Important FAQ about Mali
Where is Mali?
The Republic of Mali is a landlocked country, and is located in Western Africa. It shares its borders with Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and the Cote d’Ivoire to the south, Guinea to the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania to the west.
What is the capital of Mali?
Bamako is the capital of Mali. It is considered the fastest-growing city in Africa and the sixth-fastest growing city in the world. It gets its name from the Bambara language, meaning “crocodile river”.
How big is Mali?
Mali covers an area of 478,839 square miles and is the 24th-largest country in the world. It has an estimated population of 14,517,176.
What is the currency of Mali?
The West African CFA franc is the currency of Mali. The acronym stands for Communaute finaciere d’Afrique. It is issued by the BCEAO, located in Dakar, Senegal. It is subdivided into 100 centimes. Its ISO 4217 code is XOF.
Which is the largest city of Mali?
The capital of Mali, Bamako, is the largest city of Mali. It covers an area of 97.3 square miles and has an estimated population of approximately 1.8 million.
What is the official language of Mali?
Although more than 40 African languages are spoken in the country, French is the official language. About 80% of the population can communicate in Bambara, which is the lingua franca and marketplace language of the country.
What is the religion of Mali?
Mali is a secular state, as established by the constitution of the country. It allows freedom of religion. Approximately 90% of the population in Mali is Muslims, followed by Christians (5%), and other indigenous beliefs (5%).
What is the literacy rate of Mali?
The literacy rate in Mali is very low. It is significantly lower among women than men. The total literacy rate is estimated to be 46.4%.
What type of government exists in Mali?
The constitutional democracy of Mali is governed by the Constitution of January 12, 1992, which was amended in 1999. The government is divided into three division, including executive, legislative, and judicial. The system of government is also described as “semi-presidential”. Executive powers are vested in president, while the prime minister serves as the head of the government.
Who is the political leader of Mali?
Amadou Toumani Toure is the current president of Mali. He was sworn in as the president on June 8, 2002. Cisse Mariam Kaidama Sidibe is the current prime minister of Mali. Sworn in on April 3, 2011, she is the first woman to be appointed the prime minister.
When is the National Day of Mali celebrated?
Celebrated on September 22, the national day of Mali commemorates its freedom from France in 1960.
It is celebrated as a public holiday and the main activities of the celebrations are parades, political speeches, performances, and singing on patriotic hymns.
What is the economy of Mali like?
The GDP of Mali is USD 5.8 billion, while the per capita income(PPP) is US $1300. It is one of the poorest countries of the world, with agriculture being the primary industry. Along with gold and livestock, the largest crop exported is cotton. Major agricultural outputs are rice, millet, corn, vegetables, tobacco, and tree crops. Minerals mined in the country are kaolin, salt, phosphate, and limestone. The unemployment rate of the country is 12%. Major trading partners are China, Thailand, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Australia, France, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire.