Mali
Mali is a landlocked country located in West Africa, characterized by diverse geographical landscapes that range from the Sahara Desert in the north to the more fertile Sudanian Savanna in the south. The Niger River, one of Africa's longest waterways...
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With a safety index of 49/100, Mali offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
Mali requires a tourist visa obtained in advance through a Malian embassy or consulate for most international visitors. As of January 1, 2026, the government of Mali has suspended visa issuance to U.S. citizens, and the U.S. State Department advises that entry determination is made solely at the discretion of Malian immigration officials at the airport[3]. Additionally, Mali has implemented a reciprocal visa policy requiring U.S. passport holders to post a $10,000 bond to obtain a business or tourist visa[4]....
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25% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Bamako
Timezone
UTC
Area
1,240,192 km²
Population
20,250,834
GDP
$19.31B
HDI
0.4
Quality of Life
N/A
NYC baseline: 43
Purchasing Power
N/A
NYC baseline: 42
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Mali. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable with low inflation at 3.2% in 2024 and projected 2.0-3.5% in 2025-26. Rent index 4.6, restaurant prices 37.3 indicate costs far below NYC baseline (100).[1][2]
Housing Market
Property prices average 104.6 years of household income, making housing extremely unaffordable. Rent index of 4.6 offers limited relief with regional variations.
Average Income Levels
Low purchasing power reflected in GDP per capita of $946 in 2024, rising modestly to $971 by 2026. HDI of 0.428 signals poor living standards amid high poverty rates.
Tax System
Income tax up to 40% for high earners; VAT at 18% standard rate in WAEMU. High fiscal deficit (3-5% of GDP) and security spending strain simplicity and fairness.
Business Environment
Challenging due to political instability post-coups, no external support, and insecurity; World Bank rank 144/190 in 2020 legacy data. Moderate growth (4.7-5.4%) but high bureaucracy.
Social Security
Limited coverage with 19.1% extreme poverty in 2022; weak safety nets crowded out by security costs. Basic healthcare and pensions exist but quality and reach are poor.
Mali, a vast landlocked West African nation spanning over 1.2 million km², features a hot, arid climate dominated by desert in the north and semi-arid savanna in the south. Classified primarily under Köppen-Geiger as **Warm Desert (BWh)** and **Hot Semi-Arid/Tropical Savanna (BSh/Aw)**, it experiences extreme heat year-round with minimal rainfall, intensifying drought risks amid climate change.
2 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
58.0
Population
20,250,834
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
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Mali remains under military junta rule led by Interim President Assimi Goïta following coups in 2020 and 2021, with no return to civilian governance as initially promised. A new constitution was adopted in 2023, but elections have been repeatedly delayed, political parties dissolved in 2025, and democratic institutions dismantled amid ongoing security crises.
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Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.