Capital of Mali: Bamako
The capital of Mali is Bamako. Mali sits in Africa, has a population of 22,593,590, and uses the XOF. Official languages include French.
Quick facts
- Capital: Bamako
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~22,593,590
- Area: 1,240,192 km²
- Population density: 18.2 people per km²
- Official language: French
- Currency: XOF
- ISO code: ML
How big is Mali?
By population, Mali ranks 59th in the world, holding roughly 0.28% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 23rd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Mali has 18.2 people per square kilometre, which is about 3.3 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Mali is the 20th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Mali in population are Burkina Faso (22,673,762) and Syria (22,125,249).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Angola (1,246,700 km²) and South Africa (1,221,037 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
French is spoken officially in 30 countries in this dataset, including Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Cameroon, and 24 others.
The XOF is not unique to Mali — it is also used by Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast, and 3 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Mali in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Mali belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Mali and a page on the flag of Mali.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Mali?
The capital of Mali is Bamako.
What is the population of Mali?
About 22,593,590, making it the 59th most populous country in the world.
How big is Mali?
1,240,192 square kilometres, ranking 23rd by land area, at a density of 18.2 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Mali use?
The XOF, shared with 7 other countries.