Mali

Mali, a large country geographically, reports a relatively low forest area percentage of 10.897%. This low figure is likely due to its location primarily within the Sahel and Sahara regions, indicating significant vulnerability to desertification and climate change, which impacts agricultural sustainability.

While over half the population (54.5%) has access to electricity, the urban population only accounts for 31.003% of the total. This suggests a major disparity where electrification is concentrated in urban centers, leaving the vast majority of the rural population without reliable power access, hindering development across 69% of the country.

Mali reports a very low official unemployment rate of 2.956%. This figure is likely misleading in a low-income economy, as it often masks widespread underemployment, subsistence farming, and informal sector work, where people are technically employed but earn insufficient wages.

Despite achieving a relatively healthy GDP growth rate of 4.725% in 2023, Mali’s economic output remains extremely low when distributed among its population. The GDP per capita stands at only $1,043.95, classifying it as one of the world's poorest nations, where economic expansion struggles to translate into individual wealth.