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Communications

Airports [time series]

37 total, 29 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

no major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

about 15,700 km total; 1,670 km bituminous, 3,670 km gravel and improved earth, 10,360 km unimproved earth

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

1,815 km navigable

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

642 km 1.000-meter gauge; linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service with radio relay, wire, and radio communications stations; expansion of radio relay in progress; 11,000 telephones; stations--2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV; satellite earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Air Force; paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$45 million, 2.4% of GDP (1988)

Manpower availability [time series]

males 15-49, 1,631,445; 940,954 fit for military service; no conscription

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 50% of GDP; most production based on small subsistence farms; cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports; other crops--millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; livestock--cattle, sheep, and goats

Budget [time series]

revenues $329 million; expenditures $519 million, including capital expenditures of $178 (1989 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural--francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $2.65 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $190 million

Electricity [time series]

253,000 kW capacity; 730 million kWh produced, 90 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--256.54 (January 1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$285 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--livestock, peanuts, dried fish, cotton, skins; partners--mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$2.2 billion (1989 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$2.0 billion, per capita $250; real growth rate 9.9% (1989 est.)

Imports [time series]

$513 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--textiles, vehicles, petroleum products, machinery, sugar, cereals; partners--mostly franc zone and Western Europe

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 19.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

Industries [time series]

small local consumer goods and processing, construction, phosphate, gold, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA% (1987)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 70% 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 live as nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

none--landlocked

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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

Land boundaries [time series]

7,243 km total; Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Ivory Coast 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km

Land use [time series]

arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 25%; forest and woodland 7%; other 66%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Maritime claims [time series]

none--landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

landlocked

Terrain [time series]

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

Area (Total area) [time series]

1,240,000 km2; land area: 1,220,000 km2

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 regions (regions, singular--region); Gao, Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou; note--there may be a new capital district of Bamako

Capital [time series]

Bamako

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

a few Communists and some sympathizers (no legal Communist party)

Constitution [time series]

2 June 1974, effective 19 June 1979; amended September 1981 and March 1985; suspended following the coup of 26 March 1991

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Ambassador Mohamed Alhousseyni TOURE; Chancery at 2130 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-2249 or 939-8950; US--Ambassador Herbert D. GELBER; Embassy at Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V., Bamako (mailing address is B. P. 34, Bamako); telephone [223] 223712

Executive branch [time series]

National Conciliation Council led by the military, following the coup of 26 March 1991

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

22 September 1960 (from France; formerly French Sudan)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Chief of State--following the military coup of 26 March 1991 President Gen. Moussa TRAORE was deposed and the National Reconciliation Council, led by Lt. Col. Amadou Toumani TOURE and Lt. Col. Kafougouna KONE, was installed; Head of Government--Interim Premier Soumana SACKO (since 2 April 1991)

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Section of Court of State; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (Assemble Nationale)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Republic of Mali

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

formerly the only party, the Democratic Union of Malian People (UDPM), was disbanded after the coup of 26 March 1991, and the new regime legalized the formation of political parties on 5 April 1991; new political parties are--Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), Demba DIALLO; Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), Moussa Bala COULIBALY; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally (US-RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA; African Party for Solidarity and Justice (ADEMA), Alpha Oumar KONARE; Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE; Democratic Party for Justice (PDJ), Abdul BA; Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Almany SYLLA; Party for the Unity of Malian People (PUPM), Nock AGATTIA; Hisboulah al Islamiya, Hamidou DRAMERA; Union of Progressive Forces (UFP), Yacouba SIDIBE; National Congress of Democratic Initiative (CNID), Mountaga TALL; Assembly for Justice and Progress, Kady DRAME; other parties forming

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 21 President--last held on 9 June 1985 (next to be held June 1991); results--General Moussa TRAORE was reelected without opposition; National Assembly--last held on 26 June 1988 (next to be held June 1991); results--UDPM is the only party; seats--(82 total) UDPM 82; note--following the military coup of 26 March 1991 President TRAORE was deposed and the UDPM was disbanded; the new ruling National Reconciliation Council, formed of 17 soldiers, has promised to institute a multiparty democracy and is expected to hold elections by December 1991

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic; the single-party constitutional government was overthrown on 26 March 1991; the new ruling National Reconciliation Council has promised a multiparty democracy

People

Birth rate [time series]

51 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate [time series]

21 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

114 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force [time series]

2,666,000 (1986 est.); agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981); 50% of population of working age (1985)

Languages (Language) [time series]

French (official); Bambara spoken by about 80% of the population; numerous African languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

45 years male, 47 years female (1991)

Literacy [time series]

32% (male 41%, female 24%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun--Malian(s); adjective--Malian

Net migration rate [time series]

- 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor [time series]

National Union of Malian Workers (UNTM) is umbrella organization for over 13 national unions

Population [time series]

8,338,542 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.0 children born/woman (1991)