The landlocked West African country of Mali is mostly desert or semidesert. Trans-Saharan caravans once enriched Timbuktu and Gao, trading hubs on the Niger River. Descendants of the empires of Ghana, Malinke, and Songhai came under French rule in the late 19th century and gained independence in 1960. In the 1980s economic woes worsened by drought and famine led to deregulation and privatization. Desertification forces nomadic herders south to the subsistence-farming belt. With increased gold mining operations, Mali is becoming a major gold exporter.
Fast Facts
- Population:
- 13,518,000
- Capital:
- Bamako; 1,264,000
- Area:
- 1,240,192 square kilometers (478,841 square miles)
- Language:
- French, Bambara, numerous African languages
- Religion:
- Muslim, Christian, indigenous beliefs
- Currency:
- CFA Franc
- Life Expectancy:
- 45
- GDP per Capita:
- U.S. $900
- Literacy Percent:
- 46
ECONOMY
- Industry: Food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
- Agriculture: Cotton, millet, rice, corn; cattle
- Exports: Cotton, gold, livestock
Source: The National Geographic
RELATED STORIES
CIA- The World Factbook
