GeoRealityMatch
Aerial view of wooden boats along the Niger River in Bamako, Mali. Busy riverbank activity.Aerial view of Bafoulabe with a prominent rocky hill under a bright, cloudy sky.

Mali

Africa · Western Africa

Low development

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country. It is among the least peaceful countries.

Source: FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Safety

152nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.996lower is more peacefulVery low safety
#152 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,120national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 103% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 17% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.0K$4.0K$3,503 PPP$1,193Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $587 a person, $1,832 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2007, $671 a person, $1,852 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2008, $767 a person, $1,893 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2009, $787 a person, $1,945 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2010, $797 a person, $2,012 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2011, $938 a person, $2,046 at PPP, inflation 3%2012, $873 a person, $1,990 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2013, $902 a person, $2,059 at PPP, inflation -0.6%2014, $948 a person, $2,185 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2015, $838 a person, $2,330 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2016, $872 a person, $2,532 at PPP, inflation -1.8%2017, $924 a person, $2,607 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2018, $996 a person, $2,684 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2019, $972 a person, $2,820 at PPP, inflation -1.7%2020, $953 a person, $2,724 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2021, $1,027 a person, $2,796 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2022, $977 a person, $3,014 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2023, $1,042 a person, $3,178 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2024, $1,093 a person, $3,322 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2025, $1,193 a person, $3,503 at PPP, inflation 3.3%$0$2.0K$4.0KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $587 a person, $1,832 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2007, $671 a person, $1,852 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2008, $767 a person, $1,893 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2009, $787 a person, $1,945 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2010, $797 a person, $2,012 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2011, $938 a person, $2,046 at PPP, inflation 3%2012, $873 a person, $1,990 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2013, $902 a person, $2,059 at PPP, inflation -0.6%2014, $948 a person, $2,185 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2015, $838 a person, $2,330 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2016, $872 a person, $2,532 at PPP, inflation -1.8%2017, $924 a person, $2,607 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2018, $996 a person, $2,684 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2019, $972 a person, $2,820 at PPP, inflation -1.7%2020, $953 a person, $2,724 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2021, $1,027 a person, $2,796 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2022, $977 a person, $3,014 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2023, $1,042 a person, $3,178 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2024, $1,093 a person, $3,322 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2025, $1,193 a person, $3,503 at PPP, inflation 3.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
60.7years, at birthVery low
#189 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
41WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
33.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
2.8%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
24 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet24 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Aerial view of Bafoulabe with a prominent rocky hill under a bright, cloudy sky.
How it changed

Mali's Human Development Index

0.419Low human development

188th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 49th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #186Burkina Faso0.459
  2. #187Burundi0.439
  3. #188Mali0.419
  4. #188Niger0.419
  5. #190Chad0.416
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.240 in 1990 to 0.419 in 2023.

0.200.330.450.41919902000201020231990: 0.2401991: 0.2471992: 0.2511993: 0.2591994: 0.2661995: 0.2731996: 0.2821997: 0.2931998: 0.3031999: 0.3142000: 0.3202001: 0.3322002: 0.3402003: 0.3522004: 0.3592005: 0.3682006: 0.3772007: 0.3862008: 0.3952009: 0.4032010: 0.4102011: 0.4152012: 0.4112013: 0.4092014: 0.4142015: 0.4132016: 0.4112017: 0.4162018: 0.4212019: 0.4252020: 0.4142021: 0.4142022: 0.4172023: 0.4190.200.330.4519902000201020231990: 0.2401991: 0.2471992: 0.2511993: 0.2591994: 0.2661995: 0.2731996: 0.2821997: 0.2931998: 0.3031999: 0.3142000: 0.3202001: 0.3322002: 0.3402003: 0.3522004: 0.3592005: 0.3682006: 0.3772007: 0.3862008: 0.3952009: 0.4032010: 0.4102011: 0.4152012: 0.4112013: 0.4092014: 0.4142015: 0.4132016: 0.4112017: 0.4162018: 0.4212019: 0.4252020: 0.4142021: 0.4142022: 0.4172023: 0.419

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
60.7 years2024at birthUp 6.9 years from 53.8 years in 2005
Internet users
37%2024of people onlineUp 36 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
32%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 11 points from 21% in 2006
Births per woman
5.512024births per womanDown 1.20 from 6.71 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
71%2022of energy usedDown 10 points from 82% in 2004
Access to electricity
50%2024of people with electricityUp 31 points from 18% in 2005
Infant mortality
482024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 41 from 88 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.2 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
11%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Ancient Timbuktu; a military coup, jihadist insurgency in the north, very poor. The case against is the UK's advice against travel, a low peace ranking and low incomes.

About Mali

Mali is a vast landlocked country in West Africa with an ancient history as one of the great civilisations of the Saharan trade routes, centred on the legendary city of Timbuktu and the remarkable mud-brick mosque architecture of Djenné. The Sahara and Sahel landscapes are striking in their scale, and the musical tradition of the Mandé people has influenced West African music globally. Travel in much of the country remains difficult and requires careful planning.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBamako
  • LanguagesFrench
  • CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
  • Area1,220,190 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

AlgeriaBurkina FasoGuineaIvory CoastMauritaniaNigerSenegal

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Quick answers

What is Mali's Human Development Index?

Mali's Human Development Index is 0.419 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #188 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Mali safe?

Mali scores 3.00 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #152 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Mali?

Life expectancy at birth in Mali is 60.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #189 of 195 countries.