| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
17° 00' North Latitude
4° 00' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
1.24 million sq km |
| Climate |
Subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February |
| 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 |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Mali |
| Capital City |
Bamako |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou |
| Independence Day |
22 September 1960 (from France) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
12,291,529 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Malian |
| Ethnic Groups |
Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5% |
| Religion |
Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1% |
| Languages |
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.74% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF);
Note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States |
| Industries |
Food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining |
| Labor Force |
3.93 million (2001 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture and fishing 80% (2001 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats |
| Export Commodities |
Cotton, gold, livestock |
| Export Partners |
China 32%, India 10.3%, Italy 7.6%, Bangladesh 6.8%, Thailand 5.9%, Germany 5.2%, Taiwan 4% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles |
| Import Partners |
France 15.4%, Senegal 7.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.6%, Germany 4.1% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
729 km |
| Highways |
15,100 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
28 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Koulikoro |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+223 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.ml |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 with a transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first
democratic presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997, President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight corruption.
In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE. |
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