Travelling Club - Mali

Fact Sheet: Mali

• Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
• Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W
• Area: total: 1.24 million sq km
• Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
• Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
• Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
• Population: 11,716,829 (July 2006 est.)
• Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
• Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
• Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
• Government type: republic
• Capital: name: Bamako
• Currency code: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
• Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
• Internet country code: .ml
• Airports: 29 (2006)