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Mali Facts

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 coup that ushered in democratic government. President Alpha Konare won Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toure.

  • Natural Resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower
  • Area: 1.24 million sq km
  • Population: 11,716,829
  • Capital: Bamako
  • Major languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
  • Major religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%
  • Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
  • Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
  • Industries: food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
  • Exports: China 29.4%, Thailand 10.1%, Taiwan 7.8%, Italy 5.3%, Bangladesh 4.5%, France 4.4% (2005)
  • Imports: France 13%, Senegal 13%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.4% (2005)
  • Airports: 29 (2006 est.) 9 with paved runways.