Natural resources of Mali
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in Mali: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
18.4 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2024)
77.3 %
Forest, share of land (2024)
8.7 %
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
| Lithium | 9,400 | metric tons | 7 | 3.2 | 2 | 370,000 metric tons |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 2 mineral commodities with published production in Mali between 2017 and 2021, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 2 of 2
| Gold, mine, Au content | Metals | kilograms | 46,483 | 55,029 | 61,000 | 65,300 | 50,650 | 2019: e; 2020: r; 2021: e |
| Cement, hydraulic | Industrial Minerals | thousand metric tons | 670 | 1,000 | 1,540 | 1,700 | 1,800 | 2017: r; 2018: r; 2019: r; 2020: e; 2021: e |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Showing 8 of 8
| Gold | Artisanal miners | Kenieba Valley | 6,000 | kilograms |
| Gold | Endeavour Mining Corp., 80%, and Government, 20% | Tabakoto-Segala Mine complex Kenieba Valley | 4,600 | kilograms |
| Gold | Société des Mines de Morila S.A. (AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., 40%; Barrick Gold Corp., 40%; Government, 20%) | Morila Mine, 280 km southeast of Bamako | 4,500 | kilograms |
| Gold | Société d'Éxploitation des Mines d'Or de Sadiola S.A. (AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., 41%; IAMGOLD Corp., 41%; Government, 18%) | Sadiola Hill Mine, 77 km south of Kayes | 7,000 | kilograms |
| Gold | Société d'Éxploitation des Mines d'Or de Kalana S.A. (Endeavour Mining Corp., 80%, and Government, 20%) | Kalana Mine, 300 km south of Bamako | 900 | kilograms |
| Gold | Société des Mines de Loulo S.A. (Somilo) (Barrick Gold Corp., 80%, and Government, 20%) | Loulo-Gounkoto Mine complex 350 km west of Bamako | 21,000 | kilograms |
| Gold | Société des Mines de Syama S.A. (Resolute Mining Ltd., 80%, and Government, 20%) | Syama Mine, 300 km southeast of Bamako | 7,800 | kilograms |
| Phosphate rock | Toguna S.A. (Toguna Groupe, 100%) | Tilemsi, northern Mali | 100,000 | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook 2018, Mali. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 18.4% of GDP in 2021, with minerals the largest part. That ranks Mali 13th of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Minerals | Forests |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.1 % | 2.6 % |
| 2011 | 6.4 % | 2.5 % |
| 2012 | 9.1 % | 3.0 % |
| 2013 | 5.4 % | 3.1 % |
| 2014 | 3.9 % | 3.3 % |
| 2015 | 3.7 % | 3.7 % |
| 2016 | 5.3 % | 3.7 % |
| 2017 | 4.4 % | 3.4 % |
| 2018 | 5.4 % | 2.4 % |
| 2019 | 5.7 % | 2.2 % |
| 2020 | 7.2 % | 2.3 % |
| 2021 | 16.2 % | 2.2 % |
| 2022 | Not published | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
8.7 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
5.5 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
2,600 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Mali. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does Mali have?
Mali's main natural resources are lithium and gold. Gold, diamonds and precious metals made up 73.1% of its goods exports in 2024, and all resources together 77.3%. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 18.4% of GDP in 2021, mostly from minerals.
Does Mali produce oil?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for Mali in 2025.
What is Mali's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, gold, diamonds and precious metals: 73.1% of goods exports in 2024, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to Mali's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 18.4% of GDP in 2021. That ranks Mali 13th of 54 African countries.
Which companies mine in Mali?
The U.S. Geological Survey's 2018 list of Mali's mineral industry names 7 operating companies, including Endeavour Mining Corp., 80%, and Government, 20%, Société des Mines de Morila S.A., Société d'Éxploitation des Mines d'Or de Sadiola S.A., Société d'Éxploitation des Mines d'Or de Kalana S.A. and Société des Mines de Loulo S.A.. The full list is on this page.
Where does Mali rank in world mineral production?
In 2025, Mali ranked 7th for lithium among the producers the U.S. Geological Survey lists.