Official Name: Republic of Mali
Political System: Semi-presidential system of Government. The President and the Assembly are elected by universal suffrage. The Government, led by a prime Minister, is accountable to the National Assembly.
Head of State: President elected for a five- year term.
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Surface: 1,241,238 sq.km
Population (2023): 22,385,485
Population density: 7.9 per sq.km
GDP per capita: $531
Main exports: Gold, Cotton lint, live animals
Currency: Franc CFA, shared with seven other West African states and issued by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Official language: French
Other languages: Bambara, Malinke, Soninke, Peuhl, Dogon, Songhoi, Minianka, Senoufo, Khassonke, Bobo, Tamasheq
Religion: Islam (90%), Christianity (1%), Other (9%)
Time zone: GMT
Main cities: Bamako (capital city), Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Segou, Mopti, Gao, Timbuktu, Kidal
Climatic Conditions: Mali is divided into three climatic zones:
The Sudanic in the south (16% of the territory) with 700 to 1,000 mm of annual precipitation;
The Sahelian in the centre and west (44% of the territory) with 200 to 400 mm precipitation,
The Saharan in the North (40 % of the territory) with little or no rain.
There are three main seasons: rainy and humid from June to October, cool and dry from November to February and hot and dry from March to June.