Mali
Africa Β· Capital: Bamako
How it is run: Mali is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Mali is home to 25.2 million people in Western Africa, where people speak French.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
25.2 million people
That is 0.3% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
1,240,192 kmΒ²
One of the world's large countries: flying across it takes hours.
ποΈ How crowded
About 20 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
19th most people in Africa
8th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
French
π° Money
West African CFA franc (Fr)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
60.7 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$1,193
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
32.2% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
45.8% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+223
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.ml
π§ People here are called
Malian
π·οΈ Name at home
Mali
Also written: Republic of Mali, RΓ©publique du Mali.
π Coast or inland
Landlocked β no coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Mali is landlocked β it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Mali
French
Mali
Arabic
Ω Ψ§ΩΩ
Chinese
马ι
Japanese
γγͺ
Russian
ΠΠ°Π»ΠΈ
Portuguese
Mali
German
Mali
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 9.4Γ as many people as Mali.
- Mali covers roughly 11,811 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Mali lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 12,599 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: The capital of Mali is Bamako β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Mali
ποΈ Capital
Bamako
π Region
Africa Β· Western Africa
π€ Country code
ML
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Mali π
π§ Where on the map
17.0Β° N, 4.0Β° W
π Half of the world
Northern & Western hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+0 β when it is noon in London it is about 12:00 in Bamako.
- Mali is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Mali shares its part of the world with Liberia. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of Mali is Bamako β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- π²π± is the flag of Mali. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is ML.
- Mali is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Mali has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Mali?
- If Mali spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Mali?
Bamako
Which money do people spend in Mali?
West African CFA franc (Fr)
How many countries share a land border with Mali?
7 β Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal.
Roughly how many people live in Mali?
25.2 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.