1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

17 00 N, 4 00 W -- Western Africa, southwest of Algeria Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

land area

1.22 million sq km

total area

1.24 million sq km

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Environment

current issues

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

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

natural hazards

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

Geographic coordinates

17 00 N, 4 00 W

Geographic note

landlocked

International disputes

the disputed international boundary between Burkina Faso 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 Faso and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Irrigated land

50 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

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

total

7,243 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forest and woodland

7%

meadows and pastures

25%

other

66%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

highest point

Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

lowest point

Senegal River 23 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 48% (male 2,310,294; female 2,308,941) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,231,244; female 2,488,276) 65 years and over: 3% (male 149,370; female 165,136) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

51.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

19.49 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

102.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

48.6 years (1996 est.)

male

45.12 years

total population

46.84 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

23.1%

male

39.4%

total population

31%

Nationality

adjective

Malian

noun

Malian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

9,653,261 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.95% (1996 est.)

Religions

Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

7.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Bamako

Constitution

adopted 12 January 1992

Data code

ML

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH

telephone

[1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held NA April 1992 (next to be held NA April 1997); Alpha KONARE was elected in runoff race against Montaga TALL

head of government

Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since NA March 1994) was appointed by the president

FAX

[223] 22 37 12

Flag

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

Independence

22 September 1960 (from France)

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, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

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

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Mali

conventional short form

Mali

former

French Sudan

local long form

Republique de Mali

local short form

Mali

National Assembly

elections last held 8 March 1992 (next to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (116 total) 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

National holiday

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

Other political or pressure groups

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

Political parties and leaders

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

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador David RAWSON

embassy

Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako

mailing address

B. P. 34, Bamako

telephone

[223] 22 54 70

Agriculture

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

Budget

expenditures

$697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

revenues

$376 million

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic 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 agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The economy is beginning to turn around after contracting through 1992-93, largely because of enhanced exports and import substitute production in the wake of the 50% devaluation of 12 January 1994. Post-devaluation inflation peaked at 35% in 1994, and the government appears to be keeping on track with its IMF structural adjustment program.

Electricity

capacity

90,000 kW

consumption per capita

33 kWh (1993)

production

310 million kWh

Exchange rates

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)

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

Exports

$415 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

cotton, livestock, gold

partners

mostly franc zone and Western Europe

External debt

$2.8 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

42.4%

industry

15.4%

services

42.2%

GDP per capita

$600 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.4% (1994 est.)

Imports

$842 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

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

partners

mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8% (1995 est.)

Labor force

2.666 million (1986 est.)

by occupation

agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 2.2% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

1,925,205

males fit for military service

1,100,599 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

430,000 (1992 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)

Telephones

11,000 (1982 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1987 est.)

Televisions

11,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

24

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

4

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2

with paved runways under 914 m

7

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

3

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

8 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

1,661 km

total

15,610 km

unpaved

13,949 km (1987 est.)

Ports

Koulikoro

Railways

narrow gauge

641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)

total

641 km; note - linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes

Waterways

1,815 km navigable