Mali 🇲🇱 is a fascinating landlocked country located in Western Africa, part of the Africa region. Officially known as Republic of Mali, it is home to roughly 24.5 million people and covers an area of about 1,240,192 square kilometres.
On this page you will find a complete profile of Mali — its capital Bamako, its people and languages, the money used there, where it sits on the world map, and plenty of facts worth remembering the next time the country comes up in a quiz.
Mali on the map
Geographically, Mali belongs to Western Africa within Africa. Its territory spans approximately 1,240,192 km², which makes it the 25th largest country or territory on Earth.
As a landlocked country, Mali has no direct access to the open ocean, which has shaped its trade routes, cuisine and history in distinctive ways. It shares land borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
The capital city is Bamako, the political and cultural heart of the country and usually the first stop for visitors who want to understand how malian life really works.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population and languages of Mali
Around 24.5 million people live in Mali, making it the 58th most populous country or territory in the world. A person from Mali is called a Malian.
The main language spoken here is French. Learning even a handful of phrases before a visit goes a long way with locals.
Beyond the numbers, everyday culture in Mali — from markets and music to family traditions — is what makes discovering it through a random spin so rewarding.
Practical information about Mali
The official currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF, symbol Fr). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Mali is +223. Websites from the country typically use the .ml internet domain.
Quiz tip: the three facts most worth memorising about Mali are its flag, its capital Bamako, and its approximate population of 24.5 million.
Neighbouring countries
Mali shares borders with 7 countries:
Fun facts about Mali
- Mali's flag emoji is 🇲🇱 — its two-letter country code is ML and its three-letter code is MLI.
- Mali covers 1,240,192 km², ranking 25th in the world by area.
- With about 24.5 million people, Mali holds the 58th spot in the world population ranking.
- Mali is a member state of the United Nations.
- Mali is one of the world's landlocked countries — it has no sea coastline.
Mali — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Mali?
- The capital of Mali is Bamako.
- What is the population of Mali?
- Mali has a population of approximately 24,478,595 people, ranking 58th in the world.
- Where is Mali located?
- Mali is located in Western Africa, part of the Africa region. It is a landlocked country.
- What language is spoken in Mali?
- The main language spoken in Mali is French.
- What currency is used in Mali?
- Mali uses the West African CFA franc (XOF).
