World Atlas: Mali. On this page you can see the map, country flag and many detailed information about the people, history and economy of Mali.
Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Mali. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Mali. But let's start with the flag of Mali here:
Mali - Overview:
What you should know about Mali? Let's start with this: 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.
Geography of Mali
Where on the globe is Mali? The location of this country is interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Nige. Total area of Mali is 1,240,192 sq km, of which 1,220,190 sq km is land. So this is very large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast. The lowest point of Mali is Senegal River 23 m, the highest point Hombori Tondo 1,155 m. And the climate is subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February).
Inhabitants of Mali
Let's take a look how many people live in Mali. The number is: 17,885,245 (July 2017 est.). So this is not very populous country. Who lives here? 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.). What are the languages in Mali? 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%. And the religions: Muslim 94.8%, Christian 2.4%, Animist 2%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.3% (2009 est.). How old are the people in average? 15.8 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 60.3 years. Where the people live in Mali? Here: the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso. The major urban areas of Mali are: Bamako (capital) 2.515 million (2015).
Government and Economy of Mali
The capital of Mali is Bamako and the government type semi-presidential republic. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 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. Regarding the economy of Mali, important industrial products are food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining. Important agricultural products are cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats. The most important export commodities are cotton, gold, livestock and the most important export partners are Switzerland 30.4%, India 12.2%, Ukraine 5.1%, China 5.1%, Burkina Faso 4.9%, Senegal 4.3%, France 4%, South Africa 4% (2016). The most important import commodities are petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles and the most important import partners are Senegal 12.2%, China 12.2%, France 10.3%, Benin 8.6%, Cote dIvoire 8.4% (2016). How rich is Mali and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $2,200 (2017 est.). This is a very low number. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 36.1% (2005 est.).