Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
1 (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.ml
Internet users [time series]
10,000 (2000)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 7 (1998)
Radios [time series]
570,000 (1997)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
23,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
2,842 (1997)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions [time series]
45,000 (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Budget [time series]
revenues: $730 million expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $320 million (1997 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
XOF
Debt - external [time series]
$3 billion (1999)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$596.4 million (1995)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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 farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export. In 1997, the government continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2000. Growth should remain around 5% in 2001-02, and inflation should stay less than 2%.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
413.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production [time series]
445 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 44.94% hydro: 55.06% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Exchange rates [time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro
Exports [time series]
$480 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
cotton 50%, gold, livestock (1999 est.)
Exports - partners [time series]
Italy 18%, Thailand 15%, Germany 7%, Portugal 4% (1999)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $9.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 46% industry: 21% services: 33% (1998)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $850 (2000 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
4.8% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)
Imports [time series]
$575 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, construction materials, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners [time series]
Cote d'Ivoire 19%, France 19%, Senegal 4%, Benelux 3% (1999)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA
Industries [time series]
minor local consumer goods production and food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.8% (2000 est.)
Labor force [time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture and fishing 80% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
NA%
Geography
total: 1.24 million sq km land: 1.22 million sq km water: 20,000 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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]
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic coordinates [time series]
17 00 N, 4 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
landlocked
Irrigated land [time series]
780 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
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
Land use [time series]
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 6% other: 67% (1993 est.)
Location [time series]
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards [time series]
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts
Natural resources [time series]
gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, hydropower note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Terrain [time series]
mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Capital [time series]
Bamako
Constitution [time series]
adopted 12 January 1992
Country name [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RANNEBERGER embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: [223] 22 54 70
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Mande SIDIBE (since September 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of vote - Alpha Oumar KONARE 95.9%, Mamadou DIABY 4.1%
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[1] (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[223] 22 37 12
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Government type [time series]
republic
Independence [time series]
22 September 1960 (from France)
International organization participation [time series]
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, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Legal system [time series]
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 [time series]
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 July and 3 August 1997 (next to be held in two rounds in 2002); note - much of the opposition boycotted the election election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ADEMA 130, PARENA 8, CDS 4, UDD 3, PDP 2
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, party chairman]; Block of Alternative for the Renewal of Africa or BARA [Yoro DIAKITE]; Democratic and Social Convention or CDS [Mamadou Bakary SANGARE, chairman]; Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA [Mohamed Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO]; National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL, chairman]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Yoro DIAKITE, chairman; Tiebile DRAME, secretary general]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Ali GNANGADO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA, chairman]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE, secretary general]; Union of Democratic Forces for Progress or UFDP [Youssouf TOURE, secretary general]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK; United Movement and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA
Suffrage [time series]
21 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a transitional government, and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential election was held. Since his reelection in 1997, President KONARE has continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight corruption. In 1999 he indicated he would not run for a third term.
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]
$49 million (FY96)
Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]
2% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability [time series]
males age 15-49: 2,284,632 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]
males age 15-49: 1,309,612 (2001 est.)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 47.2% (male 2,612,215; female 2,583,370) 15-64 years: 49.73% (male 2,610,142; female 2,864,127) 65 years and over: 3.07% (male 158,486; female 180,178) (2001 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
48.79 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate [time series]
18.71 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
2.03% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
9,900 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
100,000 (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
121.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Languages [time series]
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 47.02 years male: 45.84 years female: 48.24 years (2001 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 31% male: 39.4% female: 23.1% (1995 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian
Net migration rate [time series]
-0.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Population [time series]
11,008,518 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
2.97% (2001 est.)
Religions [time series]
Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
6.81 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
27 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 9 (2000 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 15,100 km paved: 1,827 km unpaved: 13,273 km (1996)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Koulikoro
Railways [time series]
total: 729 km (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes) narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge
Waterways [time series]
1,815 km