Introduction

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

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 km country 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: |  |
`none (landlocked)`
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`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Senegal River 23 m highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m`
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`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 3.76% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 96.21% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`2,360 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`100 cu km (2001)`
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

Population: |  |
`14,159,904 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 67`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 47.3% (male 3,372,717/female 3,325,188) 15-64 years: 49.7% (male 3,438,687/female 3,605,143) 65 years and over: 3% (male 199,862/female 218,307) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 16.3 years male: 15.9 years female: 16.7 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`2.61% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 25`
Birth rate: |  |
`45.62 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 3`
Death rate: |  |
`14.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 14`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-5.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 194`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 36% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`BAMAKO (capital) 1.628 million (2009)`
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 (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 111.35 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 4 male: 118.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 104.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 52.61 years country comparison to the world: 206 male: 51.01 years female: 54.26 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`6.44 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 3`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`76,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`4,400 (2009 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 disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2009)`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 81% of population rural: 44% of population total: 56% of population unimproved: urban: 19% of population rural: 56% of population total: 44% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 54% of population rural: 32% of population total: 36% of population unimproved: urban: 46% of population rural: 68% of population total: 54% of population (2008)`
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%`
Religions: |  |
`Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%`
Languages: |  |
`French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 46.4% male: 53.5% female: 39.6% (2003 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2009)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`4.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 88`

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); 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`
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 Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister CISSE Mariam Kaidama Sidibe (since 3 April 2011)
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, 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

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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$16.77 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $16.06 billion (2009 est.) $15.37 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$9.268 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 4.5% (2009 est.) 5% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$1,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $1,200 (2009 est.) $1,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 45% industry: 17% services: 38% (2001 est.)`
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: 177`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`36.1% (2005 est.)`
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) country comparison to the world: 60 50.5 (1994)`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion (2006 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`2.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 65`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 87 4.75% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`NA%`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$1.758 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 124 $1.559 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$2.514 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 $2.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$994.9 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 150 $1.095 billion (31 December 2008)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats`
Industries: |  |
`food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`515 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`479 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`NA kWh note: Mali may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 205`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`6,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 162`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185`
Oil - imports: |  |
`4,402 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-446 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 112`
Exports: |  |
`$294 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 175`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`cotton, gold, livestock`
Exports - partners: |  |
`China 14.61%, Thailand 8.28%, Pakistan 6.74%, Morocco 6.48%, Burkina Faso 4.67%, France 4.6%, India 4.45% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$2.358 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 149`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Senegal 12.21%, France 11.57%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.05%, China 5.89% (2009)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$2.8 billion (2002) country comparison to the world: 133`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 493.51 (2007) 522.59 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`81,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 149`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`3.742 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 107`
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 country code: |  |
`.ml`
Internet hosts: |  |
`524 (2010) country comparison to the world: 179`
Internet users: |  |
`249,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 135`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`20 (2010) country comparison to the world: 135`
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)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 593 km country comparison to the world: 109 narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 18,709 km country comparison to the world: 113 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: 45`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Koulikoro`

Military

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: 2,848,412 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: |  |
`1.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 74`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`demarcation is currently underway with Burkina Faso`
Refugees and internally displaced persons: |  |
`refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011