Exporting

All the tools and resources you need to export your goods across the world

The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a military coup that ushered in a period of democratic rule. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toumani TOURE, who was elected to a second term in a 2007 election that was widely judged to be free and fair. Malian returnees from Libya in 2011 exacerbated tensions in northern Mali, and Tuareg ethnic militias rebelled in January 2012. Low- and mid-level soldiers, frustrated with the poor handling of the rebellion, overthrew TOURE on 22 March. Intensive mediation efforts led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) returned power to a civilian administration in April with the appointment of Interim President Dioncounda TRAORE. The post-coup chaos led to rebels expelling the Malian military from the country's three northern regions and allowed Islamic militants to set up strongholds. Hundreds of thousands of northern Malians fled the violence to southern Mali and neighboring countries, exacerbating regional food shortages in host communities. An international military intervention to retake the three northern regions began in January 2013 and within a month most of the north had been retaken. In a democratic presidential election conducted in July and August of 2013, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA was elected president. The Malian Government and northern armed groups signed an internationally-mediated peace accord in June 2015.

Location

interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger

Natural Resources

gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower

Population - distribution

the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso

13796354
French (official), Bambara 46.3%, Peul/Foulfoulbe 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/Soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/Djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, Bobo 2.1%, unspecified 0.7%, other 6.3%
BAMAKO (capital) 2.515 million (2015)
Conventional long form
Republic of Mali
Conventional short form
Mali
Local long form
Republique de Mali
Local short form
Mali
semi-presidential republic
Name
Bamako
Geographic coordinates
12 39 N, 8 00 W
Time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, landlocked Mali depends on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest; cotton and gold exports make up around 80% of export earnings. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid.
Inflation
1.436%
External debt stocks
US$ 3,668,347,000
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
48.3%
Real Interest Rate
0.699%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
3.107%
Current Account Balance
US$ -675,835,486
Labor Force, Total
6,225,219
Employment in Agriculture
66%
Employment in Industry
5.60%
Employment in Services
28.30%
Unemployment Rate
8.10%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 3,798,564,787
Exports of goods and services
US$ 2,868,418,063
Total Merchandise Trade
43.06%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 152,941,331
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 404,780,840
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Commodities
cotton, gold, livestock
Partners
Switzerland 45.5%, India 14.4%, China 8.8%, Bangladesh 7.5%, Thailand 4.3%, Indonesia 4.1% (2015)
Commodities
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles
Partners
Cote dIvoire 10%, France 9.6%, Senegal 7.7%, China 7% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
D
A high-risk political and economic situation and an often very difficult business environment can have a very significant impact on corporate payment behavior. Corporate default probability is very high.
Business Climate Rating
D
The business environment is very difficult. Corporate financial information is rarely available and when available usually unreliable. The legal system makes debt collection very unpredictable. The institutional framework has very serious weaknesses. Intercompany transactions can thus be very difficult to manage in the highly risky environments rated D.
  • Third largest African producer of gold and cotton; livestock rearing country
  • Stabilization of the political situation and drive to restructure the economy
  • International aid
  • Economy vulnerable to weather conditions and to commodity price fluctuations
  • Landlocked
  • Fragile security situation

Our site saves small pieces of text information (cookies) on your device in order to deliver better content and for statistical purposes. By browsing our website you grant us permission to store that information on your device. For more information check our Terms and Conditions.