-6449.5%
3,406,757
3,220,491
0-1447.6%
3,177,823
MaleFemale
Population
13,796,354
(July 2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 67growth rate: 2.607% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 26

Per 1,000 population

Birth
46.09 (2010 est.)Death
14.64 (July 2010 est.)Net migration
-5.38 (2010 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2010 est.)52.17
50.59 · 53.8Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)113.66
120.5 · 106.61Literacy (2003 est.)46.4%
53.5% · 39.6%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2010 est.)16.2
15.8 · 16.6School life expectancy years (2009)8
9 · 7
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 208 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 4 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Muslim 90%Christian 1%indigenous beliefs 9%
Urban population
32%of total population
(2008)rate of urbanization: 4.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.5%
(2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 42

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.92 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.54 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

100,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:
malaria
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis (2009)

Nationality

noun:
Malian(s)
adjective:
Malian

Languages

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

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 117

Government

Republic; President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002); Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE (since 28 September 2007)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

71.2%
Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%other 9.6%election last held on 29 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012)

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 147 seats, elected 1 and 22 July 2007one dot, one seat

ADP coalition (ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3, and other 10) 113FDR coalition (RPM 11, PARENA 4) 15SADI 4independent 15

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

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); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

Independence

22 September 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

Constitution

adopted 12 January 1992

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government:
Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE (since 28 September 2007)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
elections:
  • president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
  • election last held on 29 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012);
  • prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%, other 9.6%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADP coalition 113 (ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3, and other 10), FDR coalition 15 (RPM 11, PARENA 4), SADI 4, independent 15

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders

  • African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary general];
  • Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda 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);
  • Convergence 2007 [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA];
  • 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);
  • 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 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 Basir GOLOGO];
  • Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY];
  • Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila CISSE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other:
  • the army;
  • Islamic authorities;
  • rebels in the northern region;
  • state-run cotton company CMDT;
  • tuaregs

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Mamadou TRAORE
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 Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC
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] 270-2300
FAX:
[223] 270-2479

Flag description

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

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal (which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea

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

Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, Mali is a landlocked country highly dependent on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue.

45 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$16.74billion
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 134$15.91 billion (2009 est.) · $15.24 billion (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $9.077 billion (2010 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,200
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 206$1,200 (2009 est.) · $1,200 (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real growth rate
5.2%
(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 554.4% (2009 est.) · 5% (2008 est.)industrial production growth: NA%
Inflation, consumer prices
2.5%
(2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 75

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 45%industry 17%services 38% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

14.61%
China
5.89%
Senegal
12.21%
4.6%
France
11.57%
Cote d'Ivoire
10.05%
8.28%
Thailand
6.74%
Pakistan
6.48%
Morocco
4.67%
Burkina Faso
4.45%
India
Exports $294 million (2006)Imports $2.358 billion (2006)(2009)

Electricity

Electricity production
515 million (2007 est.)Electricity consumption
479 million (2007 est.)

Economy - overview

Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, Mali is a landlocked country highly dependent on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid.

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 some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities.

The government has continued an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that has helped the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali is developing its cotton and iron ore extraction industries to diversify its revenue sources because gold production has started to fall.

Mali has invested in tourism but security issues are hurting the industry. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a 5% average in 1996-2010. Worker remittances and external trade routes for the landlocked country have been jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire, however, Mali is building a road network that will connect it to all adjacent countries and it has a railway line to Senegal. In 2010, Mali experienced a regional drought that hurt livestock and livelihoods.

Labor force

3.241 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
80%
industry and services:
20% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.7%
highest 10%:
30.5% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.1 (2001) · 50.5 (1994) country comparison to the world: 61

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) · 4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 97

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) · NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.758 billion (31 December 2009) · $1.559 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 124

Stock of broad money

$2.514 billion (31 December 2009 est.) · $2.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Stock of domestic credit

$994.9 million (31 December 2009) · $1.095 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 150

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

  • food processing;
  • construction;
  • phosphate and gold mining

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Oil - consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Oil - imports

4,402 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Current account balance

-$446 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Exports

$294 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 174

Exports - commodities

cotton, gold, livestock

Imports

$2.358 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 149

Imports - commodities

petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles

Debt - external

$2.8 billion (2002) country comparison to the world: 133

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 506.04 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)

note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF),

and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
3.742 million
(2009)
Fixed lines
81,000
(2009) · country code .ml

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 nearly 30 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) (2008)

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 users

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

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
3

Networkskm

Roadways
18,709Railways
593Waterways
1,800 (2010)
Roadways: paved: 3,368 km · unpaved: 15,341 km (2004) · Railways: narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008) · Waterways: (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)

Airports

20 (2010) country comparison to the world: 134

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8; 2,438 to 3,047 m:; 4; 1,524 to 2,437 m:; 3; 914 to 1,523 m:; 1 (2010)

Railways

total:
593 km

country comparison to the world: 111

narrow gauge:
593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total:
18,709 km

country comparison to the world: 114

paved:
3,368 km
unpaved:
15,341 km (2004)

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) (2010) country comparison to the world: 46

Military

Malian Armed Forces: Army, Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (2008)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.9%of GDP
(2006)country comparison to the world: 78

Military branches

Malian Armed Forces: Army, Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
2,759,648
females age 16-49:
2,894,776 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
1,760,901
females age 16-49:
1,900,025 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
153,198
female:
154,762 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Mali.” The World Factbook 2010. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mali/2010.