capital: Bamako

population: 12,291,529

language: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

people: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

religion: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%

government: republic

Map and data from The World Factbook 2005

For more information about this country please visit http://www.africaguide.com/country/mali/