Background: 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.

Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N 4 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Coastline: 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

Natural resources: gold phosphates kaolin salt limestone uranium hydropower

Irrigated land: 780 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts

Geography
Note: landlocked

Population: 10,685,948 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 2.98% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara Malinke Soninke) 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%

Population growth rate: 2.98% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 49.23 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 19.1 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.37 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching

Infant mortality rate: 123.25 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.89 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Government type: republic

Capital: Bamako

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

Independence: 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

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: 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]

International 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 IOM ITU MIPONUH MONUC NAM OAU OIC OPCW UN UN Security Council (temporary) UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WADB WAEMU WCL WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) yellow and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy 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 should remain in the 5-6% range in 2000-01 and inflation should drop under 3%.

Real gdp growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $820 (1999 est.)

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%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3% (1999 est.)

Exports: $640 million (f.o.b. 1999 est.)
Commodities: cotton 50% gold livestock (1998 est.)
Partners: Thailand 20% Italy 20% China 9% Brazil 5% Franc Zone (1997)

Imports: $650 million (f.o.b. 1999 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment construction materials petroleum foodstuffs textiles
Partners: Cote d'Ivoire 19% France 17% other Franc Zone and EU countries (1997)

Debt external: $3.1 billion (1998)

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000) 615.70 (1999) 589.95 (1998) 583.67 (1997) 511.55 (1996) 499.15 (1995)

Electricity
Production: 310 million kWh (1998)
Consumption: 288 million kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 17,000 (1995)
Mobile cellular: 0 (1995)

Telephone system: domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service

Internet
Service providers isps: 1 (1999)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $49 million (FY96)
Percent of gdp: 2% (FY96)

Airports: 28 (1999 est.)

Waterways: 1815 km navigable

Disputes international: none