 | Capital: Bamako. Area: 482,077 sq. mi. |
| Population: ~9.6 million. Pop. density: 20 per sq. mi. Urban: 26%. |
| Ethnic groups: Mande (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole) 50%, Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%. |
| Principal languages: French (official), Bambara, many other African languages. |
| Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%. |
| Defense: 2.2% of GDP (1994). Active troop strength: 7,350. |