Gao: population, jobs, schools, health, housing and poverty
Gao is a region of Mali, number 12 of 20 by population. Mali's fifth general census (RGPH5), taken in 2022, counted 727,517 people in the Gao region (373,996 men and boys, 353,521 women and girls), 3.2% of Mali's 22.40 million; 9th smallest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako).
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Gao: 59.0% of people aged 15 and over in Gao were in work at the 2022 census (85.2% of men, 32.8% of women), 9th lowest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako) (Mali: 59.0%).
- Education in Gao: 16.4% of people aged 15 and over in Gao could read and write in 2022 (18.4% of men, 14.4% of women), 8th lowest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako) (Mali: 34.6%).
- Poverty and living standards in Gao: INSTAT's 2024 household survey (EMOP) puts the share of people below the national poverty line in Gao at 41.6%, 4th highest 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, so its Gao figure may cover a wider area than the region as drawn today.
How many people in Gao live in towns?
19.8% of Gao's people lived in urban communes at the 2022 census (144,225 urban, 583,292 rural), 6th most urban of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako) (Mali: 30.4%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement · saved copyHow big are households in Gao?
The census counted 111,786 ordinary households in Gao, with 6.1 people each on average (Mali: 9.3); 12.4% were headed by a woman (Mali: 10.5%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement · saved copyHow many children do women in Gao have?
Women in Gao have 5.0 children each on average at the fertility rates measured by the 2022 census, joint 5th lowest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako) (Mali: 6.1).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement · saved copyDo families in Gao have safe drinking water?
53.5% of children under five in Gao lived in households with access to safe drinking water in 2022, 2nd lowest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako) (Mali: 78.5%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement · saved copyDo households in Gao have toilets?
43.6% of households in Gao had no toilet and relieved themselves in the open in 2022, 3rd highest of Mali's 20 regions (counting Bamako) (Mali: 14.3%); 36.6% shared a latrine with other households.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement · saved copyHow many people in Gao live with a disability?
The 2022 census counted 3,978 people living with a major disability in Gao, 0.6% of its population (Mali: 0.8%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Mali and Bureau Central du Recensement · saved copyHow regions 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 regions of Mali
- Bamako 4,227,569
- 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
- Kita 681,671
- Nioro 678,061
- Dioïla 675,965
- Ménaka 318,876
- Nara 307,777
- Douentza 170,189
- Taoudenni 100,358
- Kidal 83,192
Up a level: Mali · government and power in Mali · cities
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: 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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