Largest Cities in Mali

by | January 20, 2021

Facts about Mali

Official languages: French, Bambara
Capital: Bamako
Area: 1,240,000 km²
Population: 13.8 million residents
Population density: 11.13 residents per km²
Currency: XOF
Internet TLD: .ml
ISO codes: ML, MLI , 466
The dialing code for Mali is +223

Flag of Mali

The flag of Mali, which was adopted in 1961, is composed of a vertical tricolor consisting of a green, yellow and red stripe. The colors have classic pan-African symbolism – green represents forests and the fertility of the land, yellow represents the local bright sun and red is reminiscent of the blood shed in the fight for freedom. Mali originally formed a federation with Senegal and also shared a flag with it, which, compared to today’s form, also has a black figure called “kanaga” placed in the middle of the yellow stripe. However, Senegal withdrew from the federation and replaced the figure with a star. Even Mali did not stick with this form of the flag and “kanaga” was dropped from the flag. The majority of Mali’s population is Muslim and it is inadmissible for them to depict a human figure on the flag.

 

Flag of Mali

Mali (officially the Republic of Mali) is a landlocked country in West Africa. See Mali Location on World Map. Its capital is called Bamako. Most of the population lives in the southern part of the country, which is traversed by the two rivers Niger and Senegal. The north extends deep into the Sahara and is extremely sparsely populated.

Mali is a developing country whose economy is mainly based on agriculture, mining and the export of raw materials and is heavily dependent on development aid. The main industries are agriculture, fishing and, increasingly, mining. The most important mineral resources include gold, of which Mali is the third largest producer in Africa, and salt. Around half of the population lives below the poverty line. The country ranks lower in the Human Development Index.

Mali has a long tradition in cultural areas. Especially in music, dance, literature and the fine arts, it leads an independent cultural life that is known far beyond its borders.

In the past there have been repeated terrorist attacks in Mali that also affected foreigners. Further attacks are possible anywhere in Mali at any time. Attacks and military fighting occur particularly in northern Mali. An increase in violent crime can be observed, even if this has so far only affected a few foreigners. Rebels and terrorist groups are active throughout the north of the country, around the Niger River northeast of Mopti and along the southern and eastern border between Mauritania and Mali.

Travelers are therefore advised to behave particularly cautiously, avoid crowds and strictly follow the instructions of the local security forces.

Biggest Cities of Mali by Population

The largest city in Mali is the capital, Bamako. Located on the Niger River, Bamako has a population of over 2 million people and is known for its vibrant markets and lively nightlife. Tourists come to explore attractions like National Museum which features artifacts from Mali’s past cultures; Grand Mosque which was built in 15th century; and Koulouba Palace which serves as the official residence of the President of Mali.

Sikasso is another large city in Mali located in southern part of the country. It has a population of around 250,000 people and serves as an important trading hub for agricultural products such as cotton, millet, sorghum and peanuts. Sikasso also features several tourist attractions like Grand Mosque which was built by King Seku Amadu in 18th century; Kourouba Falls which offer stunning views of surrounding landscape; and Music Museum which houses traditional instruments used by local musicians.

Kayes is the third-largest city in Mali with a population of around 200,000 people. It boasts some interesting tourist attractions like Kayes Railway Station which was built during French colonial era; Fort Lamy which features an old French fort dating back to 19th century; and Mount Balanfadji Nature Reserve where visitors can observe wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, antelopes and monkeys.

# City Population Latitude Longitude
1 Bamako, Mali 1,297,392 12.65 -8
2 Sikasso, Mali 144,897 11.3175 -5.66654
3 Mopti, Mali 108,567 14.4843 -4.18296
4 Koutiala, Mali 99,464 12.3917 -5.46421
5 Segou, Mali 92,663 13.4317 -6.2157
6 Gao, Mali 87,111 16.2717 -0.04472
7 Kayes, Mali 78,517 14.4469 -11.4445
8 Markala, Mali 53,849 13.7021 -6.0659
9 Kolokani, Mali 48,885 13.5728 -8.0339
10 Kati, Mali 43,033 12.7441 -8.07257
11 Bougouni, Mali 35,561 11.4177 -7.48323
12 Timbuktu, Mali 32,571 16.7735 -3.00742
13 Banamba, Mali 30,702 13.5477 -7.44808
14 Bafoulabe, Mali 26,934 13.8065 -10.8321
15 San, Mali 24,922 13.3034 -4.89562
16 Koulikoro, Mali 24,030 12.8627 -7.55985
17 Djenne, Mali 22,493 13.9061 -4.55332
18 Yorosso, Mali 17,558 12.3581 -4.77688
19 Kangaba, Mali 17,343 11.9333 -8.41667
20 Sagalo, Mali 15,941 12.2 -10.7
21 Kokofata, Mali 13,096 12.8833 -9.95
22 Kidal, Mali 11,754 18.4411 1.40778
23 Dire, Mali 11,054 12.2833 -10.9667
24 Kolondieba, Mali 10,152 11.0894 -6.8929
25 Ke-Macina, Mali 9,959 13.9641 -5.35791
26 Menaka, Mali 9,221 15.9182 2.4022
27 Inekar, Mali 8,825 15.9594 3.14111
28 Ntossoni, Mali 8,811 12.5304 -5.77003
29 Goundam, Mali 8,567 16.4145 -3.67075
30 Douentza, Mali 8,165 15.0015 -2.94978
31 Tenenkou, Mali 7,582 14.4572 -4.9169
32 Niafunke, Mali 7,012 15.9322 -3.9906
33 Bandiagara, Mali 6,964 14.35 -3.61038
34 Kinmparana, Mali 6,125 12.8422 -4.9245
35 Kita, Mali 5,880 13.0349 -9.4895

Mali: Bamako

According to Abbreviation Finder, the largest city in Mali and also the capital of the country is Bamako. Bamako has 1.8 million inhabitants. It has been growing for years. Bamako is located in the southwest of Mali on the Niger.

Countries neighboring Mali