Mali

Language

Official language
Bamabara

National languages
Soninke, Hasanya Arabia, Bomu, Tamasheq, Songhay, Fulfulde, Bozo, Maninkakan, Dogon, Syenara, Mamara, and Xasongaxango.

Other languages
French

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Demography

Capitals: Bamako
Currency: West African CFA franc
Population: 20.25 m
Population density: 16.6/km2

Economy

GDP: 17.465 billion USD (2020)
GDP per capita: 2 347 988 USD‎(2020)
Purchasing Power: 94.3 (2014)
Exports: 4.87 billion USD (2020)

Statistics

Unemployment rate:  9.78% (2019)
Urbanisation: 43.14% (2019)
Literacy: 33.07% (2018)
Internet users: 24% penetration, 4.85million

Conventions

Numbering system
Arabic numerals and comma as decimal separator.

Date format: dd – mm – yyyy
Time: 24h time system
Country code: 00223

Media

Media language most used language is English, followed by Afrikaans, but all the 11 official languages are represented.

Information channels
The media environment in Bamako and the rest of the south is relatively open, but the presence of armed militant groups in the north poses dangers for media workers, says Freedom House. Reporters Without Borders says there is a significant degree of media pluralism, but a lack of money means that outlets are susceptible to editorial influence from those who fund them. Radio is the leading medium. There are hundreds of stations, operated by private and community broadcasters and by the state-run Office de Radiodiffusion-Television du Mali (ORTM). The TV sector is much smaller. Almost all daily and weekly newspapers publish from Bamako. Circulation figures are low. L’Essor is the leading title. The BBC broadcasts in Bamako (88.9 FM) and Radio France Internationale (RFI) is widely available on FM. By mid-2019, 12.5 million Malians were online – around 63% of the population (InternetWorldStats.com). Social media use is concentrated in the cities and among young people. Facebook is the top platform, followed by Instagram. The authorities have sometimes restricted access to social media to obstruct attempts to mobilise protesters and blocked internet access in 2018 ahead of a presidential run-off vote.

The press

L’Essor – state-owned daily
Le Republican – private daily
L’Independent – private daily
Les Echos – private daily
Le Combat – private daily

Radio

Office de Radiodiffusion Television du Mali (ORTM) – public network of national and regional stations
Mikado FM – operated by UN’s MINUSMA mission
Radio Bamakan – community station, BamakoRadio Liberte – private, Bamako
Radio Kledu – private, Bamako
Radio Kayira – private, Bamako
Radio Rurale – network of community stations

News agency

MaliWeb – news portal
Malijet – news website
aBamako – news website
Maliactu – news website
AMAP – Agence Malienne de Presse

Social statistics

Life expectancy
59.44 yrs (2020)

Unemployment
30.1% (2020)

Healthcare Expenditure
 6.9% of GDP (2018)

Average age of the population
21.5 yrs (2020) 

Gender
The social and professional salary-related mindset in Mali pose the same challenges that they do in Western societies. All questions related to women’s participation in society create serious local challenges for the majority of Malian women and religious authorities as some feminists attempt to classify professions in public or presidential politics.

The majority of Malian women do not understand what “gender equality” means. The more socially and spiritually active a family is, the more emphasis is put on the spirituality of a person, which entails respect of the particular faith’s values and practices. Therefore, in Mali, the question of “gender equality” must take into account these values, principles and religious laws.

Sex outside of marriage, cohabitation, adultery, sodomy and homosexuality are serious sins akin to heresy, heathenism, or, in showing support for any one of these, renouncing one’s faith.

Religion
Present-day Malian society has an underlying structure that grew out of the traditions of three religions: traditional sectarian movements (9%), Islam (90%) and Christianity (1%). In Mali, social activities are organized around the daily Muslim prayers that occur from dusk to dawn. Malians follow the rules of their religion (Islam) in the workplace by leaving the office to pray during Dohr ( from 1:30 to 2:00 pm) and Ashr (from 3:30 to 4:00).

Class
Malian society is influenced more by family or social cohesiveness than by social divisions such as class with the exception of the existing segregation of people of certain casts such as the Nyamakalaw (who are blacksmiths, jeliw otherwise incorrectly known as travelling Black musicians and poets, cobblers, weavers, etc)!

People of caste may jokingly or honestly approach a hòròn person (someone of noble birth) at work without being offensive.