Bamako: population, jobs, schools, health, housing and poverty

Bamako is a capital district of Mali, the largest of 20 by population. Mali's fifth general census (RGPH5), taken in 2022, counted 4,227,569 people in the District of Bamako (2,095,300 men and boys, 2,132,269 women and girls), 18.9% of Mali's 22.40 million; the largest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako).

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Bamako: 56.8% of people aged 15 and over in Bamako were in work at the 2022 census (70.8% of men, 43.2% of women), 2nd lowest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako) (Mali: 59.0%).
• Health in Bamako: Out of every 1,000 children born in Bamako, about 55 die before their fifth birthday, according to the 2022 census, the lowest of the 11 regions INSTAT could estimate (Mali: 95).
• Education in Bamako: 62.2% of people aged 15 and over in Bamako could read and write in 2022 (67.6% of men, 56.9% of women), the highest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako) (Mali: 34.6%).
• Poverty and living standards in Bamako: INSTAT's 2024 household survey (EMOP) puts the share of people below the national poverty line in Bamako at 17.9%, the lowest of the 8 regions the survey reports (Mali: 43.3%). The survey publishes results only for eight regions, with no figures for Kidal or the newer regions.

How capital districts are governed in Mali

Regions (19 in law; about 10 fully operational in 2021) and the District of Bamako. Governor appointed by central government; regional council elected (last in 2009, mandates extended); interim authorities in some northern regions since 2017. Regional planning and development.

Every tier of government in Mali

Other capital districts of Mali

• Ségou 2,455,263
• Koulikoro 2,255,157
• Kayes 1,840,329
• Bougouni 1,570,979
• Sikasso 1,533,123
• Koutiala 1,169,882
• Tombouctou 974,278
• Mopti 935,579
• Bandiagara 868,916
• San 820,807
• Gao 727,517
• Kita 681,671
• Nioro 678,061
• Dioïla 675,965
• Ménaka 318,876
• Nara 307,777
• Douentza 170,189
• Taoudenni 100,358
• Kidal 83,192

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Sources

• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali: Annuaire statistique du Mali 2023 (Statistical Yearbook): Table 47, livestock by region (DNPIA report 2023), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2519f7272dd9…)
• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: caractéristiques économiques de la population (Tables 4.5, 4.17, 4.28, 5.2), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4502014c1444…)
• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: scolarisation, instruction et alphabétisation (Tables 2.10, 3.10, 3.17, 3.23, 4.1), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f1354be81add…)
• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: natalité et fécondité (Table 4.02), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9f0d77a12d0c…)
• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: caractéristiques des habitations et cadre de vie (Tables 3.3, 3.14, 3.23, 4.17, 5.2, 6.2, 6.6), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e71c382c55b0…)
• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali: Mali en chiffres 2024: Table 5, poverty indices by region (EMOP 2024), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 67b2d6f76b20…)
• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: mortalité (Tables 2.09 life expectancy, 3.08 under-five mortality), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2541dcfd34a2…)
• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022 thematic report: état et structure de la population (Table 2.3, resident population by region and sex), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4d41cfc2e543…)
• Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement: RGPH5 2022: résultats globaux (Tables 4 urban and rural population, 13 disability, 19 households), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2ebb4230e94b…)

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