Mali (Republic of Mali)

https://www.humantruth.info/mali.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Mali Republic of Mali
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	151st best
Capital	Bamako
Land Area	1 220 190km²₁
Location	Africa
Population	19.1m₂
Life Expectancy	58.94yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$2 133 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	ML, MLI, 466₅
Internet Domain	.ml₆
Currency	Franc (XOF)₇
Telephone	+223₈

1. Overview

“The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a military coup that ushered in a period of democratic rule. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE, who was elected to a second term in 2007 elections that were widely judged to be free and fair. Malian returnees from Libya in 2011 exacerbated tensions in northern Mali, and Tuareg ethnic militias started a rebellion in January 2012. Low-mid level soldiers, frustrated with the poor handling of the rebellion overthrew TOURE on 22 March. Intensive mediation efforts led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) returned power to a civilian administration in April with the appointment of interim President Dioncounda TRAORE. The post-coup chaos led to rebels expelling the Malian military from the three northern regions of the country and allowed Islamic militants to set up strongholds. Hundreds of thousands of northern Malians fled the violence to southern Mali and neighboring countries, exacerbating regional food insecurity in host communities. A military intervention to retake the three northern regions began in January 2013 and within a month most of the north had been retaken. Democratic elections are scheduled for mid-2013.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Like an exquisite sandcastle formed in a harsh desert landscape, Mali is blessed with an extraordinary amount of beauty, wonders, talents and knowledge. Few countries in Wesy Africa can boast such an array of sights, from fabled Timbuktu to riverside mosques that seem to spring from a child´s imagination. Yet for now, its landscapes, monuments, mosques and music bars are off-limits, sealed from tourists by a conflict that is threatening the culture of this remarkable country.
The beating heart of Mali is Bamako, where Ngoni and Kora musicians play to crowds of dancing Malians. Further west, Fula women strap their belongings to donkeys, forming caravans worthy of beauty pageants as they make their way across the hamada (dry, dusty scrubland). And in the northeast, the writings of venerable African civilisations remain locked in the beautiful libraries of Timbuktu.
Adding considerable depth to these attractions is Mali´s illustrious history, a story of ancient gold-rich empires along the Sahara´s southern fringe. And just as rich and deep is Mali´s world-famous musical soundtrack, a beguiling playlist of soulful desert blues, ancient griot tunes and frenetic dance rhythms.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Mali National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
183	Yemen	0.455
184	Burkina Faso	0.449
185	Mozambique	0.446
186	Mali	0.428
187	Burundi	0.426
188	Central African Rep.	0.404
189	Niger	0.400
190	Chad	0.394
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
173	Uganda	$2 181
174	Gambia	$2 172
175	Togo	$2 167
176	Mali	$2 133
177	Burkina Faso	$2 118
178	Guinea-Bissau	$1 908
179	Afghanistan	$1 824
180	Eritrea	$1 729
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	29.7
2	Norway	33.6
3	Switzerland	35.2
	...
148	Tonga	107.2
149	Zambia	107.5
150	Vanuatu	107.6
151	Mali	107.6
152	Pakistan	108.3
153	Tajikistan	108.6
154	Gabon	109.3
155	Cameroon	109.7
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Mali's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Mali's population is predicted to rise to 26.78 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 5.87. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
57	Sri Lanka	21.2m
58	Burkina Faso	19.8m
59	Romania	19.5m
60	Mali	19.1m
61	Chile	18.7m
62	Kazakhstan	18.3m
63	Malawi	18.1m
64	Zambia	17.4m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
183	Namibia	59.3
184	Zimbabwe	59.3
185	Congo, DR	59.2
186	Mali	58.9
187	Guinea	58.9
188	Ivory Coast	58.6
189	Swaziland	57.1
190	Somalia	55.3
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
200	Burundi	4.98
201	Nigeria	5.14
202	Angola	5.21
203	Mali	5.87
204	Central African Rep.	5.92
205	Congo, DR	6.11
206	Somalia	6.20
207	Chad	6.22
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₅
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₅
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
3=	Burkina Faso	04.7
5	Sierra Leone	04.8
6=	Zambia	04.8
7	Eritrea	04.9
8=	Gambia	04.9
9	Angola	05.0
10=	Afghanistan	05.0
10=	Zimbabwe	05.0
12	Nigeria	05.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₆
Pos.		2017 %₁₆
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
125	Kenya	2.2%
126	Angola	2.1%
127	Liberia	2.1%
128	Mali	2.1%
129	Georgia	2.0%
130	Guyana	2.0%
131	Central African Rep.	1.9%
132	Romania	1.9%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₇
Pos.		2010 %₁₇
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
80	Afghanistan	8.1%
81	Paraguay	7.9%
82	Russia	7.9%
83	Mali	7.6%
84	UK	7.5%
85	Honduras	7.5%
86	Austria	7.1%
87	Uzbekistan	7.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #mali #mali_human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₈
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
118	Azerbaijan	100.8
119	Sao Tome & Principe	101.2
120	Burkina Faso	101.3
121	Mali	101.6
122	Kosovo	102.5
123	Lebanon	104.4
	Africa Avg	110.04
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Mali is generally poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world. Mali does worse than average in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₁₉, LGBT equality₂₀ (still good for Africa), supporting press freedom₂₁, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₂ and in its average Freedom in the World rating. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₃ (one of the highest in Africa) and in opposing gender inequality₂₄. At times, Mali's conscription programme descends into simple slave labour₂₅ and both government and militia forces use child soldiers₂₆. "Government forces conducted counterterrorism operationsthat resulted in arbitrary arrests, summary executions, torture, and ill-treatment"₂₆Conflicts have caused "a rule of law and security vacuum, facilitating rampant banditry and displacement. In central Mali, Islamist armed group presence and intimidation of the population steadily increased [in 2017]"₂₆.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Mali

5. Mali's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mali #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)₂₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₇
1	Mauritius	73.2
2	Tunisia	73.7
3	Morocco	82.7
	...
41	Zambia	130.5
42	Madagascar	130.6
43	Gabon	132.0
44	Mali	132.0
45	Sudan	133.0
46	Guinea	133.2
47	Nigeria	133.6
48	Ivory Coast	134.9
49	Central African Rep.	138.3
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)₂₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₇
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
191	Madagascar	130.6
192	Papua New Guinea	130.7
193	Gabon	132.0
194	Mali	132.0
195	Sudan	133.0
196	Guinea	133.2
197	Nigeria	133.6
198	Micronesia	134.5
	World Avg	96.49
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₂₈. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, The Cook Islands and S. Sudan₂₈.

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₈, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Melanesia and Australasia₂₈.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Mali is a pretty unhealthy country. Mali comes in the best 20 in its smoking rate₂₉. It does better than average when it comes to the prevalence of overweight adults₃₀ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₁. But, things could still be better. Mali does worse than average in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₂ and in its immunizations take-up₃₃. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to its average life expectancy₁₁, its adolescent birth rate₃₄ (one of the worst in Africa) and in its fertility rate₁₄. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Mali in 1990 was 46.6yrs, much lower than the global average of 64.6. It improved by +13yrs in the 30 years from then, much better than the global average of +7.9yrs. Mali's peak fertility rate was 7.33 in 1980.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
183	Namibia	59.3
184	Zimbabwe	59.3
185	Congo, DR	59.2
186	Mali	58.9
187	Guinea	58.9
188	Ivory Coast	58.6
189	Swaziland	57.1
190	Somalia	55.3
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₁
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
30	Papua New Guinea	1.2
31=	Eritrea	1.3
31=	Guinea	1.3
31=	Mali	1.3
34	Solomon Islands	1.4
35=	Tonga	1.5
35=	Lebanon	1.5
37	Chad	1.6
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
200	Burundi	4.98
201	Nigeria	5.14
202	Angola	5.21
203	Mali	5.87
204	Central African Rep.	5.92
205	Congo, DR	6.11
206	Somalia	6.20
207	Chad	6.22
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₂₉
Pos.		Total %₂₉
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
13	Uganda	7.6%
14	Niger	7.7%
15	Sao Tome & Principe	7.9%
16	Mali	8.0%
17	Haiti	8.1%
18	Colombia	8.2%
19=	Liberia	8.3%
19=	Guinea-Bissau	8.3%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₂
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
139	Ghana	139
140	Chad	140
141	Rwanda	141
142	Mali	142
143	Niger	143
144	Marshall Islands	144
145	Botswana	145
146	Samoa	146
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₀
Pos.		1976 %₃₀
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
26=	Pakistan	8.5
27	Kenya	8.8
28=	Guinea-Bissau	8.9
28=	Mali	8.9
28=	Thailand	8.9
31	Tanzania	9.0
32=	Philippines	9.1
32=	Guinea	9.1
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2022 %₃₅
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
30	Mozambique	8.8%
31	Zambia	9.4%
32	Benin	9.9%
33	Mali	10.0%
34	Guinea-Bissau	10.1%
35	Haiti	10.2%
36	Togo	10.4%
37	Angola	10.5%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₄
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
188	Tanzania	123.4
189	Chad	135.7
190	Angola	135.8
191	Equatorial Guinea	136.4
192	Mali	147.7
193	Central African Rep.	159.0
194	Mozambique	165.1
195	Niger	168.0
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better₃₃
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₃
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
167	Congo, DR	76.5
168	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	76.5
169	Indonesia	76.4
170	Mali	76.0
171	India	75.1
172	Ethiopia	73.9
173	Pakistan	73.0
174	Liberia	72.6
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Mali was 6th-worst amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19), and things worsened slightly in the 2000s (become 3rd-worst in the world), perpetuating horrendous health and social problems.

6. Mali's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #mali #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)₃₆
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₆
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
4	Madagascar	52.4
5	Nigeria	55.8
6	Rwanda	56.4
7	Uganda	57.8
8	Kenya	57.9
9	Mauritius	58.1
10	Ghana	58.6
11	Tunisia	60.1
12	Niger	61.3
13	Tanzania	61.6
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₃₆
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₆
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
9	Philippines	49.6
10	Costa Rica	49.7
11	Denmark	50.4
12	Mali	51.0
13	Madagascar	52.4
14	Nigeria	55.8
15	Rwanda	56.4
16	Chile	56.4
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₃₇. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

" Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Mali ranks 12th-best in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment (amongst the best in Africa). This is computed from 21 data sets. Mali comes in the best 20 in reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₈. It does better than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₃₉, energy to GDP efficiency₄₀ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₁. Mali still has work to do. Mali does worse than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its environmental performance₄₂.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₁
Pos.		Total₄₁
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
106=	Monaco	0.0%
106=	Greenland	0.0%
106=	Falkland Islands	0.0%
106=	Mali	0.0%
106=	Gibraltar	0.0%
106=	St Barthelemy	0.0%
106=	Dominica	0.0%
106=	Pitcairn Islands	0.0%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₂
Pos.		2018₄₂
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
144	Vanuatu	44.6
145	Uganda	44.3
146	Comoros	44.2
147	Mali	43.7
148	Rwanda	43.7
149	Zimbabwe	43.4
150	Cambodia	43.2
151	Solomon Islands	43.2
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₀
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
52	Colombia	0.83
53	Lithuania	0.83
54	Italy	0.84
55	Mali	0.86
56	Morocco	0.86
57	Turkey	0.86
58	Senegal	0.87
59	Sao Tome & Principe	0.88
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
129	Barbados	54%
130	Congo, (Brazzaville)	53%
131	Jamaica	53%
132	Mali	53%
133	Burundi	53%
134	Iceland	53%
135	Samoa	52%
136	Zimbabwe	52%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₃₉
Pos.		2011 %₃₉
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
23	Uruguay	62.4%
24	Angola	62.4%
25	Bangladesh	61.5%
26	Mali	60.7%
27	Venezuela	60.1%
28	Morocco	60.0%
29	Malta	57.3%
30	Ecuador	57.2%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		2021 kg₃₈
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
4	Madagascar	05.4
5	India	05.7
6	Nigeria	07.0
7	Ethiopia	07.1
8	Rwanda	07.6
9	Mali	07.8
10	Niger	08.1
11	Afghanistan	08.7
12	Uganda	09.4
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Mali reduced by over 10kgs per year (only 17 countries managed the same), reducing strain on water supplies and the environment.₃₈

7. Mali's Modernity and Learning

#cameroon #education #intelligence #it_security #jamaica #mali #modernity #niger #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)₄₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₃
1	S. Africa	56.9
2	Tunisia	70.8
3=	Mauritius	79.6
	...
33	Liberia	136.6
34	Benin	138.3
35	Sudan	139.0
36	Mali	139.1
37	Tanzania	140.1
38	Congo, DR	141.3
39	Mozambique	142.4
40	Madagascar	146.6
41=	Comoros	147.0
	Africa Avg	120.19
q=53.

Modernity & Learning (2020)₄₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₃
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
164	Tuvalu	138.2
165	Benin	138.3
166	Sudan	139.0
167	Mali	139.1
168	Cambodia	140.0
169	Tanzania	140.1
170	Yemen	141.2
171	Congo, DR	141.3
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₄. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₄. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₅.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₄₆

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₄, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₄.

For more, see:

"Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

In 1990-2, education in Mali was incredibly short - the average person could expect just over two years; only Niger done worse. It improved this by 2.3 years during the 1990s, although the rest of the world done much better. Things stalled in the 2010s, and by 2019 it had the fourth shortest education per person in the world, at 7.4 years.₄₇

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₄₈
2	Israel	4.11₄₈
3	Japan	3.58₄₈
	...
48=	Tunisia	0.68₄₉
48=	Egypt	0.68₅₀
50	Belarus	0.67₅₀
51	Mali	0.66₅₁
52	Bulgaria	0.65₅₀
53	Ethiopia	0.61₅₀
54	Latvia	0.60₅₀
55=	Gabon	0.58₅₂
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₃
Pos.		2018₅₃
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
159	Ethiopia	17.1%
160	Rwanda	16.3%
161	Tanzania	14.3%
162	Mali	13.1%
163	Papua New Guinea	12.5%
164	Bhutan	12.0%
165	Guinea	11.7%
166	Burundi	9.3%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₄
Pos.		2021 Years₅₄
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
186	Eritrea	8.1
187	Central African Rep.	8.0
188	Chad	8.0
189	Sudan	7.9
190	Djibouti	7.4
191	Mali	7.4
192	Niger	7.0
193	S. Sudan	5.5
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₂
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
140	Syria	140
141	Mauritania	141
142	Nigeria	142
143	Mali	143
144	Congo, (Brazzaville)	144
145	Qatar	145
146	Philippines	146
147	Mozambique	147
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better₅₅
Pos.		2018 %₅₅
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103	Mali	94
104=	Pakistan	94
105	Ethiopia	98
106=	Senegal	98
	Africa Avg	87.0
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₅₆
Pos.		2006₅₆
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
117=	Ivory Coast	69
117=	Malawi	69
117=	Niger	69
117=	Mali	69
117=	Burundi	69
117=	Nigeria	69
123	Chad	68
124=	Burkina Faso	68
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better₅₇
Pos.		2016₅₇
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
168	Iraq	13%
169	Kiribati	13%
170	Rwanda	12%
171	Mali	12%
172	Haiti	12%
173=	Papua New Guinea	12%
173=	Djibouti	12%
175	Cambodia	11%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better₅₈
Pos.		2013₅₈
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
45	Brazil	1.02
46	Indonesia	1.05
47	British Virgin Islands	1.08
48	Mali	1.12
49	France	1.13
50	Italy	1.15
51	Vietnam	1.15
52	Nigeria	1.18
	Africa Avg	1.07
	World Avg	0.98

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₅₉
Pos.		2024₅₉
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
113	Uganda	26.9%
114	Tajikistan	25.9%
115	Zimbabwe	24.9%
116	Mali	24.9%
117	Ethiopia	23.7%
118	Cameroon	23.4%
119	Mozambique	21.4%
120	Congo, DR	18.5%
	Africa Avg	32.3%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

Of the 121 countries examined, Mali has the 3rd most expensive internet access (after Cameroon and Jamaica), even for the cheapest speeds₆₀.

8. Mali's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Africa (2020)₆₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₁
1	Mauritius	48.3
2	Sao Tome & Principe	67.7
3	Tunisia	74.9
	...
37	Cameroon	109.9
38	Mozambique	110.1
39	Zimbabwe	110.9
40	Mali	115.6
41	Congo, (Brazzaville)	115.7
42	Libya	115.8
43	Guinea-Bissau	119.3
44	Angola	122.2
45	Sudan	122.7
	Africa Avg	101.84
q=53.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)₆₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₁
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
159	Cambodia	110.5
160	Zimbabwe	110.9
161	Venezuela	113.1
162	Mali	115.6
163	Congo, (Brazzaville)	115.7
164	Libya	115.8
165	Iraq	116.6
166	Guinea-Bissau	119.3
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

World Giving Index Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2022 %₆₂
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
72=	Peru	39.0
73	Uzbekistan	38.0
74=	Chile	38.0
74=	Mali	38.0
76	Switzerland	37.0
77=	Finland	37.0
77=	Hong Kong	37.0
77=	Cameroon	37.0
	Africa Avg	38.2
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2022 Points₆₃
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
136	Gabon	29.0
137=	Paraguay	28.0
137=	Russia	28.0
137=	Mali	28.0
140	Pakistan	27.0
141=	Kyrgyzstan	27.0
142	Liberia	26.0
143=	Mozambique	26.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		2024 Score₆₄
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
120	Burkina Faso	4.4
121	Benin	4.4
122	Somalia	4.3
123	Mali	4.3
124	Cambodia	4.3
125	Ghana	4.3
126	Myanmar (Burma)	4.3
127	Togo	4.3
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₂
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
131	Kazakhstan	131
132	Guinea	132
133	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	133
134	Mali	134
135	Chad	135
136	Saudi Arabia	136
137	Congo, (Brazzaville)	137
138	Algeria	138
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₂
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
54	Rwanda	54
55	Swaziland	55
56	Luxembourg	56
57	Mali	57
58	El Salvador	58
59	Senegal	59
60	Kyrgyzstan	60
61	Qatar	61
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₅
Pos.		2023 Score₆₅
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
150	Burkina Faso	2.87
151	Ethiopia	2.87
152	Central African Rep.	2.93
153	Mali	2.96
154	Iraq	3.01
155	Sudan	3.02
156	Somalia	3.04
157	Ukraine	3.04
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₂
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
152	Afghanistan	152
153	Lebanon	153
154	Liberia	154
155	Mali	155
156	Swaziland	156
157	Yemen	157
158	Iraq	158
159	Bahrain	159
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₂
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
136	Trinidad & Tobago	136
137	Nigeria	137
138	Cambodia	138
139	Mali	139
140	Haiti	140
141	Mongolia	141
142	Syria	142
143	Mauritania	143
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₆₆
Pos.		2019 Score₆₆
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
135	Turkey	6.53
136	Cameroon	6.62
137	Central African Rep.	6.62
138	Mali	6.65
139	Libya	6.77
140	Egypt	6.79
141	Congo, DR	7.04
142	Philippines	7.14
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₆₇
Pos.		2019₆₇
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
176	Benin	34.90
177	Congo, DR	36.10
178	S. Sudan	36.20
179	Mali	36.70
180	Nigeria	37.10
181	Somalia	38.90
182	Sierra Leone	39.00
183	Central African Rep.	40.10
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2023 %₆₈
1	Slovakia	24.1%₆₉
2	Slovenia	24.3%₆₉
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₀
	...
89	Marshall Islands	35.5%₇₁
90=	China	35.7%₆₉
90=	Sierra Leone	35.7%₇₂
90=	Mali	35.7%₆₉
93	Vietnam	36.1%₇₃
94=	Indonesia	36.1%₇₄
95	Senegal	36.2%₆₉
96=	Lithuania	36.7%₆₉
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Mali - only for 5 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₇₅
Pos.		2018 Severity₇₅
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
92	Burundi	.403
93	Mozambique	.411
94	Madagascar	.453
95	Mali	.457
96	Central African Rep.	.465
97	Ethiopia	.489
98	Burkina Faso	.519
99	Chad	.533
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)₅₅
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₅
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
91=	Honduras	90
91=	Cameroon	90
91=	Rwanda	90
91=	Liberia	90
95	Morocco	91
96=	Guinea-Bissau	91
96=	Philippines	91
96=	Zambia	91
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103	Mali	94
104=	Pakistan	94
105	Ethiopia	98
106=	Senegal	98
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)₇₆
Pos.		Higher is better %₇₆
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
122=	Niger	0
122=	Saudi Arabia	0
122=	Rwanda	0
122=	Cameroon	0
122=	Philippines	0
122=	Kuwait	0
122=	Madagascar	0
122=	Nigeria	0
122=	Malawi	0
122=	Chad	0
122=	Nepal	0
122=	Morocco	0
122=	Mauritania	0
122=	Mali	0
122=	Senegal	0
122=	Oman	0
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₇₇:

Christian	3.2%
Muslim	92.4%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	1.6%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	2.7%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim 94.8%, Christian 2.4%, Animist 2%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.3% (2009 Census)₇₈.

Links: