Mali Republique de Mali

Capital Bamako Area 478,764 sq mi 1,240,000 sq km Population 11,626,219 est 2003 Largest city Bamako pop. 935,400 Languages French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages Peoples Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5% Religion Islam 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1% Life Expectancy total population: 45.28 years male: 44.7 years female: 45.87 years (2004 est.) Literacy total population: 46.4% male: 53.5% female: 39.6% (2003 est.) Suffrage 18 years of age; universal Government Republic back to Africa Map