People of Mali

Population	12,324,029 (2008 estimate)
Population density	10 persons per sq km 26 persons per sq mi (2008 estimate)
Urban population distribution	34 percent (2005 estimate)
Rural population distribution	66 percent (2005 estimate)
Largest cities, with population	Bamako, 1,264,000 (2003 estimate) Ségou, 107,000 (1998)
Official language	French
Chief religious affiliations	Muslim, 81 percent Indigenous beliefs, 16 percent Christian, 2 percent
Life expectancy	49.9 years (2008 estimate)
Infant mortality rate	104 deaths per 1,000 live births (2008 estimate)
Literacy rate	49.7 percent (2005 estimate)