Local time--:--:--Bamako ·

Africa / Western Africa · Card 032

Mali

Mali is a country in Western Africa. Its capital is Bamako.

Find Mali

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Bamako
Languages: National languages; French used for work
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Population: 25.2 million2025 · World Bank
Area: 1,240,192 km²478,841 square miles
Independence: 1960from France

Mali in context

Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Bamako; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

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

Languages

The national languages are official under the 2023 constitution; French is a working language. Bambara is widely spoken.

Location

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

Flag

Three equal vertical bands of green (left side), yellow, and red

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2023 constitution · official language provisions · Government update

History & independence

French Sudan and Senegal became independent together as the Mali Federation in June 1960. After Senegal withdrew, the Republic of Mali was proclaimed on 22 September 1960. The territory has a much older history associated with the Mali and Songhai empires.

1960
The Republic of Mali is proclaimed
1991
A military takeover is followed by a transition to multiparty politics
2020–2021
Military takeovers establish a new transition

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2023 constitution · official language provisions · Government update

Economy

Main activities

Gold mining, cotton, livestock and food crops are important activities. Landlocked trade routes, rainfall and insecurity affect production and access to markets.

Industry and production

food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2023 constitution · official language provisions · Government update

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Millions of people

25.22025 · millions of people

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table

Population: source values and plotted units
Year	People	Millions of people
1970	6,276,472	6.276
1980	7,530,515	7.531
1990	9,178,830	9.179
2000	11,559,290	11.559
2010	15,945,198	15.945
2020	21,713,836	21.714
2025	25,198,821	25.199

Real GDP, 1990–2025

Billions of constant 2015 US dollars

23.52025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars

Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.

Sources: World Bank · Real GDP

View data table

Real GDP: source values and plotted units
Year	Constant 2015 US$	Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
1990	5,413,448,189	5.413
1991	6,098,639,580	6.099
1992	5,790,098,352	5.790
1993	6,041,865,012	6.042
1994	6,379,707,258	6.380
1995	6,426,195,785	6.426
1996	6,835,267,858	6.835
1997	7,116,972,455	7.117
1998	7,590,483,164	7.590
1999	7,947,682,137	7.948
2000	7,889,185,607	7.889
2001	9,136,152,789	9.136
2002	9,413,551,549	9.414
2003	10,335,808,731	10.336
2004	10,488,502,208	10.489
2005	10,754,740,077	10.755
2006	11,151,547,252	11.152
2007	11,347,819,622	11.348
2008	11,760,733,950	11.761
2009	12,402,250,895	12.402
2010	13,093,898,209	13.094
2011	13,478,253,743	13.478
2012	13,333,713,052	13.334
2013	13,772,483,870	13.772
2014	14,668,058,748	14.668
2015	15,583,181,170	15.583
2016	16,518,961,030	16.519
2017	17,406,945,660	17.407
2018	18,254,289,664	18.254
2019	19,167,003,986	19.167
2020	18,942,920,942	18.943
2021	19,530,329,790	19.530
2022	20,253,575,064	20.254
2023	21,218,443,431	21.218
2024	22,282,874,240	22.283
2025	23,530,596,748	23.531

Human development

The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.

HDI · 20230.419Low human developmentRank 188 of 193 · 2025 report

Human Development Index over time

19900.240

20000.320

20100.410

20200.414

20230.419

60.4 yearsLife expectancy at birth

1.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+

The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.

Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025

Government

Military-led transitional government. A transitional national council exercises legislative functions; the constitutional description of a republic does not mean an elected civilian government is currently in office.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2023 constitution · official language provisions · Government update

Knowledge check

Three questions about Mali.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

Which currency is listed for Mali?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · 2023 constitution · official language provisions · Government update

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.