What is the capital of Mali?
Bamako stands on the Niger River near the rapids that divide the upper and middle Niger valleys, in south-western Mali, surrounded on every side by the Koulikoro Region.
Bamako is the capital and seat of government of Mali. Mali itself has an estimated population of 25,198,821 (2025).
Bamako is also the largest city in Mali, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Bamako at a glance
| City population | 4,227,569 (2022 census) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇲🇱 Mali |
| Largest city in Mali | Bamako |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (GMT) |
| Currency | West African CFA franc (XOF) |
About Bamako
Bamako is the seventh-largest urban centre in West Africa, after Lagos, Abidjan, Kano, Ibadan, Dakar and Accra.
It is administered as a separate capital district, distinct from any region of Mali, and is divided into seven communes.
The city's river port is at nearby Koulikoro, alongside a major regional trade and conference centre.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Bamako.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Mali?
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What is the population of Bamako?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Mali on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.