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Mali

Republic of Mali

French West African CFA (XOF) French civil law, customary law
AU (suspended), ECOWAS (withdrawn), WAEMU, AfCFTA, OIC

Mali is Africa's third-largest gold producer, with major operations by B2Gold, Barrick Gold, and Resolute Mining. Gold accounts for approximately 70% of export earnings. The economy also depends on agriculture (cotton, rice, livestock) and the informal sector.

Following military coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali withdrew from ECOWAS and has reoriented its security partnerships, impacting international relations and aid flows. The country operates within the CFA franc zone (WAEMU), providing currency stability despite political upheaval.

The business environment is challenging due to security concerns in the northern and central regions, political uncertainty, and infrastructure deficits. The API-Mali investment agency continues to operate. The mining sector remains operational and attractive, with new exploration licenses being issued. Mali's young population (median age 16) and agricultural potential offer long-term opportunities.

Snapshot

Population~25.2 MWorld Bank, 2025
GDP (current USD)$30.1 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP per Capita$1,193World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth5.60%World Bank, 2025
Inflation (y/y)~3.28%World Bank, 2025
BCEAO rate3.50%Central Bank
Unemployment2.83%World Bank, ILO modelled estimate, 2025
Internet Use~36.80%World Bank, 2024
Electrification~50.00%World Bank WDI
CPI Score (Rank)28.0/100 (#136)Transparency Intl
HDI (Rank)0.428 (#188)UNDP HDR

World Bank Indicators Compare with another country

GDP (current USD)$30.1 BWorld Bank, 2025
GDP growth (annual)5.60%World Bank, 2025
GDP per capita (USD)$1,193World Bank, 2025
Population, total25.2 MWorld Bank, 2025
FDI net inflows (USD)$921.0 MWorld Bank, 2024
Inflation (consumer prices)3.28%World Bank, 2025
Unemployment (% labour force)2.83%World Bank, 2025
Internet use (% of people)36.80%World Bank, 2024
Trade (% of GDP)48.77%World Bank, 2025

Climate Readiness Full ranking

40out of 100
Emerging
Climate adaptation readiness for Mali, from 5 of 5 measured indicators.
Energy access5050.0% · 30% weight
Governance readiness2828 / 100 CPI · 20% weight
Human readiness430.428 HDI · 20% weight
Economic readiness37$1,193, 2025 · 15% weight
Digital readiness3434.0% · 15% weight
This scores climate adaptation readiness (adaptive capacity), following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. It is built only from measured values already held on this profile and normalised 0-100. It does not measure emissions or physical climate vulnerability: the platform does not yet hold emissions, hazard-exposure or natural-capital series. Energy access is the single most climate-specific indicator held; the other four are governance, economic, human-development and digital readiness proxies. The economic sub-score is relative to the African countries the platform covers.
How this is computed

Adaptive capacity to absorb climate finance and adapt, following the readiness dimension of the ND-GAIN framework. Built only from measured values already held on each country profile. It is not a measure of emissions or physical climate vulnerability, which the platform does not yet hold.

  • Energy access (30%) World Bank, access to electricity (% of population). The single most climate and energy specific signal held: SDG 7 and the clean-energy transition.
  • Governance readiness (20%) Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index (0-100). ND-GAIN governance readiness: the capacity to govern and deploy climate finance. Higher is cleaner.
  • Human readiness (20%) UNDP, Human Development Index (0-1). ND-GAIN social readiness: the adaptive capacity of the population.
  • Economic readiness (15%) World Bank, GDP per capita (current US$), latest measured year. ND-GAIN economic readiness: the capacity to finance adaptation. Scored relative to the covered set.
  • Digital readiness (15%) World Bank, individuals using the Internet (% of population). Information systems for early warning and adaptation.

A country is scored only when at least 4 of the five indicators are held. Sub-scores are weighted and renormalised over the indicators that are present; nothing is estimated for one that is absent.

Country Facts

CapitalBamako
RegionWest Africa
CurrencyWest African CFA (XOF)
FX RegimeFixed peg to EUR via CFA franc
Investment Promotion AgencyAPI-Mali (Agence pour la Promotion des Investissements)
Legal SystemFrench civil law, customary law
Time ZoneAfrica/Bamako

Focus Sectors

Gold Mining (Africa's 3rd largest)
Agriculture (cotton
rice)
Livestock
Telecoms
Construction
Energy
Banking
Transport
Fishing

Regulations & Taxes

Corporate Income Tax30% standard
VAT / Sales Tax18% standard