Mali

Broadcast 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.ml

Internet hosts

437 (2012) country comparison to the world: 187

Internet users

249,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 135

Telephone system

general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to about 70 per 100 persons international: country code - 223; satellite communications center and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

104,700 (2011) country comparison to the world: 145

Telephones - mobile cellular

10.822 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 70

Agriculture - products

cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats

Budget

revenues: $1.391 billion expenditures: $2.107 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Central bank discount rate

16% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.3% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 9% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.421 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 -$1.301 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$2.725 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $2.652 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.1 (2001) country comparison to the world: 59 50.5 (1994)

Economy - overview

Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, Mali is a landlocked country highly dependent on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River and about 65% of its land area is desert or semidesert. About 10% of the population is nomadic and about 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The government in 2011 completed an IMF extended credit facility program that has helped the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali is developing its cotton and iron ore extraction industries to diversify foreign exchange revenue away from gold. Mali has invested in tourism but security issues are hurting the industry. Mali experienced economic growth of about 5% per year between 1996-2010, but the global recession and a military coup caused a decline in output in 2012. The interim government slashed public spending in the context of a declining state of security and declining international aid.

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 514.1 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) 472.19 (2009) 493.51 (2007)

Exports

$2.557 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $2.453 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

cotton, gold, livestock

Exports - partners

China 31%, South Korea 14.5%, Indonesia 12.2%, Thailand 6.3%, Malaysia 5.4%, Bangladesh 5% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.603 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.35 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $18.17 billion (2011 est.) $17.69 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 36.9% industry: 23.4% services: 39.7% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 214 $1,100 (2011 est.) $1,200 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-4.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 2.7% (2011 est.) 5.8% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 25.8% (2010 est.)

Imports

$3.209 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $3.026 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

Senegal 14.9%, France 11.6%, China 8.2%, Cote dIvoire 6.3% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 2.9% (2011 est.)

Labor force

3.241 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

36.1% (2005 est.)

Public debt

23.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 23.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.401 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 $2.929 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$77.44 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $48 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$2.556 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $2.351 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.938 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $1.669 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.382 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $2.156 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Unemployment rate

30% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

893,700 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - consumption

483.6 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - from fossil fuels

48.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

51.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 213

Electricity - installed generating capacity

304,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Electricity - production

520 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Refined petroleum products - consumption

4,994 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,568 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Area

total: 1,240,192 sq km country comparison to the world: 24 land: 1,220,190 sq km water: 20,002 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate

subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Senegal River 23 m highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching

Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%) per capita: 484 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

17 00 N, 4 00 W

Geography - note

landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan

Irrigated land

2,360 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 7,243 km border countries: 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 km

Land use

arable land: 3.76% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 96.21% (2005)

Location

interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding

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

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Total renewable water resources

100 cu km (2001)

Administrative divisions

8 regions (regions, singular - region), 1 district*; District de Bamako*, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou (Timbuktu)

Capital

name: Bamako geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 12 January 1992

Country name

conventional 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Beth LEONARD embassy: located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of the Bamako central district mailing address: ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako telephone: [223] 270-2300 FAX: [223] 270-2479

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Al Maamoun Baba Lamine KEITA chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603

Executive branch

chief of state: [Interim] President Dioncounda TRAORE (since 12 April 2012) note: in the aftermath of the March 2012 coup, deposed President TOURE, in a brokered deal, resigned to facilitate the naming of an interim president and transition back toward democratic rule head of government: [Interim] Prime Minister Django CISSOKO (since 11 December 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 April 2007 (election scheduled for 29 April 2012 delayed indefinitely following the military coup); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE reelected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 71.2%, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 19.2%, other 9.6%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

22 September 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system

civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (July 2012 scheduled election indefinitely delayed after the military coup) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADP coalition 113 (ADEMA 51, URD 34, MPR 8, CNID 7, UDD 3, and other 10), FDR coalition 15 (RPM 11, PARENA 4), SADI 4, independent 15

National anthem

name: "Le Mali" (Mali) lyrics/music: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO note: adopted 1962; the anthem is 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 holiday

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

Political parties and leaders

African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, secretary general]; Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region); Convergence 2007 [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]; Convergence for the development of Mali or CODEM [Housseyni GUINDO]; Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (a coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Mady KONATE]; Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME]; Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Amadou Ali NIANGADOU]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Basir GOLOGO]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]; Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila CISSE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: the army; Islamic authorities; state-run cotton company CMDT

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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 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 TOURE, who was elected to a second term in 2007 elections that were widely judged to be free and fair. Malian returnees from Libya in 2011 exacerbated tensions in northern Mali and Tuareg ethnic militias started a rebellion in January 2012. Low-mid level soldiers, frustrated with the poor handling of the rebellion overthrew TOURE on 22 March. Coup leader Capt. Amadou Haya SANOGO and his junta under the mediation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) returned power to a civilian administration in April with the appointment of interim President Dioncounda TRAORE. Interim Prime Minister Chieck Modibo DIARRA immediately appointed a unity cabinet. The post-coup chaos led to rebels expelling the Malian military from the three northern regions of the country, which remain under the control of a Tuareg militia, Ansar al-Din, and its terrorist group allies. Hundreds of thousands of northern Malians fled the violence to southern Mali and neighboring countries, exacerbating regional food insecurity in host communities. TRAORE was attacked by an angry mob in May and spent two months recovering in Paris, he returned in July. TRAORE and DIARRA announced a second unity government in August and in September called upon the international community to assist them in reclaiming land lost to rebels. SANOGO forced DIARRA to resign in December 2012; Django CISSOKO immediately replaced him and announced a third unity cabinet. The interim government is working with ECOWAS to organize negotiations with Tuareg rebels and the international community to plan a military intervention to retake the three northern regions.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,848,412 females age 16-49: 2,981,106 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,825,779 females age 16-49: 1,968,563 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 158,031 female: 159,733 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Malian Armed Forces: Army (Armee de Terre), Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (Garde National du Mali) (2008)

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 78

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2010)

Age structure

0-14 years: 47.8% (male 3,718,591/ female 3,689,889) 15-64 years: 49.2% (male 3,600,156/ female 4,017,716) 65 years and over: 3% (male 235,366/ female 232,748) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

46.6 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

27.9% (2006) country comparison to the world: 22

Death rate

13.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 86

Ethnic groups

Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,400 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

76,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Health expenditures

7.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 65

Hospital bed density

0.57 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

total: 108.7 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 2 male: 115.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 101.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 53.06 years country comparison to the world: 207 male: 51.43 years female: 54.73 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 31.1% male: 43.4% female: 20.3% (2010 est.)

Major cities - population

BAMAKO (capital) 1.628 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

540 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 16

Median age

total: 16.4 years male: 16 years female: 16.7 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian

Net migration rate

-5.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Physicians density

0.049 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

15,494,466 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Population growth rate

3.02% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Religions

Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 54% of population rural: 32% of population total: 36% of population unimproved: urban: 46% of population rural: 68% of population total: 54% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.35 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

Urbanization

urban population: 36% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

demarcation is underway with Burkina Faso

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 12,442 (Mauritania) (2011) IDPs: 228,918 (Tuareg rebellion in 2012) (2013)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging both within mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya, in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to the longstanding practice of debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's black Tamachek community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children tier rating: Tier 2 - the Government of Mali does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government acknowledged that human trafficking is a problem in Mali, but it did not demonstrate significant efforts to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; Mali was not placed on Tier 3 because the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is devoting sufficient resources to implement that plan (2012)

Airports

21 (2012) country comparison to the world: 135

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Koulikoro

Railways

total: 593 km country comparison to the world: 109 narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 18,912 km country comparison to the world: 113 paved: 3,597 km unpaved: 15,315 km (2004)

Waterways

1,800 km (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) country comparison to the world: 44