Mali
Republic of Mali
Western Africa · MLI
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Mali
Mali is best for travelers who want deep Sahel history, river culture, and famous mud-brick architecture more than conventional sightseeing. The clearest itineraries are tightly focused around Bamako, Djenné, and the Niger River corridor, with current conditions requiring careful planning.
Popular For
Things To See
- Bamako
- Djenné
- Mopti
- Timbuktu
- Niger River
- Bandiagara Escarpment
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Dry-season timing is the practical window for road and river travel.
- This is a destination for a focused heritage route, not an improvised road trip.
- Check access and advisories carefully before booking.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Mali.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Mali Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Mali.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Bamako
- Population
- 22,395,489
- Area
- 1,240,192 km²
- Region
- Western Africa
Languages
- French
Currency
West African CFA franc (Fr)
XOF
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
33.0
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Bamako (12.65°N, 8.00°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
22/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 26/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.419
Low human development
- 5-year change
- -0.002
- 10-year change
- +0.010
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.812
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.612
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.411
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (4)
- 🏛️
Tomb of Askia
Inscribed 2004
- 🌍
Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons)
Inscribed 1989
- 🏛️
Old Towns of Djenné
Inscribed 1988
- 🏛️
Timbuktu
Inscribed 1988
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 7.5%
- Forest cover
- 10.9%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 14
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 20
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
25/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
77/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Do not travelto Mali for any reason. Due to safety risks, family members cannot join U.S. government employees who work in Mali. Crime Violent crime is common throughout Mali. Crimes include kidnapping, assault, armed robbery, home invasion, and carjacking. Violent crime is a major concern in Bamako especially during local holidays and seasonal events. Roadblocks, including by armed groups, occur throughout the country. In cities, police checkpoints are possible, especially at night. Highways across the country often face attacks on government, civilian, and commercial targets. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mali. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorist and armed groups target foreigners to kidnap for ransom. Terrorists may attack without warning: Spots frequented by foreigners anywhere in the country Night clubs Hotels Restaurants Places of worship International diplomatic missions Local security forces and civilians Kidnapping The threat of kidnapping of U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals by criminal or terrorist groups remains high throughout the region. Extortion and kidnapping for ransom are significant sources of financing for terrorist and criminal groups. Unrest Periodic street demonstrations occur throughout Mali. Although some are planned and peaceful, demonstrations can occur without notice and turn violent. The majority of these demonstrations are managed by security forces, but U.S. citizens should avoid street demonstrations. Always stay aware of your surroundings. Armed Conflict Armed conflict between the Malian government and armed groups is common throughout Mali. Many terrorist and separatist armed groups are active throughout the country. These groups may plan and carry out deadly attacks against Malian government and military facilities, including in and around Bamako. Conflict between these groups often results in civilian casualties. Air Travel The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). This is due to risks to civil aviation operating within or nearby Mali. For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices. Health Medical services for routine and emergency procedures are limited. Health facilities are available in major cities. It may be harder to find adequate health care in rural areas. Public medical clinics lack basic resources and supplies. Patients must cover all costs for transferring to or between hospitals. Psychological and psychiatric services are limited, even in larger cities. Hospital-based care is only available through government institutions. Read the Health section of the Travel Guidance on this page for more information. U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees working in Mali are not allowed to travel outside of Bamako due to safety risks. Due to the potential for terrorist attacks the U.S. embassy has implemented enhanced security measures. U.S. citizens in Mali should carefully review their own security preparedness.
Read full advisory →Data current as of July 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data