Country Summary: Mali (Republic of Mali)
Country Name: Mali (Republic of Mali)
Capital: Bamako
Government Type: semi-presidential republic
Background: Present-day Mali is named after the Mali Empire that ruled the region between the 13th and 16th centuries. At its peak in the 14th century, it was the largest and wealthiest empire in West Africa and controlled an area about twice the size of modern-day France. Primarily a trading empire, Mali derived its wealth from gold and maintained several goldfields and trade routes in the Sahel. The empire also influenced West African culture through the spread of its language, laws, and customs, but by the 16th century it fragmented into mostly small chiefdoms. The Songhai Empire, previously a Mali dependency centered in Timbuktu, gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries. Under Songhai rule, Timbuktu became a large commercial center, well-known for its scholarship and religious teaching. Timbuktu remains a center of culture in West Africa today. In the late 16th century, the Songhai Empire fell to Moroccan invaders and disintegrated into independent sultanates and kingdoms.
France, expanding from Senegal, seized control of the area in the 1890s and incorporated it into French West Africa as French Sudan. In 1960, French Sudan gained independence from France and became the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the remaining area was renamed the Republic of Mali.
Continent: Africa
Population: 21,359,722 (2023 est.)
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 0.4%, other 0.3% (2018 est.)
Languages: Bambara (official), French 17.2%, Peuhl/Foulfoulbe/Fulani 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%, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2009 est.)
note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language
Religions: Muslim 93.9%, Christian 2.8%, animist 0.7%, none 2.5% (2018 est.)
Economic Overview: low-income Saharan economy; recession due to COVID-19 and political instability; extreme poverty; environmentally fragile; high public debt; agricultural and gold exporter; terrorism and warfare are common
Currency: West African CFA Franc (XOF)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $647.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $48.184 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars
Real GDP Growth Rate: 3.73% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per Capita: $2,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars
Exports:
$5.381 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Comparison Ranking: 133
Export Commodities: gold, cotton, sesame seeds, lumber, refined petroleum (2021)
Export Partners: United Arab Emirates 66%, Switzerland 26% (2019)
Imports:
$7.596 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Comparison Ranking: 131
Import Commodities: refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, cement, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Import Partners: Senegal 23%, Cote d'Ivoire 15%, China 11%, France 9% (2019)
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
Agricultural Products: maize, rice, millet, sorghum, mangoes/guavas, cotton, watermelons, green onions/shallots, okra, sugar cane
Industries: food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial Production Growth Rate:
2.36% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Comparison Ranking: 125
Labor Force: 7.958 million (2022 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 3.14% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Natural Hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Geography:
Total: 1,240,192 sq km
Land: 1,220,190 sq km
Water: 20,002 sq km
(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)
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