Statistical information Mali 1999

Mali in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 1.24 million km²
Land: 1.22 million km²
Water: 20,000 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundariesTotal: 7,243 km
Border countries: (7) 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 kmCoastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
Extremes highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Land useArable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 25%
Forests and woodland: 6%
Other: 67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 780 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts
GeographyNote: landlocked
top of pagePopulation: 10,429,124 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 3.01% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Malian(s)
Adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 47% (male 2,482,301; female 2,460,894)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,447,712; female 2,708,978)
65 years and over: 4% (male 155,178; female 174,061) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.01% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 49.5 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 18.56 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.87 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 119.44 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 47.5 years
Male: 46.09 years
Female: 48.96 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.96 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 31%
Male: 39.4%
Female: 23.1% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Mali
Conventional short form: Mali
Local long form: Republique de Mali
Local short form: Mali
Former: French Sudan
Government type: republic
Capital: Bamako
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular_region; Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Dependent areasIndependence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)
Constitution: adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
Head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994)
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 May 2002); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of vote_Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%, Mamadou DIABY 4.09%, other 10.76%
Legislative branch: 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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: 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, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH
In the us chancery: 2,130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 332-2,249, 939-8,950
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 332-6,603
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON
From the us embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
From the us mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
From the us telephone: [223] 22 54 70
From the us FAX: [223] 22 37 12
Flag description
: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996-98, and the government anticipates that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years. Annual growth thus may fall in the 5% range in 1999-2000, and inflation held to 5% or less.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.6% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $790 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 49%
Industry: 17%
Services: 34% (1995)
Agriculture products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1995 est.)
Labor force: NA
By occupation: agriculture and fishing 80% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $730 million
Expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $320 million (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $590 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: cotton 50%, gold, livestock (1998 est.)
Partners: Thailand 20%, Italy 20%, China 9%, Brazil, franc zone (1997)
Imports: $600 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment, construction materials, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles
Partners: Cote d'Ivoire 19%, France 17%, other franc zone and EU countries (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $3.1 billion (1998)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1_567.81 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 288 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 21.88%
Production by source hydro: 78.12%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 288 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaMali - Communication 1999
top of pageTelephones: 11,000 (1982 est.)
Telephone system: 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $49 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: 2% (1996)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsMali - Transportation 1999
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 28 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 22
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 8
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysTotal: 641 km; (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes)
Narrow gauge: 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)
RoadwaysWaterways: 1,815 km navigable
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsMali - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs