Mali

Geography

Mali is a landlocked country in and on the West African desert Sahara. The land has a total area of 1,240,190 km² (478,840 mi²). This land area is approximately 178% of the area of Texas. Mali is thus one of the largest countries in Africa and the 24th biggest in the world. Only slightly less than half of all residents (45%) live within cities.

Mali is comparatively low at an average elevation of 343 meters above sea level. The highest mountain peak (Hombori Tondo) is at 1,155 meters. There is no access to the open sea. There are direct national borders with the seven neighboring countries Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. The distance between New York City and the Capital Bamako is about 7,080 km (4,399 mi).

The climate in Mali

In Mali, as in all equatorial countries, there is a tropical climate. Unlike in Europe or the USA, there is almost no difference between the seasons. The daylight hours vary little, and the temperature differences between summer and winter are also lower. Depending on the season, the average daytime temperatures range between 32 and 41 degrees. In some parts of the country, the temperature rises to 44 °C. In the colder months, and depending in the region, the temperature drops to 16 °C in a month's average.

• Detailed climate data for Mali and 9 individual regions

Languages

Mother tongue	Distribution
Bambara	46.3 %
Peul	9.4 %
Dogon	7.2 %
Maraka	6.4 %
French	6.4 %
Malinke	5.6 %
Sonrhai	5.6 %
Minianka	4.3 %
Tamacheq	3.5 %
Senoufo	2.6 %
other	2.7 %

Religions

Religion	Distribution
Animists	2.0%
Christs	2.4%
Muslims	94.8%
nondenominational	0.5%
other	0.3%

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Economy

GDP:	19.14 bn $
Exportations:	5,195.6 M $
Importations:	6,339.1 M $
› Tourism receipts:	231.00 M $
› Unemployment rate:	2.8 %
› Inflation rate:	3.93 %
› Corruption index:	28 (very bad)
› Energy consumption:	2.6 bn kWh

Due to its political and financial situation, Mali is considered one of the least developed countries in the world and is also one of the heavily indebted poor countries.

In terms of revenues, it still ranks 174th in the world and, with an average annual income of 820 USD is one of the low-income countries.

Mali is considered one of the most dangerous countries worldwide.

Land use

0% Urban areas:	2,910 km²
34% Agricultural areas:	418,812 km²
11% Forest:	135,181 km²
2% Water areas:	20,000 km²
55% Others:	683,287 km²

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Transport

Roadways:	139,107 km
Railways:	593 km
Waterways:	1,800 km
› Airports:	1