Population 11,995,402 (July 2007 est.): Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Capital City Bamako

Languages French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

Official Currency CFA Franc

Religions Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%


Land

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Land Area 1,220,190 sq km (471,115 sq miles) - slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Natural Resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited