Mali Overview
Mali is a coastal state in West Africa. Mali, the seventh largest country in Africa, borders Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania.
| Capital: | Bamako |
| Biggest city: | Bamako |
| State: | republic |
| Language: | French |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Surface: | 1,240,000 km |
| Population: | 15.5 million (2013) |
| Population density: | 11 residents per km² |
| Life expectancy: | 52 years |
| Illiteracy: | 54% |
| Currency: | CFA franc (XOF) 1 CFA franc = 0.01 kr |
| GDP per capita: | $ 1,200 (2010) |
| Time difference: | -1 hour |
| Electricity: | 110/220 V AC 50Hz |
| National Day: | September 22 |
| Country area code: | 223 |
| 2-Letter country abbreviation: | ML (See more abbreviations on Abbreviationfinder) |
| Business: | agriculture 85%, service sector 13%, industry 2% |
| Climate: | subtropical in the south and southwest; desert climate in the north |
Mali consists of 8 regions, which in the north reach far into central Sahara, while the southern parts of the country, where the majority of the population lives, are characterized by the rivers Niger and the Senegal River.
The country’s economic structure revolves mainly around agriculture and fishing. Some of Mali’s natural resources include gold, uranium and salt. Mali is believed to be one of the poorest countries in the world.
In prehistoric times, Mali was part of the three West African empires that controlled trans-Saharan trade: the Ghanaian Empire, the Malian Empire (from which Mali is named) and the Songhai Empire.
During the late 19th century, Mali came under French control as part of French Sudan. In 1959, Mali gained independence along with Senegal as the Mali Federation. One year later, the Mali Federation became independent Mali. After a long period of one-party rule, a coup in 1991 led to a new constitution and the establishment of Mali as a democratic multi-party state.
WORLD HERITAGE
The following objects in Mali are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The year in which the item was added to the list is indicated in parentheses.
- City of Timbuktu (1988)
- The Old Town of Djenné (1988)
- Bandiagaraklippan (1989)
- The Tomb of Askia (2004)
ELECTRICAL OUTLET
Electricity and electrical outlets in Mali
Voltage: 220 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Type of plug: C, E
Need an adapter: No, you do not need an adapter.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Weather in Bamako
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average temperature °C | 24 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 |
| Day °C | 32 | 36 | 38 | 39 | 38 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 33 |
| Night °C | 16 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 16 |
| Rain (mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 60 | 130 | 230 | 330 | 200 | 60 | 90 | 0 |
| Rainy days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
Bamako
According to Countryaah, Bamako is the capital of Mali. The city is located in the southwestern part of the country, on the Niger River and has 1.6 million residents (2006). It is primarily an administrative center, but also an important trading center with a river port. The city was founded in 1650.
Djenné
Djenné is a town on the Bani River in southern Mali with 12,000 residents (1987). The city is famous for its mud buildings, the most famous being Djenné’s Grand Mosque, rebuilt in 1907. In the past, Djenne was a center of trade and knowledge. During the rainy season, Djenné becomes an island.
In 1987, the old town of Djenné was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Timbuktu
Timbuktu is a city on the Niger River with 31,973 residents (1998). Timbuktu has a long history as a trading place between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The name Timbuktu became in Europe a metaphor for a distant, exotic place.
In 1988, Timbuktu was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Timbuktu was then threatened, among other things, by what once gave it its riches, the Sahara. Timbuktu was therefore included in the 1990 list of endangered world heritage sites. Since then, they have, among other things, worked on creating a management plan, made an inventory, restored and worked on getting a water system. The World Heritage Committee therefore decided in 2005 to remove Timbuktu from the list of endangered World Heritage Sites.
