Mali

Country: Mali

Number of People Groups

People Groups Unreached

45 (60.8%)

Progress Level

The Joshua Project Progress Scale is an estimate of the progress of church planting among a people group, people cluster, country or language. The Progress Scale is derived from people group values for percent Evangelical and percent Christian Adherent.

Level	Description	Criteria
1	Unreached - Few evangelicals and few who identify as Christians. Little, if any, history of Christianity.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians <= 5%
2	Minimally reached - Few evangelicals, but significant number who identify as Christians.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 5% and <= 50%
3	Superficially reached - Few evangelicals, but many who identify as Christians. In great need of spiritual renewal and commitment to biblical faith.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 50%
4	Partially reached - Evangelicals have a modest presence.	Evangelicals > 2% and <= 10%
5	Significantly reached - Evangelicals have a significant presence.	Evangelicals > 10%

Total
Population

20,156,000

Population in Unreached

18,457,000 (91.6%)

Largest Religion

Islam (87.4%)

% Christian Adherent

2.8%

% Evangelical

0.66%

Evangelical Annual Growth Rate

2.5%

(Global Rate = 2.6%)

Map Notes

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼

Progress Scale: ●●●●●
☀
= Frontier peoples
People Group ▲	Population this Country	Global Population	Indigenous	Primary Language	Primary Religion	Progress Scale	% Christian Adherent	% Evangelical	Est. Workers Needed *
Arab, Saharan	50,000	95,000		Hassaniyya	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Bambara	6,026,000	6,375,000	●	Bamanankan	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	1.10 %	121
Banka	8,300	8,300	●	Bankagooma	Islam	1 ●	0.50 %	0.40 %	1
Bedouin, Berabish	50,000	118,000	●	Hassaniyya	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Bobo Fing	36,000	106,000	●	Konabere	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	6.00 %	2.90 %	-1 -
Bolon	11,000	44,000		Bolon	Islam	4 ●	3.00 %	2.10 %	-1 -
Bozo, Kelenga	41,000	41,000	●	Bozo, Kelengaxo	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Bozo, Sorogoye	347,000	387,000	●	Bozo, Jenaama	Islam	0 ☀	0.03 %	0.00 %	7
Bozo, Tegue	287,000	290,000	●	Bozo, Tieyaxo	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.00 %	6
Bozo, Tiemacewe	7,100	7,100	●	Bozo, Tiemacewe	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
British	1,300	53,901,000		English	Christianity	4 ●	61.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Deaf	203,000	47,601,000	●	Tebul Sign Language	Islam	1 ●	2.64 %	-1	4
Dogon, Ampari	9,700	9,700	●	Dogon, Ampari	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	0.00 %	1
Dogon, Ana Tinga	800	800	●	Dogon, Ana Tinga	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	12.00 %	0.20 %	-1 -
Dogon, Bangi Me	3,400	3,400	●	Bangime	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.30 %	-1 -
Dogon, Bankan Tey	2,500	2,500	●	Dogon, Bankan Tey	Islam	2 ●	6.00 %	0.10 %	-1 -
Dogon, Ben Tey	4,800	4,800	●	Dogon, Ben Tey	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.10 %	-1 -
Dogon, Bondum Dom	49,000	49,000	●	Dogon, Bondum Dom	Islam	4 ●	10.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Bunoge	1,600	1,600	●	Dogon, Bunoge	Islam	2 ●	12.00 %	0.20 %	-1 -
Dogon, Dogul Dom	31,000	31,000	●	Dogon, Dogul Dom	Islam	2 ●	8.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Donno So	89,000	89,000	●	Dogon, Donno So	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	2.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Jamsay	256,000	257,000	●	Dogon, Jamsay	Islam	4 ●	11.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Mombo	47,000	47,000	●	Dogon, Mombo	Islam	4 ●	8.00 %	2.40 %	-1 -
Dogon, Nanga Dama	4,000	4,000	●	Dogon, Nanga Dama	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Dogon, Tebul Ure	5,000	5,000	●	Dogon, Tebul Ure	Islam	2 ●	12.00 %	0.40 %	-1 -
Dogon, Tene Kan	250,000	250,000	●	Dogon, Tene Kan	Islam	4 ●	10.00 %	3.30 %	-1 -
Dogon, Tiranige Diga	7,800	7,800	●	Dogon, Tiranige Diga	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Dogon, Tombo	112,000	112,000	●	Dogon, Tommo So	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	1.00 %	2
Dogon, Tomo Kan	262,000	310,000	●	Dogon, Tomo Kan	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	20.00 %	3.60 %	-1 -
Dogon, Toro So	98,000	98,000	●	Dogon, Toro So	Islam	4 ●	8.00 %	3.10 %	-1 -
Dogon, Toro Tegu	5,700	5,700	●	Dogon, Toro Tegu	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.20 %	-1 -
Dogon, Yanda Dom	3,400	3,400	●	Dogon, Yanda Dom	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.30 %	-1 -
Duun, Samogo	159,000	159,000	●	Duungooma	Ethnic Religions	0 ☀	0.02 %	0.00 %	3
French	19,000	50,524,000		French	Christianity	3 ●	63.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Fula Jalon	113,000	6,339,000	●	Pular	Islam	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	2
Fulani, Fouta Tooro	83,000	775,000	●	Pulaar	Islam	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	2
Fulani, Maasina	1,253,000	1,772,000	●	Fulfulde, Maasina	Islam	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	25
Fulani, Pulaar	213,000	1,545,000	●	Pulaar	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.00 %	4
Ganadougou, Gana	169,000	169,000	●	Bamanankan	Islam	2 ●	15.00 %	0.60 %	-1 -
Idaksahak	158,000	161,000	●	Tadaksahak	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	3
Jahanka	8,100	120,000		Jahanka	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Jotoni	18,000	20,000	●	Jowulu	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	2.00 %	0.40 %	1
Jula, Dyula	115,000	4,928,000	●	Jula	Islam	1 ●	0.50 %	0.00 %	2
Kagoro	47,000	47,000	●	Kagoro	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	0.50 %	0.10 %	1
Khasonke	865,000	880,000	●	Xaasongaxango	Islam	1 ●	2.50 %	0.63 %	17
Kurumfe, Fulse	7,600	326,000		Koromfe	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	13.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Maninka, Eastern	470,000	4,008,000		Maninkakan, Eastern	Islam	0 ☀	0.02 %	0.00 %	9
Maninka, Kita	523,000	523,000	●	Maninkakan, Kita	Islam	1 ●	3.00 %	0.20 %	10
Maninka, Western	587,000	2,391,000	●	Maninkakan, Western	Islam	1 ●	2.00 %	0.20 %	12
Marka, Dafing	61,000	251,000	●	Marka	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.50 %	-1 -
Moor	50,000	4,494,000	●	Hassaniyya	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Mossi	50,000	12,453,000		Moore	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	7.00 %	1.80 %	-1 -
Pana, Sama	7,500	17,000	●	Pana	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	2.00 %	0.00 %	1
Red Bobo, Bwa	297,000	423,000	●	Bomu	Islam	1 ●	5.00 %	0.00 %	6
Samo, Kalemse	3,000	29,000	●	Kalamse	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	10.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Samo, Samo Matya	1,300	212,000		Samo, Matya	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	10.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Seemogo	5,600	28,000		Seeku	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	17.00 %	0.10 %	-1 -
Senoufo, Central	4,300	67,000	●	Senoufo, Sicite	Islam	1 ●	5.00 %	0.20 %	1
Senoufo, Mamara	1,395,000	1,395,000	●	Senoufo, Mamara	Islam	1 ●	2.00 %	1.00 %	28
Senoufo, Shempire	22,000	193,000		Senoufo, Shempire	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	6.00 %	0.15 %	-1 -
Senoufo, Supyire	504,000	605,000	●	Senoufo, Supyire	Islam	1 ●	2.00 %	0.60 %	10
Senoufo, Syenara	204,000	204,000	●	Senoufo, Syenara	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	6.00 %	1.84 %	-1 -
Siamou	37,000	61,000		Siamou	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	4.00 %	0.00 %	1
Songhai, Humburi	29,000	41,000	●	Songhay, Humburi Senni	Islam	1 ●	0.30 %	0.00 %	1
Songhai, Koyra	386,000	386,000	●	Songhay, Koyra Chiini	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.00 %	8
Songhai-Koyraboro	1,050,000	1,972,000	●	Songhay, Koyraboro Senni	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.00 %	21
Soninke	1,735,000	2,746,000	●	Soninke	Islam	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.00 %	35
Tondi Songway	5,600	5,600	●	Tondi Songway Kiini	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Tuareg, Tamajaq	446,000	1,550,000	●	Tamajaq, Tawallammat	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	9
Tuareg, Tamasheq	456,000	754,000	●	Tamasheq	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	9
Wassulu	197,000	295,000	●	Bamanankan	Islam	0 ☀	0.04 %	0.03 %	4
Wolof	75,000	6,280,000		Wolof	Islam	1 ●	0.40 %	0.00 %	2
Yalunka	16,000	196,000	●	Yalunka	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.10 %	1
Zarma	2,300	4,571,000		Zarma	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.10 %	1
Totals: 74	20,156,000					45 ●	2.79 %	0.66 %	380
Unclassified / Other Individuals	95,000
UN Country Population (2020)	20,251,000

Other minor groups: 2

Very small groups reported, but outside the Joshua Project Small Group Policy. Some may not be viable and/or have incorrect Progress Scale values, population, language and religion information. The groups listed below are not included in overall Joshua Project people group counts. If you have information about these groups, please contact us.

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
People Group ▲	Progress Scale	Population	Primary Language	Primary Religion
Samo, Northwestern, Samo Matya	4 ●	200	Samo, Matya	Ethnic Religions
Turk	1 ●	200	Turkish	Islam
Totals: 2

For more information see the Joshua Project Small Group Policy

* An estimate of the number of pioneer workers needed for initial church planting among unreached people groups by country. Estimates are calculated only for unreached people groups and are based on ratio of 1 worker for every 50,000 individuals living in an unreached people group by country. Some workers may already be onsite. Many more workers are needed beyond this initial estimate.

Download Data Data Sources Definitions

Prayer Cards

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
Provinces ▲	Estimated Population
Bamako	2,473,000
Gao	744,000
Kayes	2,730,000
Kidal	93,000
Koulikoro	3,306,000
Menaka	54,000
Mopti	2,785,000
Segou	3,194,000
Sikasso	3,590,000
Timbuktu	932,000
Provinces: 10	19,901,000
UN Country Population	20,251,000

Mali Prayer Cards
	Mali prayer cards. All Unreached

Mali Links
Operation World
Open Doors Persecution Ranking
World Factbook
God Reports (stories from the field)
Religious Freedom Report
UN Human Development Report
Ethnologue Language Listing
National Bible Society

Mali Maps
Political Map (UN)
Language Map (Ethnologue)
Perry-Castaneda Map Collection

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
Class ▲	Population	% Popl	% Hindu	% Muslim	% Christian	% Buddhist	% Sikh	% Other
Forward Caste (FC)	287,717,000	1,427.5 %	97.3 %	0.0 %	1.1 %	0.1 %	0.0 %	1.5 %
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	765,974,000	3,800.2 %	70.6 %	24.5 %	1.7 %	0.1 %	2.3 %	0.8 %
Scheduled Caste (SC)	205,728,000	1,020.7 %	93.5 %	0.0 %	0.5 %	3.4 %	2.6 %	0.0 %
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	114,522,000	568.2 %	81.9 %	1.5 %	9.2 %	0.8 %	0.0 %	6.7 %
	20,156,000

Why Use Caste to Define Peoples?

South Asia Communities / Castes: An Overview

A History of South Asia People Group Lists

Why Include Religion When Defining South Asia Peoples?

Level	Description	Criteria
1	Unreached - Few evangelicals and few who identify as Christians. Little, if any, history of Christianity.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians <= 5%
2	Minimally reached - Few evangelicals, but significant number who identify as Christians.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 5% and <= 50%
3	Superficially reached - Few evangelicals, but many who identify as Christians. In great need of spiritual renewal and commitment to biblical faith.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 50%
4	Partially reached - Evangelicals have a modest presence.	Evangelicals > 2% and <= 10%
5	Significantly reached - Evangelicals have a significant presence.	Evangelicals > 10%

Progress Scale

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
Language ▲	Code	# Peoples w/ this Primary Language	# Unreached w/ this Primary Language	Scripture Status	NT Text Online	NT Audio Online	Jesus Film Online	Audio Recordings Online	Gospel Tract Online
Bamanankan	bam	3	2	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Bangime	dba	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Bankagooma	bxw	1	1	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Bolon	bof	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Bomu	bmq	1	1	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Bozo, Jenaama	bze	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Bozo, Kelengaxo	bzx	1	1	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Bozo, Tiemacewe	boo	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Bozo, Tieyaxo	boz	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Dogon, Ampari	aqd	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Ana Tinga	dti	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Bankan Tey	dbw	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Ben Tey	dbt	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Bondum Dom	dbu	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Bunoge	dgb	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Dogul Dom	dbg	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Donno So	dds	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Jamsay	djm	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Dogon, Mombo	dmb	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Nanga Dama	nzz	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Tebul Ure	dtu	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Tene Kan	dtk	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Tiranige Diga	tde	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Tommo So	dto	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	-1	-1
Dogon, Tomo Kan	dtm	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	1
Dogon, Toro So	dts	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Dogon, Toro Tegu	dtt	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Dogon, Yanda Dom	dym	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Duungooma	dux	1	1	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
English	eng	1	0	5 Complete Bible	1	1	1	1	1
French	fra	1	0	5 Complete Bible	1	1	1	1	1
Fulfulde, Maasina	ffm	1	1	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Hassaniyya	mey	3	3	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Jahanka	jad	1	1	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Jowulu	jow	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Jula	dyu	1	1	5 Complete Bible	1	1	1	1	-1
Kagoro	xkg	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Kalamse	knz	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Konabere	bbo	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Koromfe	kfz	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Maninkakan, Eastern	emk	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Maninkakan, Kita	mwk	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	-1	-1
Maninkakan, Western	mlq	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Marka	rkm	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Moore	mos	1	0	5 Complete Bible	1	1	1	1	-1
Pana	pnq	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Pulaar	fuc	2	2	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Pular	fuf	1	1	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Samo, Matya	stj	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Seeku	sos	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Senoufo, Mamara	myk	1	1	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Senoufo, Shempire	seb	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Senoufo, Sicite	sep	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Senoufo, Supyire	spp	1	1	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Senoufo, Syenara	shz	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Siamou	sif	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Songhay, Humburi Senni	hmb	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Songhay, Koyra Chiini	khq	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Songhay, Koyraboro Senni	ses	1	1	5 Complete Bible	1	1	1	1	-1
Soninke	snk	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Tadaksahak	dsq	1	1	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Tamajaq, Tawallammat	ttq	1	1	4 New Testament	1	-1	1	1	-1
Tamasheq	taq	1	1	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Tebul Sign Language	tsy	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Tondi Songway Kiini	tst	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Wolof	wol	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Xaasongaxango	kao	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Yalunka	yal	1	1	5 Complete Bible	1	1	1	1	-1
Zarma	dje	1	1	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Totals:	69	74	45		12	19	30	45	3

MAJOR RELIGIONS ▲	Percent
Buddhism	0.0 %
Christianity (Evangelical 0.7 %)	2.8 %
Ethnic Religions	9.6 %
Hinduism	0.0 %
Islam	87.4 %
Non-Religious	0.2 %
Other / Small Religions	0.0 %
Unknown	0.0 %

CHRISTIAN SEGMENTS ▲	Percent
Anglican	0.0 %
Independent	0.1 %
Orthodox	0.0 %
Other Christian	0.2 %
Protestant	23.2 %
Roman Catholic	74.0 %

Notes:

Major Religions: Religion percentages are derived from summing Joshua Project's data for all people groups who live in each country. The number of individuals who practice each religion, by people group, are summed. This number is divided by the country's total population to derive the religion's percentage.

Christianity Segments: Christian segment percentages are derived from summing Joshua Project's data for all the people groups who live in each country. The number of individuals who practice each segment of Christianity, by people group, are summed. This number is divided by the country's total number of Christians to derive the Christian segment's percentage.

Networking Possibilities

Search the Web
There are many agencies and churches looking for additional staff to help them in their mission and calling in Mali. Internet searches are probably the best way to find these organizations. The following are some example search topics you might try:

Church planting agencies in Mali
Christian ministry in Mali
Business as mission
Christian literature distribution
Evangelism agencies
Christian discipleship
Short term Christian missions

Long term Christian missions
Urban ministries
Christian media opportunities
Bible translation opportunities
Relief and development agencies
Clean water projects
Christian medical outreaches

Mali Statistics
People Groups	74
Unreached People Groups	45 (60.8%)
Population	20,156,000
Population Annual Growth Rate	3.1%
Population in Unreached	18,457,000 (91.6%)
Primary Religion	Islam
Percent Christian Adherent	2.8%
Percent Evangelical	0.7%
Evangelical Annual Growth Rate	2.5%
Pioneer Workers Needed *	380
Country Progress Level	1 ●
Urbanization	42%
Continent	Africa
Region	Africa, West and Central
10/40 Window	Yes
Country Code	ML
Official Language(s)	French
Literacy Rate	33%
Estimated Illiterate Population	13,505,000
Persecution Ranking	29 (1=High to 50=Low OD)

Mali Maps
Political Map (UN)
Language Map (Ethnologue)
Perry-Castaneda Map Collection

Mali Prayer Cards
	Mali prayer cards. All Unreached

Mali Links
Operation World
Open Doors Persecution Ranking
World Factbook
God Reports (stories from the field)
Religious Freedom Report
UN Human Development Report
Ethnologue Language Listing
National Bible Society

Mali Videos
More great prayer resources at Prayercast

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