Mali

Republic of MaliRepublique de Mali

republicIndependence 22 September 1960 (from France)

Mali as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 164 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
Locationinterior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger
Populationas each edition published it
16.46 million July 2014 est. · 8.14m in 1990
Population growth% a year
3% 2014 est. · 2.66% in 1993
Median ageyears
16 years 2014 est. · 16.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
54.95 years 2014 est. · 45.45 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.16 children per woman 2014 est. · 7.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
104.34 deaths per 1,000 live births 2014 est. · 116 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,100 2013 est. · $265 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.8% 2013 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 that ushered in a period of democratic rule. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toumani TOURE, who was elected to a second term in 2007 elections that were widely judged to be free and fair.

Malian returnees from Libya in 2011 exacerbated tensions in northern Mali, and Tuareg ethnic militias started a rebellion in January 2012. Low- and mid-level soldiers, frustrated with the poor handling of the rebellion overthrew TOURE on 22 March. Intensive mediation efforts led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) returned power to a civilian administration in April with the appointment of interim President Dioncounda TRAORE. The post-coup chaos led to rebels expelling the Malian military from the three northern regions of the country and allowed Islamic militants to set up strongholds.

Hundreds of thousands of northern Malians fled the violence to southern Mali and neighboring countries, exacerbating regional food insecurity in host communities. An international military intervention to retake the three northern regions began in January 2013 and within a month most of the north had been retaken. In a democratic presidential election conducted in July and August of 2013, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA was elected president in the second round.

Geography

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 1,240,192 sq km

arable land 5.53%permanent crops 0.1%other 94.37% (2011)irrigated 2,358 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

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

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:
545.4 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 and Society

36 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2014 est.)

246,084
65 and over3%
245,001
307,167
55-643.7%
306,470
2,042,666
25-5426.7%
2,348,337
1,489,830
15-2419%
1,638,995
3,931,818
0-1447.6%
3,899,535
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 100.9 % · youth dependency ratio: 95.4 % · elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 % · potential support ratio: 18.2 (2014 est.)
Population
16,455,903
(July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 67growth rate: 3% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 12

Per 1,000 population(2014 est.)

Birth
45.53Death
13.22Net migration
-2.33

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2014 est.)54.95
53.12 · 56.83Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)104.34
111.04 · 97.44Literacy (2011 est.)33.4%
43.1% · 24.6%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2014 est.)16
15.4 · 16.7School life expectancy years (2012)9
10 · 8
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 206 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 2 · 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 94.8%Christian 2.4%Animist 2%none 0.5%unspecified 0.3% (2009 Census)
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)
Improved drinking water
67.2%of population
improved: urban: 90.9% of populationrural: 54.2% of populationunimproved: urban: 9.1% of populationrural: 45.8% of populationtotal: 32.8% of population (2012 est.)
Improved sanitation
21.9%of population
improved: urban: 35.3% of populationrural: 14.5% of populationunimproved: urban: 64.7% of populationrural: 85.5% of populationtotal: 78.1% of population (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
540deaths/100,000 live births
(2010)country comparison to the world: 18Mother's mean age at first birth: 18.6note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Malian(s)
adjective:
Malian

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% note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language

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.)

Total fertility rate

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

Health expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 88

Physicians density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Hospital bed density

0.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

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

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria and dengue fever
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease:
rabies (2013)

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

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number:
1,485,027
percentage:
36 % (2010 est.)

Government

Republic; President Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since 4 September 2013); Prime Minister Moussa MARA (since 9 April 2014)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

77.6%
Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 77.6%Soumaila CISSE 22.4%

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 147 seats, elected in two rounds on 24 November 2013 and on 15 December 2013one dot, one seat

FDR coalition (RPM 61, PARENA 3) 64ADP coalition (ADEMA 20, URD 18, CNID 4) 42FARE 5CODEM 5SADI 4ASMA-CFP 4Yelema 2independents 16other 5

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), 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)

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; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
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

other:
  • the army;
  • Islamic authorities;
  • state-run cotton company CMDT

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

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 that depends on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue.

40 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$18.9billion
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 138$18.03 billion (2012 est.) · $18.25 billion (2011 est.)note: data are in 2013 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $11.37 billion (2013 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
Real growth rate
4.8%
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 61-1.2% (2012 est.) · 2.7% (2011 est.)industrial production growth: 7% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 33
Inflation, consumer prices
0.1%
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 85.4% (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)

agriculture 38.5%industry 24.4%services 37% (2013 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

52.9%
China
8.6%
France
11.2%
11%
Malaysia
Senegal
9.9%
Cote dIvoire
8.7%
5.3%
Indonesia
4.1%
India
Exports $2.577 billion (2013 est.)Imports $2.895 billion (2013 est.)(2012)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
68.8%Government consumption
18.6%Fixed capital
23.5%Inventories
0.6%Exports
22.5%Imports
-34%
(2013 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$2.868 billionExpenditures
$2.948 billion (2013 est.)

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.

Gross national saving

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

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

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

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) · 50.5 (1994) country comparison to the world: 58

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.) · 27.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Fiscal year

calendar year

Central bank discount rate

16% (31 December 2010 est.) · 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.3% (31 December 2013 est.) · 9.3% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Stock of narrow money

$2.848 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $2.583 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Stock of broad money

$3.942 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $3.446 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Stock of domestic credit

$2.234 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $2.102 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Current account balance

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

cotton, gold, livestock

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

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

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$2.75 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $2.545 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

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

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 304,000 kW(2010 est.)

Fossil fuels 48.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)Hydroelectric plants 51.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Other renewable sources 0%
Electricity production
520 million (2010 est.)Electricity consumption
483.6 million (2010 est.)Refined petroleum imports
4,698 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
4,994 (2011 est.)

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 - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

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

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
14.613 million
(2012)
Fixed lines
112,000
(2012) · 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 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 users

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

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
1
1 (2013)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
5

Networkskm

Roadways
22,474Railways
593Waterways
1,800 (2011)
Roadways: paved: 5,522 km · unpaved: 16,952 km (2009) · 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

25 (2013) country comparison to the world: 129

Heliports

2 (2013)

Railways

total:
593 km

country comparison to the world: 109

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

Roadways

total:
22,474 km

country 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

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)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.44%of GDP
(2012)country comparison to the world: 691.51% of GDP (2011) · 1.44% of GDP (2010)

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.)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

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

current situation:
  • Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking;
  • women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking;
  • Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging both within Mali and neighboring countries;
  • Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking;
  • men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to the longstanding practice of debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali;
  • some members of Mali's black Tamachek community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children;
  • reports indicate that non-governmental armed groups operating in northern Mali recruited children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves
tier rating:
  • Tier 2 Watch List - Mali does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking;
  • however, it is making significant efforts to do so;
  • although the government enacted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law in 2012, it did not demonstrate evidence of overall increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year;
  • the government has failed to prosecute or convict any trafficking offenders, has not provided any direct services to victims, and has not made any tangible prevention efforts;
  • the government continues to cite a lack of personnel and resources as reasons for its inability to adequately identify and rescue child victims of forced labor in the mining industry (2013)

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Mali.” The World Factbook 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/mali/2014.