Mali is divided into eight regions and one capital district. Each of the regions bears the name of its principal city. The regions are divided into 49 cercles. The cercles and the capital district are divided into 703 communes.
The regions are numbered, originally west to east, with Roman numerals. The capital Bamako is administered separately and is in its own District.
The eight regions and the Bamako District are listed below. The population figures are from the 1998 and 2009 censuses.
| Region name | Region number | Area (km2) | Population Census 1998 |
Population Census 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayes | Région I | 119,743 | 1,374,316 | 1,996,812 |
| Koulikoro | Région II | 95,848 | 1,570,507 | 2,418,305 |
| Bamako | Unnumbered | 252 | 1,016,296 | 1,809,106 |
| Sikasso | Région III | 70,280 | 1,782,157 | 2,625,919 |
| Ségou | Région IV | 64,821 | 1,675,357 | 2,336,255 |
| Mopti | Région V | 79,017 | 1,484,601 | 2,037,330 |
| Tombouctou | Région VI | 496,611 | 442,619 | 681,691 |
| Gao | Région VII | 170,572 | 341,542 | 544,120 |
| Kidal | Région VIII | 151,430 | 38,774 | 67,638 |
Famous quotes containing the words regions of and/or regions:
“Within the regions of the air,
Compassed about with heavens fair,
Great tracts of land there may be found
Enriched with fields and fertile ground;
Where many numerous hosts
In those far distant coasts,
For other great and glorious ends,
Inhabit, my yet unknown friends.”
—Thomas Traherne (1636–1674)
“Within the regions of the air,
Compassed about with heavens fair,
Great tracts of land there may be found
Enriched with fields and fertile ground;
Where many numerous hosts
In those far distant coasts,
For other great and glorious ends,
Inhabit, my yet unknown friends.”
—Thomas Traherne (1636–1674)