2011 Edition

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.

Area

1,240,192 sq km 1,220,190 sq km 20,002 sq km

total

1,240,192 sq km

water

20,002 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

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)

Elevation extremes

Senegal River 23 m Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

highest point

Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

lowest point

Senegal River 23 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%) 484 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

484 cu m/yr (2000)

total

6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%)

Geographic coordinates

17 00 N, 4 00 W

Geography - note

landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan

landlocked; divided into three natural zones

the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan

Irrigated land

2,360 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

7,243 km 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

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

3.76% 0.03% 96.21% (2005)

arable land

3.76%

other

96.21% (2005)

permanent crops

0.03%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding

Natural resources

gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower 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

Total renewable water resources

100 cu km (2001)

Age structure

47.3% (male 3,372,717/female 3,325,188) 49.7% (male 3,438,687/female 3,605,143) 3% (male 199,862/female 218,307) (2011 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

45.62 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

27.9% (2006)

Death rate

14.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 81% of population rural: 44% of population total: 56% of population urban: 19% of population rural: 56% of population total: 44% of population (2008)

rural

56% of population

total

44% of population (2008)

urban

19% of population

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

7.5% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,400 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

76,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.57 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

111.35 deaths/1,000 live births 118.15 deaths/1,000 live births 104.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

104.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

111.35 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

52.61 years 51.01 years 54.26 years (2011 est.)

female

54.26 years (2011 est.)

total population

52.61 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 46.4% 53.5% 39.6% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

39.6% (2003 est.)

male

53.5%

total population

46.4%

Major cities - population

BAMAKO (capital) 1.628 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis (2009)

vectorborne disease

malaria

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Maternal mortality rate

830 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

16.3 years 15.9 years 16.7 years (2011 est.)

female

16.7 years (2011 est.)

male

15.9 years

total

16.3 years

Nationality

Malian(s) Malian

adjective

Malian

noun

Malian(s)

Net migration rate

-5.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.049 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

14,159,904 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.61% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 54% of population rural: 32% of population total: 36% of population urban: 46% of population rural: 68% of population total: 54% of population (2008)

rural

68% of population

total

54% of population (2008)

urban

46% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

8 years 9 years 7 years (2009)

female

7 years (2009)

male

9 years

total

8 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.92 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

6.44 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

36% of total population (2010) 4.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

4.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

36% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Bamako 12 39 N, 8 00 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

12 39 N, 8 00 W

name

Bamako

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 12 January 1992

Country name

Republic of Mali Mali Republique de Mali Mali French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

conventional long form

Republic of Mali

conventional short form

Mali

former

French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

local long form

Republique de Mali

local short form

Mali

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of the Bamako central district ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako [223] 270-2300 [223] 270-2479

chief of mission

Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC

embassy

located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of the Bamako central district

FAX

[223] 270-2479

mailing address

ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako

telephone

[223] 270-2300

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Mamadou TRAORE 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 [1] (202) 332-6603

chancery

2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Mamadou TRAORE

FAX

[1] (202) 332-6603

telephone

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

Executive branch

President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002) Prime Minister CISSE Mariam Kaidama Sidibe (since 3 April 2011) Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister 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 Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%, other 9.6%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)

election results

Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%, other 9.6%

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

head of government

Prime Minister CISSE Mariam Kaidama Sidibe (since 3 April 2011)

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

22 September 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012) 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

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

elections

last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012)

National anthem

"Le Mali" (Mali) Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO 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)

lyrics/music

Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO

name

"Le Mali" (Mali)

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

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

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

other

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$1.898 billion $2.143 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$2.143 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$1.898 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

16% (31 December 2010 est.) 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.2% (31 December 2010 est.) 9.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$704.6 million (2010 est.) -$645.4 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$3.024 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.667 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.1 (2001) 50.5 (1994)

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.

Electricity - consumption

455.7 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh Mali may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

490 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 493.51 (2007) 522.59 (2006)

Exports

$2.071 billion (2010 est.) $1.889 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, gold, livestock

Exports - partners

China 27.2%, Indonesia 8.2%, Thailand 5.3%, Burkina Faso 5.2%, Morocco 5%, South Korea 4.9% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

38.9% 21.5% 39.6% (2010 est.)

agriculture

38.9%

industry

21.5%

services

39.6% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2010 est.) $1,200 (2009 est.) $1,200 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2010 est.) 4.5% (2009 est.) 5% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.268 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$16.77 billion (2010 est.) $16.06 billion (2009 est.) $15.37 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.7% 30.5% (2006)

highest 10%

30.5% (2006)

lowest 10%

2.7%

Imports

$2.38 billion (2010 est.) $2.082 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Senegal 13.6%, France 11%, Cote dIvoire 10%, China 6.8%, South Korea 5.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2010 est.) 2.2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

3.241 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

80% 20% (2005 est.)

agriculture

80%

industry and services

20% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

4,507 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

36.1% (2005 est.)

Public debt

30.5% of GDP (2010 est.) 24.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.292 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.605 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.522 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.514 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.181 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $994.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.783 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.758 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (2004 est.)

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)

Internet users

249,800 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic system unreliable but improving; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to nearly 30 per 100 persons 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)

domestic

fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to nearly 30 per 100 persons

general assessment

domestic system unreliable but improving; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

114,400 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7.326 million (2010)

Airports

20 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2010)

total

8

Airports - with unpaved runways

3 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

5

total

12

under 914 m

3 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Koulikoro

Railways

593 km 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

total

593 km

Roadways

18,912 km 3,597 km 15,315 km (2005)

total

18,912 km

unpaved

15,315 km (2005)

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)

Manpower available for military service

2,848,412 2,981,106 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,981,106 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,848,412

Manpower fit for military service

1,825,779 1,968,563 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,968,563 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,825,779

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

158,031 159,733 (2010 est.)

female

159,733 (2010 est.)

male

158,031

Military branches

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

Malian Armed Forces

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

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2011)

Disputes - international

demarcation is currently underway with Burkina Faso

Refugees and internally displaced persons

6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; within Mali, 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; boys from Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and other countries are forced into begging and exploited for labor; adult 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 rooted in hereditary master-slave relationships, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children Tier 2 Watch List - the government acknowledged that human trafficking is a problem in Mali, but it did not demonstrate significant efforts to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; although the government identified at least 198 trafficking victims during the year - 152 of whom were Malian children in prostitution - it prosecuted only three trafficking cases and convicted two trafficking offenders (2011)

current situation

Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; within Mali, 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; boys from Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and other countries are forced into begging and exploited for labor; adult 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 rooted in hereditary master-slave relationships, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - the government acknowledged that human trafficking is a problem in Mali, but it did not demonstrate significant efforts to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; although the government identified at least 198 trafficking victims during the year - 152 of whom were Malian children in prostitution - it prosecuted only three trafficking cases and convicted two trafficking offenders (2011)