View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2009 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ml

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

519 (2009) country comparison to the world: 171

Internet users [time series]

200,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 136

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 230 (27 regional and government stations, and 203 private stations), shortwave 1 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving; provides only minimal service domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to about 25 per 100 persons international: country code - 223; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

82,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 148

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3.267 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 103

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (plus repeaters) (2007)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion (2006 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 122 4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

NA%

Current account balance [time series]

-$446 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Debt - external [time series]

$2.8 billion (2002) country comparison to the world: 129

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

40.1 (2001) country comparison to the world: 60 50.5 (1994)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Mali is among the 25 poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal distribution of income. 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 gold and cotton, its main exports. The government has continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali has invested in tourism and a tractor assembly factory. 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 1996-2008. 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

479 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

515 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par

Exports [time series]

$294 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 175

Exports - commodities [time series]

cotton, gold, livestock

Exports - partners [time series]

China 26.7%, Thailand 10.7%, Denmark 6.4%, Pakistan 5.2%, Morocco 5% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$8.774 billion (2008 est.)

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

$14.75 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $14.04 billion (2007 est.) $13.65 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 45% industry: 17% services: 38% (2001 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$1,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 $1,100 (2007 est.) $1,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

5.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 2.8% (2007 est.) 5.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.5% (2006)

Imports [time series]

$2.358 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 146

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Senegal 13.1%, France 11.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.2%, China 5.9% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Labor force [time series]

3.241 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Oil - consumption [time series]

5,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Oil - imports [time series]

4,402 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Population below poverty line [time series]

36.1% (2005 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $1.099 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $1.58 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $697.1 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,240,192 sq km country comparison to the world: 24 land: 1,220,190 sq km water: 20,002 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, 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%) per capita: 484 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

17 00 N, 4 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

2,360 sq km (2003)

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: 3.76% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 96.21% (2005)

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; occasional Niger River flooding

Natural resources [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

100 cu km (2001)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Bamako geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Modibo SIDIBE (since 28 September 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister 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 election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%, other 9.6%

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]

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADP coalition 113 (including ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3, and other 10), FDR coalition 15 (including RPM 11, PARENA 4), SADI 4, independent 15

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

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

Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region); African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary general]; 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 Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE]; 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 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, 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,603,700 females age 16-49: 2,441,776 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,649,772 females age 16-49: 1,579,601 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 147,846 female: 140,543 (2009 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures [time series]

1.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 87

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 48.3% (male 3,089,406/female 3,023,341) 15-64 years: 48.7% (male 3,065,167/female 3,101,914) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 151,718/female 235,441) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

49.15 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Death rate [time series]

15.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 87

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]

1.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

5,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

100,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 102.05 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 8 male: 111.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 92.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 50.35 years country comparison to the world: 207 male: 48.38 years female: 52.38 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 46.4% male: 53.5% female: 39.6% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 15.8 years male: 15.5 years female: 16.2 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian

Net migration rate [time series]

-5.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Population [time series]

12,666,987 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Population growth rate [time series]

2.765% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 5 years (2005)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.29 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 32% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 6,300 (Mauritania) (2007)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

22 (2009) country comparison to the world: 134

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Koulikoro

Railways [time series]

total: 593 km country comparison to the world: 112 narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 18,709 km country comparison to the world: 114 paved: 3,368 km unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)

Waterways [time series]

1,800 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 46