Mali profile

Demography and Health

Mali’s demographic profile is characterized by a very young population and substantial growth pressures. The country reported a birth rate of about 40.0 births per 1,000 people in 2023, implying rapid population increase and a large cohort entering the education and health system in coming years. Life expectancy at birth stands at 60.4 years (2023), and the crude death rate is 8.63 per 1,000, indicating ongoing health and disease burdens that dampen longevity. The mortality rate for children under five is alarmingly high at 91.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, underscoring persistent child health challenges and the need for stronger preventive and curative health services. Mali’s population reached roughly 24.48 million in 2024, reflecting sustained growth, while net migration was negative (-46,880 in 2024), suggesting outward movement that may affect the labor force and demographic dynamics. The country grapples with high poverty, with 44.6% of the population living under national poverty lines in 2021, and undernourishment affecting about 9.6% of the population in 2022 or 2022 data, highlighting ongoing food security concerns. Health expenditure remains limited: current health expenditure accounts for 3.67% of GDP in 2022, and domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, was around $35 in 2022, signaling constrained fiscal capacity to scale health services. Taken together, Mali’s demography points to a growing, youthful population with substantial health and nutrition challenges, where improving health outcomes, maternal and child care, and poverty alleviation could unlock stronger human development if paired with investments in education, jobs, and social protection.

Economy

Mali remains a low-income economy with a modest per‑capita income profile and significant development constraints. GDP per capita is 1,086 current US$ in 2024, while GDP per capita at PPP is 3,309 current international US$, underscoring a gap between market prices and the perceived purchasing power of residents. Macroeconomic pressures are evident in a moderate inflation rate of 3.21% in 2024, suggesting price stability relative to some peers but limited domestic production capacity. The external sector shows a mixed picture: exports of goods and services amounted to 22.5% of GDP in 2024, and imports stood at 28.4% of GDP, signaling a relatively open but import-reliant economy. The current account ran a deficit of 6.54% of GDP in 2023, reflecting balance of payments pressures that can stress foreign reserves if not financed by capital inflows. Foreign direct investment, net inflows, reached about 2.85% of GDP in 2023, indicating some external financing and confidence, though still modest by regional standards. Mali’s economy also shows low investment in research and development, with R&D expenditure at 0.174% of GDP in 2021, and a relatively modest pattern of fiscal space for social and infrastructure spending. Poverty remains entrenched, with a poverty headcount of 44.6% at national poverty lines (2021), highlighting the challenges of translating growth into broad-based improvements. The overall picture is of a fragile, open economy with potential for growth if future gains are channeled into productive sectors, job creation, and export diversification, but still hampered by limited domestic capacity and vulnerable external financing conditions.

Trade and Investment

Mali’s trade structure reflects a reliance on international markets, with exports accounting for 22.5% of GDP in 2024 and imports comprising 28.4% of GDP, indicating a relatively open but import-dependent economy. The trade balance is not fully captured here, but the current account deficit of 6.54% of GDP in 2023 signals sustained external financing needs and vulnerability to terms of trade and capital flows. Foreign direct investment, net inflows, equaled 2.85% of GDP in 2023, suggesting ongoing, albeit modest, external financing and potential for technology and skills transfer, but insufficient scale to rapidly alter the development trajectory. A modest openness to trade combined with structural vulnerabilities—such as high poverty and limited domestic capacity—means Mali’s growth will likely depend on improvements in governance, investment climate, and targeted sectoral reforms that unlock value in agriculture, mining, and services, while ensuring that trade expansion translates into job creation and inclusive development. In this context, sustaining and facilitating investment, reducing trade barriers where feasible, and strengthening the financial channels that support export competitiveness could help Mali capitalize on its natural resources and demographic dividend.

Governance and Institutions

Governance indicators for Mali in 2023 reveal a challenging institutional environment. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism score is negative (-2.73), reflecting ongoing security concerns and the fragility of social order. Regulatory quality stands at -0.68, while rule of law is notably weak at -0.978, indicating challenges in contract enforcement, property rights, and the rule of law. Control of corruption is also subdued (-0.862), alongside government effectiveness (-1.14), pointing to limitations in public service delivery and policy implementation. Taken together, these indicators signal substantial governance risks that can deter investment, complicate reform efforts, and constrain the effectiveness of public spending. The combination of political risk, weak rule of law, and corruption concerns implies that policy credibility, service delivery, and accountability mechanisms require focused reforms and external support to improve governance performance. In such a context, external assistance, domestic reform momentum, and credible anti-corruption and transparency measures could help strengthen institutions and create a more conducive environment for inclusive growth and service provision.

Infrastructure and Technology

In the infrastructure and technology space, Mali faces several constraints but also some areas of potential. Internet usage stands at 35.1% of the population in 2023, indicating a substantial portion still offline and limited digital inclusion that can hinder e-government and digital economy initiatives. The quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure is modest, with the Logistics Performance Index rated at 2.0 on a 1–5 scale in 2022 (where higher is better), signaling needed improvements in connectivity, customs processing, and border efficiency to support trade. The health workforce is thin, with physicians per 1,000 people at 0.195 in 2022, reflecting limited access to medical care and highlighting constraints in human capital formation. R&D expenditure remains very low at 0.174% of GDP in 2021, indicating limited emphasis on innovation and knowledge generation that could drive productivity gains. These indicators together suggest Mali has significant gaps in digital infrastructure, logistics, and human capital, which constrain private sector development and public service delivery, but also point to clear areas where targeted investments could yield substantial returns in productivity and resilience.

Environment and Sustainability

Environment and sustainability data show Mali relying heavily on renewable energy, with renewable energy consumption accounting for 71.1% of total final energy consumption in 2022, suggesting a favorable energy composition that reduces vulnerability to fossil fuel price shocks and lowers per-capita emissions, though the overall scale of energy use remains limited by other development constraints. The level of water stress, measured as freshwater withdrawal as a share of available freshwater resources, is 8.0% in 2021, indicating moderate water resource use with potential vulnerability to climate variability and agricultural demand. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita excluding LULUCF stand at 1.91 t CO2e per capita in 2023, which is comparatively low, consistent with a low level of industrial activity and consumption. These environmental indicators portray a country with a cleaner per-capita footprint but with exposure to climate risks, water resource management concerns, and the imperative to sustain renewable energy growth while expanding access to clean energy for rural and urban populations. Mali’s sustainability trajectory will depend on managing climate-related threats, maintaining renewable energy gains, and investing in water security and resilient agricultural practices to protect livelihoods.