Mali people groups, languages and religions

Country: Mali

Number of People Groups

People Groups Unreached

43 (58.9%)

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

23,087,000

Population in Unreached

21,110,000 (91.4%)

Largest Religion

Islam (87.8%)

% Christian Adherent

2.81%

% Evangelical

0.67%

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	58,000	106,000		Hassaniyya	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Bambara	6,931,000	7,310,000	●	Bamanankan	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	1.10 %	139
Banka	9,600	9,600	●	Bankagooma	Islam	1 ●	0.50 %	0.40 %	1
Bedouin, Berabish	58,000	130,000	●	Hassaniyya	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Bobo Fing	41,000	119,000	●	Konabere	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	6.00 %	2.90 %	-1 -
Bolon	13,000	50,000		Bolon	Islam	4 ●	3.00 %	2.10 %	-1 -
Bozo, Jenaama	400,000	445,000	●	Bozo, Jenaama	Islam	0 ☀	0.03 %	0.00 %	8
Bozo, Kelenga	47,000	47,000	●	Bozo, Kelengaxo	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Bozo, Tiemacewe	8,200	8,200	●	Bozo, Tiemacewe	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Bozo, Tige	331,000	335,000	●	Bozo, Tieyaxo	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.00 %	7
British	1,500	53,969,000		English	Christianity	4 ●	61.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Deaf	233,000	49,661,000	●	Tebul Sign Language	Islam	1 ●	2.64 %	-1	5
Dogon, Ampari	11,000	11,000	●	Dogon, Ampari	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	0.00 %	1
Dogon, Ana Tinga	900	900	●	Dogon, Ana Tinga	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	12.00 %	0.20 %	-1 -
Dogon, Bangi Me	3,900	3,900	●	Bangime	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.30 %	-1 -
Dogon, Bankan Tey	2,800	2,800	●	Dogon, Bankan Tey	Islam	2 ●	6.00 %	0.10 %	-1 -
Dogon, Ben Tey	5,500	5,500	●	Dogon, Ben Tey	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.10 %	-1 -
Dogon, Bondum Dom	56,000	56,000	●	Dogon, Bondum Dom	Islam	4 ●	10.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Bunoge	1,800	1,800	●	Dogon, Bunoge	Islam	2 ●	12.00 %	0.20 %	-1 -
Dogon, Dogul Dom	36,000	36,000	●	Dogon, Dogul Dom	Islam	2 ●	8.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Donno So	103,000	103,000	●	Dogon, Donno So	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	2.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Jamsay	294,000	295,000	●	Dogon, Jamsay	Islam	4 ●	11.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Mombo	54,000	54,000	●	Dogon, Mombo	Islam	4 ●	8.00 %	2.40 %	-1 -
Dogon, Nanga Dama	4,600	4,600	●	Dogon, Nanga Dama	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Dogon, Tebul Ure	5,800	5,800	●	Dogon, Tebul Ure	Islam	2 ●	12.00 %	0.40 %	-1 -
Dogon, Tene Kan	288,000	288,000	●	Dogon, Tene Kan	Islam	4 ●	10.00 %	3.30 %	-1 -
Dogon, Tiranige Diga	9,000	9,000	●	Dogon, Tiranige Diga	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Dogon, Tombo	129,000	129,000	●	Dogon, Tommo So	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	1.00 %	3
Dogon, Tomo Kan	301,000	355,000	●	Dogon, Tomo Kan	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	20.00 %	3.60 %	-1 -
Dogon, Toro So	113,000	113,000	●	Dogon, Toro So	Islam	4 ●	8.00 %	3.10 %	-1 -
Dogon, Toro Tegu	6,600	6,600	●	Dogon, Toro Tegu	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.20 %	-1 -
Dogon, Yanda Dom	3,900	3,900	●	Dogon, Yanda Dom	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.30 %	-1 -
Duun, Samogo	183,000	183,000	●	Duungooma	Islam	0 ☀	0.02 %	0.00 %	4
Dyula	132,000	4,581,000	●	Jula	Islam	0 ☀	0.10 %	0.08 %	3
French	22,000	50,459,000		French	Christianity	3 ●	63.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Fulani, Maasina	1,442,000	2,011,000	●	Fulfulde, Maasina	Islam	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	29
Fulani, Pulaar	317,000	3,027,000	●	Pulaar	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.00 %	6
Fulbe	135,000	5,395,000	●	Pular	Islam	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	3
Ganadougou, Gana	194,000	194,000	●	Bamanankan	Islam	2 ●	15.00 %	0.60 %	-1 -
Idaksahak	182,000	186,000	●	Tadaksahak	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	4
Jahanka	9,400	131,000		Jahanka	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Jotoni	22,000	24,000	●	Jowulu	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	2.00 %	-1 -
Kagoro	54,000	54,000	●	Kagoro	Islam	1 ●	0.50 %	0.30 %	1
Khasonke	995,000	1,012,000	●	Xaasongaxango	Islam	1 ●	2.50 %	0.63 %	20
Kurumfe, Fulse	8,800	363,000		Koromfe	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	13.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Maninka, Eastern	541,000	4,337,000		Maninkakan, Eastern	Islam	0 ☀	0.02 %	0.00 %	11
Maninka, Kita	602,000	602,000	●	Maninkakan, Kita	Islam	1 ●	3.00 %	0.20 %	12
Maninka, Western	675,000	2,352,000	●	Maninkakan, Western	Islam	1 ●	2.00 %	0.20 %	14
Marka, Dafing	70,000	281,000	●	Marka	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	0.50 %	-1 -
Moor	58,000	4,707,000	●	Hassaniyya	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Mossi	57,000	13,756,000		Moore	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	7.00 %	1.80 %	-1 -
Pana, Sama	8,600	19,000	●	Pana	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	2.00 %	0.00 %	1
Red Bobo, Bwa	342,000	482,000	●	Bomu	Islam	1 ●	5.00 %	0.00 %	7
Samo, Kalemse	3,500	32,000	●	Kalamse	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	10.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Samo, Samo Matya	1,500	236,000		Samo, Matya	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	10.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Seemogo	6,500	32,000		Seeku	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	17.00 %	0.10 %	-1 -
Senoufo, Central	5,000	75,000	●	Senoufo, Sicite	Islam	1 ●	5.00 %	0.20 %	1
Senoufo, Mamara	1,604,000	1,604,000	●	Senoufo, Mamara	Islam	1 ●	2.00 %	1.00 %	32
Senoufo, Shempire	25,000	212,000		Senoufo, Shempire	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	6.00 %	0.15 %	-1 -
Senoufo, Supyire	580,000	691,000	●	Senoufo, Supyire	Islam	1 ●	2.00 %	0.60 %	12
Senoufo, Syenara	234,000	234,000	●	Senoufo, Syenara	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	6.00 %	1.84 %	-1 -
Siamou	42,000	69,000		Siamou	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	4.00 %	0.00 %	1
Songhai, Humburi	33,000	47,000	●	Songhay, Humburi Senni	Islam	1 ●	0.30 %	0.00 %	1
Songhai, Koyra	444,000	444,000	●	Songhay, Koyra Chiini	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.00 %	9
Songhai-Koyraboro	1,208,000	2,240,000	●	Songhay, Koyraboro Senni	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.00 %	24
Soninke	1,996,000	3,107,000	●	Soninke	Islam	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.00 %	40
Tondi Songway	6,400	6,400	●	Tondi Songway Kiini	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Tuareg, Tamajaq	513,000	1,751,000	●	Tamajaq, Tawallammat	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	10
Tuareg, Tamasheq	524,000	848,000	●	Tamasheq	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	10
Wasulu	226,000	333,000	●	Maninkakan, Eastern	Islam	0 ☀	0.04 %	0.03 %	5
Wolof	4,600	6,612,000		Wolof	Islam	1 ●	0.40 %	0.00 %	1
Yalunka	19,000	214,000	●	Yalunka	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.10 %	1
Zarma	2,600	5,130,000		Zarma	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.10 %	1
Totals: 73	23,087,000					43 ●	2.81 %	0.67 %	436
Unclassified / Other Individuals	207,000
UN Country Population (2023)	23,294,000

Other minor groups: 2

Mali

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-unit (single person or married couple) per 50,000 living in an unreached people group by country, or for example one team of four worker-units per 200,000 people. Some workers may already be onsite. Many more workers are needed beyond this initial estimate.

Download Data Data Sources Definitions

Prayer Cards

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Province ▲	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	23,294,000

Mali Prayer Cards
	Mali prayer cards. All Unreached

Mali Links
Operation World
Open Doors Persecution Ranking
World Factbook
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 ▲▼
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	2	1	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	3 Bible Portions	-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	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Jahanka	jad	1	1	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Jowulu	jow	1	0	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	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Koromfe	kfz	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Maninkakan, Eastern	emk	2	2	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	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Pulaar	fuc	1	1	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	2 Translation Started	-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	1 Translation Needed	-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	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Soninke	snk	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Tadaksahak	dsq	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-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	73	43		12	23	31	45	4

Networking Possibilities

MissionNext - connect with mission agencies or schools worldwide
The Mission App - connecting you to mission agencies that match your calling
Linking Global Voices - networks and global collaboration for followers of Christ
visionSynergy - developing high impact missional networks
GetInvolved - frontier people group (FPGs) prayer communities

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	73
Unreached People Groups	43 (58.9%)
Population	23,087,000
Population Annual Growth Rate	3.1%
Population in Unreached	21,110,000 (91.4%)
Primary Religion	Islam
Percent Christian Adherent	2.8%
Percent Evangelical	0.7%
Evangelical Annual Growth Rate	2.5%
Pioneer Workers Needed *	436
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	36%
Estimated Illiterate Population	14,776,000
Persecution Ranking	17 (1=Highest) Open Doors

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

Mali Prayer Cards / Guide
Prayer Cards All Unreached	Prayer Guide

Mali Links
Operation World
Stratus Earth Index
Prosperity Index
Social Progress Index
Open Doors Persecution Ranking
World Factbook
Religious Freedom Report
UN Human Development Report
Ethnologue Language Listing
National Bible Society

Mali Videos
More great prayer resources at Prayercast