Is Mali a rich or poor country?

Mali is a low-income economy, with limited diversification and vulnerability to commodity price fluctuations. Rapid population growth, low agricultural productivity, and climate change are major challenges to food security. Mali’s economy remains undiversified from rain-fed agriculture and other commodities, making it exposed to climate and price shocks. Poverty forecasts for 2025 are essentially flat, down just 0.3 pp to 36.4% from 2024. The fiscal deficit is expected to widen to 3.3% of GDP in 2025, reflecting lower-than-anticipated mining revenues. With public debt estimated at 52.9% of GDP in 2025, the risk of debt distress remains moderate. GDP growth is projected to reach 4.9% in 2025, supported by the start of lithium production, services, and agriculture.