Statistical information Mali 2020

Mali in the World
top of pageBackground: Present-day Mali is named for the Mali Empire that at its peak in the 14th century covered an area about twice the size of modern-day France and stretched to the west coast of Africa. In the late 19th century, France seized control of Mali. 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 Oumar 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.
top of pageLocation: interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 1,240,192 km²
Land: 1,220,190 km²
Water: 20,002 km²
Rank: 25
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundariesTotal: 7,908 km
Border countries: (7) Algeria 1359 km;
, Burkina Faso 1325 km;
, Cote dIvoire 599 km;
, Guinea 1062 km;
, Mauritania 2,236 km;
, Niger 838 km;
, Senegal 489 kmCoastline: 0 km
Note: (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
ElevationMean elevation: 343 m
Lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
Highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower, note, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Land useAgricultural land: 34.1% (2011 est.)
arable land: 5.6% (2011 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2011 est.)
permanent pasture: 28.4% (2011 est.)
Forest: 10.2% (2011 est.)
Other: 55.7% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,780 km² (2012)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
GeographyNote: landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan
top of pagePopulationDistribution rank: population distribution map: 19,553,397 (July 2020 est.)
Rank: 62
Growth rate: 2.95% (2020 est.)
Growth rate rank: 9
Below poverty line: 36.1% (2005 est.)
NationalityNoun: Malian(s)
Adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups: Bambara 33.3%, Fulani (Peuhl) 13.3%, Sarakole/Soninke/Marka 9.8%, Senufo/Manianka 9.6%, Malinke 8.8%, Dogon 8.7%, Sonrai 5.9%, Bobo 2.1%, Tuareg/Bella 1.7%, other Malian 6%, from members of Economic Community of West Africa .4%, other .3% (2018 est.)
Languages: French (official), Bambara 46.3%, Peuhl/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% (2009 est.)
Note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language
Religions: Muslim 93.9%, Christian 2.8%, animist .7%, none 2.5% (2018 est.)
Demographic profile: Mali’s total population is expected to double by 2,035; its capital Bamako is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa. A young age structure, a declining mortality rate, and a sustained high total fertility rate of 6 children per woman - the third highest in the world - ensure continued rapid population growth for the foreseeable future. Significant outmigration only marginally tempers this growth. Despite decreases, Mali’s infant, child, and maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa because of limited access to and adoption of family planning, early childbearing, short birth intervals, the prevalence of female genital cutting, infrequent use of skilled birth attendants, and a lack of emergency obstetrical and neonatal care.Mali’s high total fertility rate has been virtually unchanged for decades, as a result of the ongoing preference for large families, early childbearing, the lack of female education and empowerment, poverty, and extremely low contraceptive use. Slowing Mali’s population growth by lowering its birth rate will be essential for poverty reduction, improving food security, and developing human capital and the economy.Mali has a long history of seasonal migration and emigration driven by poverty, conflict, demographic pressure, unemployment, food insecurity, and droughts. Many Malians from rural areas migrate during the dry period to nearby villages and towns to do odd jobs or to adjoining countries to work in agriculture or mining. Pastoralists and nomads move seasonally to southern Mali or nearby coastal states. Others migrate long term to Mali’s urban areas, Cote d’Ivoire, other neighboring countries, and in smaller numbers to France, Mali’s former colonial ruler. Since the early 1990s, Mali’s role has grown as a transit country for regional migration flows and illegal migration to Europe. Human smugglers and traffickers exploit the same regional routes used for moving contraband drugs, arms, and cigarettes.Between early 2012 and 2013, renewed fighting in northern Mali between government forces and Tuareg secessionists and their Islamist allies, a French-led international military intervention, as well as chronic food shortages, caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Malians. Most of those displaced domestically sought shelter in urban areas of southern Mali, except for pastoralist and nomadic groups, who abandoned their traditional routes, gave away or sold their livestock, and dispersed into the deserts of northern Mali or crossed into neighboring countries. Almost all Malians who took refuge abroad (mostly Tuareg and Maure pastoralists) stayed in the region, largely in Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Age structure0-14 years: 47.69% (male 4,689,121/female 4,636,685)
15-24 years: 19% (male 1,768,772/female 1,945,582)
25-54 years: 26.61% (male 2,395,566/female 2,806,830)
55-64 years: 3.68% (male 367,710/female 352,170)
65 years and over: 3.02% (male 293,560/female 297,401) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratiosTotal dependency ratio: 98
Youth dependency ratio: 93.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.9
Potential support ratio: 20.4 (2020 est.)
Median ageTotal: 16 years
Male: 15.3 years
Female: 16.7 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 224
Population growth rate: 2.95% (2020 est.)
Rank: 9
Birth rate: 42.2 births/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 4
Death rate: 9 deaths/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 63
Net migration rate: -3.9 migrant(s)/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 187
Population distributionRank: population distribution map
UrbanizationUrban population: 43.9% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 4.86% annual rate of change
Major urban areasPopulation: 2.618 million BAMAKO (capital) (2020)
EnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; loss of pasture land; inadequate supplies of potable water
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth: 18.9 years (2018 est.)
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateTotal: 64 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 69.6 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 58.3 deaths/1000 live births (2020 est.)
Rank: 9
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 61.6 years
Male: 59.4 years
Female: 63.9 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 210
Total fertility rate: 5.72 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Rank: 4
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 17.2% (2018)
Drinking water sourceUrban: 2.9% of population
Rural: 27.2% of population
Total: 17.1% of population (2017 est.)
Current health expenditure: 3.8% (2017)
Physicians density: 0.14 physicians/1000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density: 0.1 beds/1000 population (2010)
Sanitation facility accessUrban: 17.5% of population
Rural: 65.9% of population
Total: 45.8% of population (2017 est.)
Hiv/AidsAdult prevalence rate: 1.2% (2019 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 39
People living with hivaids: 140,000 (2019 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 38
Deaths: 5,800 (2019 est.)
Deaths rank: 24
Major infectious diseasesDegree of risk: very high (2020)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Animal contact diseases: rabies
Respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 8.6% (2016)
Rank: 149
Alcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.6% (2018)
Rank: 28
Education expenditures: 3.8% of GDP (2017)
Rank: 106
LiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 35.5%
Male: 46.2%
Female: 25.7% (2018)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationTotal: 8 years
Male: 8 years
Female: 7 years (2017)
Youth 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 and Sudanese Republic
Etymology: name derives from the West African Mali Empire of the 13th to 16th centuries A.D.
Government type: semi-presidential republic
CapitalName: BamakoGeographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time):
etymology: the name in the Bambara language can mean either 'crocodile tail' or 'crocodile river' and three crocodiles appear on the city seal
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region), 1 district*; District de Bamako*, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Menaka, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Taoudenni, Tombouctou (Timbuktu); note - Menaka and Taoudenni were legislated in 2016, but implementation has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names
Dependent areasIndependence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
ConstitutionHistory: several previous; latest drafted August 1991, approved by referendum 12 January 1992, effective 25 February 1992, suspended briefly in 2012
Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by members of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional sections on the integrity of the state, its republican and secular form of government, and its multiparty system cannot be amended; amended 1999
Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Court
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICC jurisdiction
CitizenshipCitizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mali
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President of transitional government, Bah NDAW (since 25 September 2020); vice president of the transitional government, Assimi GOITA (since 25 September 2020); former president Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA was deposed by the Malian military on 18 August 2020; on 21 September, a group of 17 electors chosen by the Malian military junta, called the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (NCSP), selected former Malian defense minister and chairman of the NCSP, Bah NDAW, as transitional president, and retired Malian Army Colonel Assimi GOITA as transitional vice president; the transitional government was inaugurated on 25 September 2020
Head of government: Prime Minister Moctar OUANE (appointed by the transitional government on 27 Sep 2020; former PM Boubou CISSE was removed on 18 August 2020 following the military coup)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 July 2018 with a runoff on 12 August 2018; prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (RPM) 77.6%, Soumaila CISSE (URD) 22.4%
Legislative branchDescription:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members directly elected in single and multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; 13 seats reserved for citizens living abroad; members serve 5-year terms)
note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 18 August 2020 following a military coup and the resignation of President KEITA
Elections: last held on 30 March and 19 April 2020 (prior to the August 2020 coup, the next election was scheduled to be held in 2025)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA composition - NA
Judicial branchHighest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 19 judges organized into judicial, administrative, and accounting sectons); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Ministry of Justice to serve 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges selected - 3 each by the president, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; members serve single renewable 7-year terms
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases of high treason or criminal offenses by the president or ministers while in office); administrative courts (first instance and appeal); commercial courts; magistrate courts; labor courts; juvenile courts; special court of state security
Political parties and leaders: African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO]Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity, and Justice or ADEMA-PASJ [Tiemoko SANGARE]Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP-Maliba [Amadou THIAM]Alliance for the Solidarity of Mali-Convergence of Patriotic Forces or ASMA-CFP [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]Alternative Forces for Renewal and Emergence or FARE [Modibo SIDIBE]Convergence for the Development of Mali or CODEM [Housseyni Amion GUINDO]Democratic Alliance for Peace or ADP-Maliba [Aliou Boubacar DIALLO]Economic and Social Development Party or PDES [Jamille BITTAR]Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (coalition of smaller opposition parties)National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel Kokalla MAIGA]Rally for Mali or RPM [Boucary TRETA]Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Younoussi TOURE]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamadou NIMAGA (since 22 June 2018)
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 Dennis B. HANKINS (since 15 March 2019)
From the us telephone: [223] 2,070-2,300
From the us embassy: ACI 2000, Rue 243, (located off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge west of the Bamako central district), Porte 297, Bamako
From the us mailing address: ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako
From the us FAX: [223] 2,070-2,479
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red
Note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal (which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea
National symbols: Great Mosque of Djenne; national colors: green, yellow, red
National anthemName: Le Mali (Mali)
Lyricsmusic: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO
Note: adopted 1962; also known as 'Pour L'Afrique et pour toi, Mali' (For Africa and for You, Mali) and 'A ton appel Mali' (At Your Call, Mali)
National heritagetop of pageEconomy overviewReal gdp purchasing power parityReal:$39.246 billion (2019 est.)
$37.363 billion (2018 est.)
$35.703 billion (2017 est.)
Real note: data are in 2010 dollars
Real gdp growth rate:
5.4% (2017 est.)
5.8% (2016 est.)
6.2% (2015 est.)
Rank: 34
Real gdp per capita:
$792 (2019 est.)
$777 (2018 est.)
$766 (2017 est.)
Note: data are in 2010 dollars
Rank: 216
Gross national saving:
16.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
15.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
15.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 126
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useHousehold consumption: 82.9% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 17.4% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 19.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.7% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 22.1% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -41.1% (2017 est.)
Gdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 41.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 18.1% (2017 est.)
Services: 40.5% (2017 est.)
Agriculture products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries: food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (2017 est.)
Rank: 37
Labor force: 6.447 million (2017 est.)
Rank: 69
By occupation agriculture: 80%
By occupation industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% (2017 est.)
7.8% (2016 est.)
Rank: 123
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 36.1% (2005 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10: 3.5%
Highest 10: 25.8% (2010 est.)
Distribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: 3.075 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 3.513 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 128
Taxes and other revenues: 20% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 153
Public debt:
35.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
36% of GDP (2016 est.)
Rank: 150
RevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
1.9% (2018 est.)
1.8% (2017 est.)
1.7% (2017 est.)
Rank: 108
Central bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balance:
-$886 million (2017 est.)
-$1.015 billion (2016 est.)
Rank: 141
Exports:
$3.06 billion (2017 est.)
$2.803 billion (2016 est.)
Rank: 133
Partners: Switzerland 31.8%, UAE 15.4%, Burkina Faso 7.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.3%, South Africa 5%, Bangladesh 4.6% (2017)
Commodities: cotton, gold, livestock
Imports:
$3.644 billion (2017 est.)
$3.403 billion (2016 est.)
Rank: 148
Commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles
Partners: Senegal 24.4%, China 13.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 9%, France 7.3% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$647.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$395.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 144
Debt external:
$4.192 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.981 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Rank: 137
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates:
605.3 (2017 est.)
593.01 (2016 est.)
593.01 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)
top of pageElectricityAccess population without electricity: 10 million (2019)
Access electrification total population: 50% (2019)
Access electrification urban areas: 78% (2019)
Access electrification rural areas: 28% (2019)
Production: 2.489 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 136
Consumption: 2.982 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 136
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 166
Imports: 800 million kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 73
Installed generating capacity: 590,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 140
Generation sources fossil fuels: 68% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 112
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 138
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 68
Generation sources other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 160
CoalPetroleumPetroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 170
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 161
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 161
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 165
Crude oilRefined petroleumProducts production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 173
Products consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 134
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 178
Products imports: 20,610 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 119
Natural gasProduction: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 166
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 172
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 147
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 154
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 167
Carbon dioxide emissionsFrom consumption of energy: 3.388 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 143
Energy consumption per capitaMali - Communication 2020
top of pageTelephonesFixed lines total subscriptions: 227,831
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.2 (2019 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 119
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 21,850,850
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115.09 (2019 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 55
Telephone systemBroadcast media: national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately owned companies provide subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of privately owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
InternetCountry code: .ml
Users total: 2,395,886
Users percent of population: 13% (July 2018 est.)
Users rank: 111
Broadband fixed subscriptionsTotal: 120,934
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1
Note: less than 1 (2018 est.)
Rank: 119
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2019)
2.9% of GDP (2018)
3% of GDP (2017)
2.6% of GDP (2016)
2.4% of GDP (2015)
Rank: 34
Military and security forces:
Malian Armed Forces (FAMa): Army (Armee de Terre), Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM); National Gendarmerie; National Guard (Garde National du Mali) (2019)
note(s): the Gendarmerie and the National Guard are under the authority of the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs (Ministere De La Defense Et Des Anciens Combattants, MDAC), but operational control is shared between the MDAC and the Ministry of Internal Security and Civil Protectionthe Gendarmerie's primary mission is internal security and public order; its duties also include territorial defense, humanitarian operations, intelligence gathering, and protecting private property, mainly in rural areasthe National Guard is a military force responsible for providing security to government facilities and institutions, prison service, public order, humanitarian operations, some border security, and intelligence gathering; it has special units on camels (the Camel Corps) for patrolling the deserts and borders of northern Mali
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service (men and women); 2-year conscript service obligation (2014)
Space programTerrorist groups: Ansar al-Dine; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara; Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin; al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun) (2020)
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in a title='Appendix-T' href='../appendix/appendix-t.html'>Appendix-T/a>
Mali - Transportation 2020
top of pageNational air transport systemNumber of registered air carriers: 0 (2020)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TZ, TT (2016)
Airports: 25 (2013)
Rank: 127
With paved runways total: 8 (2019)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 17 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 9 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Heliports: 2 (2013)
PipelinesRailwaysTotal: 593 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 593 km
Note: 1.000-m gauge (2014)
Rank: 110
RoadwaysTotal: 139,107 km (2018)
Rank: 38
Waterways: 1800 km
Note: (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels) (2011)
Rank: 43
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsRiver port: Koulikoro (Niger)
Mali - Transnational issues 2020
top of pageDisputes international: demarcation is underway with Burkina Faso
Refugees and internally displaced personsRefugees: 16,938 (Niger), 15,316 (Mauritania), 12,890 (Burkina Faso) (2020)
IDPs: 287,496 (Tuareg rebellion since 2012) (2020)
Illicit drugs