Mali
A landlocked, arid, low-income country ranking 182nd out of 189 in the 2018 Human Development Index, Mali is one of the largest countries on the African continent. The cumulative effects of frequent drought, changes in the terms of international trade, armed violence and widespread insecurity have contributed to a progressive deterioration of livelihoods in the country. Poverty is on the rise, affecting nearly 45% of the population.
Agriculture – mainly in the form of subsistence farming – accounts for 80% of all employment.
After decades of suffering some of the world’s worst health indicators, in 2019 Mali resolved to provide free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five to improve its healthcare system. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta has committed to increasing the national healthcare budget in order to help finance the reforms, which he has said will “make Mali a leader in health sector reform on the African continent”. The changes are expected to be rolled out nationwide over the period ending 2022.
- total population (thousands)
- 17,995
- GNI per capita
- 830$
- Life expectancy at birth
- 58 years
- Human Development Index
- 182 (out of 189)
- Under-5 mortality rate
- 111‰
- Primary school net enrolment
- 56%
- Adult HIV prevalence (% of the population)
- 1.4%
- People of all ages living with HIV (thousands)
- 150
- improved access to safe water (% of the population)
- 74%
- moderate-severe underweight (% children under-5)
- 30%