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 a 2007 election that was widely judged to be free and fair. Malian returnees from Libya in 2011 exacerbated tensions in northern Mali, and Tuareg ethnic militias rebelled 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 country's three northern regions 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 shortages 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. The Malian Government and northern armed groups signed an internationally-mediated peace accord in June 2015.

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

17 00 N, 4 00 W

Africa

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

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

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

highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

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

arable land 5.6%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 28.4%

3,780 sq km (2012)

the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso

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

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

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

17,467,108 (July 2016 est.)

Bambara 34.1%, Fulani (Peul) 14.7%, Sarakole 10.8%, Senufo 10.5%, Dogon 8.9%, Malinke 8.7%, Bobo 2.9%, Songhai 1.6%, Tuareg 0.9%, other Malian 6.1%, from member of Economic Community of West African States 0.3%, other 0.4% (2012-13 est.)

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%, Bobo 2.1%, unspecified 0.7%, other 6.3%

Muslim 94.8%, Christian 2.4%, Animist 2%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.3% (2009 est.)

Mali’s total population is expected to double by 2035; its capital Bamako is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa. A young age structure, a declining mortality rate, and a sustained high total fertility rate of 6 children per woman – the third highest in the world – ensure continued rapid population growth for the foreseeable future. Significant outmigration only marginally tempers this growth. Despite decreases, Mali’s infant, child, and maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa because of limited access to and adoption of family planning, early childbearing, short birth intervals, the prevalence of female genital cutting, infrequent use of skilled birth attendants, and a lack of emergency obstetrical and neonatal care.

Mali’s high total fertility rate has been virtually unchanged for decades, as a result of the ongoing preference for large families, early childbearing, the lack of female education and empowerment, poverty, and extremely low contraceptive use. Slowing Mali’s population growth by lowering its birth rate will be essential for poverty reduction, improving food security, and developing human capital and the economy.

Mali has a long history of seasonal migration and emigration driven by poverty, conflict, demographic pressure, unemployment, food insecurity, and droughts. Many Malians from rural areas migrate during the dry period to nearby villages and towns to do odd jobs or to adjoining countries to work in agriculture or mining. Pastoralists and nomads move seasonally to southern Mali or nearby coastal states. Others migrate long term to Mali’s urban areas, Cote d’Ivoire, other neighboring countries, and in smaller numbers to France, Mali’s former colonial ruler. Since the early 1990s, Mali’s role has grown as a transit country for regional migration flows and illegal migration to Europe. Human smugglers and traffickers exploit the same regional routes used for moving contraband drugs, arms, and cigarettes.

Between early 2012 and 2013, renewed fighting in northern Mali between government forces and Tuareg secessionists and their Islamist allies, a French-led international military intervention, as well as chronic food shortages, caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Malians. Most of those displaced domestically sought shelter in urban areas of southern Mali, except for pastoralist and nomadic groups, who abandoned their traditional routes, gave away or sold their livestock, and dispersed into the deserts of northern Mali or crossed into neighboring countries. Almost all Malians who took refuge abroad (mostly Tuareg and Maure pastoralists) stayed in the region, largely in Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

2.96% (2016 est.)

44.4 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

12.6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso

BAMAKO (capital) 2.515 million (2015)

18.8

587 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

5.95 children born/woman (2016 est.)

10.3% (2012/13)

6.9% of GDP (2014)

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

0.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

urban: 96.5% of population

rural: 64.1% of population

total: 77% of population

urban: 3.5% of population

rural: 35.9% of population

total: 23% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 37.5% of population

rural: 16.1% of population

total: 24.7% of population

urban: 62.5% of population

rural: 83.9% of population

total: 75.3% of population (2015 est.)

1.25% (2015 est.)

124,200 (2015 est.)

6,500 (2015 est.)

5.7% (2014)

27.9% (2006)

4.3% of GDP (2014)

semi-presidential republic

8 regions (regions, singular - region), 1 district*; District de Bamako*, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou (Timbuktu); note - two new regions, Menaka and Taoudenni, were reportedly created in early 2016, but these have not yet been vetted by the US Board on Geographic Names

22 September 1960 (from France)

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

several previous; latest drafted August 1991, approved by referendum 12 January 1992, effective 25 February 1992; amended 1999, suspended briefly in 2012 (2016)

civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO]

Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity, and Justice or ADEMA-PASJ [Dionconda TRAORE]

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (coalition including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE)

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 Amion GUINDO]

Economic and Social Development Party or PDES [Jamille BITTAR]

Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (coalition including RPM and PARENA formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE)

National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]

Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]

Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel Kokalla MAIGA]

Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA] (ruling party)

Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Younoussi TOURE]

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Great Mosque of Djenne; national colors: green, yellow, red

Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, Mali is a landlocked country that depends on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. 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. 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 about 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The government subsidizes the production of cereals to decrease the country’s dependence on imported foodstuffs and to reduce its vulnerability to food price shocks.

Mali is developing its iron ore extraction industry to diversify foreign exchange earnings away from gold, but the pace will largely depend on global price trends. Mali’s economic performance has improved since 2013 although physical insecurity, high population growth, corruption, weak infrastructure, and low levels of human capital remain hindrances to sustained growth.

$35.83 billion (2015 est.)

$33.76 billion (2014 est.)

$31.41 billion (2013 est.)

$13.07 billion (2015 est.)

6.1% (2015 est.)

7.5% (2014 est.)

2.3% (2013 est.)

$2,200 (2015 est.)

$2,100 (2014 est.)

$2,100 (2013 est.)

14.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

12.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

15% of GDP (2013 est.)

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

food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

0.7% (2015 est.)

6.096 million (2015 est.)

30% (2015 est.)

8.1% (2014 est.)

36.1% (2005 est.)

40.1 (2001)

50.5 (1994)

19.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

-1.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

25.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

27.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

calendar year

1.4% (2015 est.)

0.9% (2014 est.)

16% (31 December 2010)

4.25% (31 December 2009)

9.3% (31 December 2015 est.)

9.3% (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.573 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$2.611 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.984 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.817 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$2.822 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$2.541 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$NA

-$371 million (2015 est.)

-$664 million (2014 est.)

$2.513 billion (2015 est.)

$2.779 billion (2014 est.)

cotton, gold, livestock

Switzerland 48.5%, China 9.4%, India 9.1%, Bangladesh 8%, Thailand 4.5%, Indonesia 4.4% (2015)

$2.744 billion (2015 est.)

$3.288 billion (2014 est.)

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

Cote dIvoire 9.9%, France 9.5%, Senegal 7.7%, China 7% (2015)

$3.334 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$3.416 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.48 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$2.368 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$49.48 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$40 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

591.45 (2015 est.)

494.42 (2014 est.)

494.42 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

1.5 billion kWh (2014 est.)

1.4 billion kWh (2014 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

600,000 kW (2014 est.)

48.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

51.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

7,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

7,486 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

800,000 Mt (2013 est.)

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)

.ml

TZ, TT (2016)

25 (2013)

2 (2013)

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)

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)

18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2012)

1.44% of GDP (2012)

1.51% of GDP (2011)

1.44% of GDP (2010)