21 May 2013 Last updated at 09:04 ET

Mali profile

Malian singer-songwriter Salif Keita Singer-songwriter Salif Keita has earned world renown
  • Full name: The Republic of Mali
  • Population: 16.3 million (UN, 2012)
  • Capital: Bamako
  • Area: 1.25 million sq km (482,077 sq miles)
  • Major languages: French, Bambara, Berber, Arabic
  • Major religions: Islam, indigenous beliefs
  • Life expectancy: 51 years (men), 53 years (women) (UN)
  • Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
  • Main exports: Cotton, gold, livestock
  • GNI per capita: US $610 (World Bank, 2011)
  • Internet domain: .ml
  • International dialling code: +223

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