Moving to Mali from Afghanistan

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Afghanistan to Mali — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Afghanistan to Mali, and you’d need to navigate life in French. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bamako averages 95°F vs 67°F in Kabul, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Afghanistan to Mali, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
553 ↑ 17% vs 2015

people born in Afghanistan live in Mali · UN DESA

Who's moving to Mali?

Top countries of origin for Mali's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Afghanistan to Mali.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AF
24.1
ML
20.2

Mali performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AF
$330
ML
$104
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AF
2.5
ML
1.9

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mali leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AF
143.0
ML
65.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AF
0.3t
ML
0.3t

Afghanistan generally does better on environment, though Mali leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AF
0.1
ML
0.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AF
54.8%
ML
8.0%

Mali performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AF
14.4%
ML
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AF
$2,000
ML
$2,500

Mali performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AF
53.6 yrs
ML
62.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AF
104.9
ML
60.6

Mali generally does better on family life, though Afghanistan leads in literacy rate.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kabul Rain: 12.3 in/yr (312 mm)
67° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bamako Rain: 39.0 in/yr (991 mm)
95° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kabul Bamako
Jan–Mar 45°/25°F (8°/-4°C) 97°/68°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) 100°/76°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/56°F (31°/13°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 59°/31°F (15°/-1°C) 94°/66°F (34°/19°C)
View all months
Month Kabul Bamako
Jan 40°/19°F (4.5°/-7.1°C) 92°/63°F (33.4°/17.0°C)
Feb 42°/22°F (5.5°/-5.7°C) 98°/68°F (36.4°/19.9°C)
Mar 54°/33°F (12.5°/0.7°C) 101°/73°F (38.5°/22.9°C)
Apr 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) 103°/77°F (39.6°/25.2°C)
May 76°/48°F (24.4°/8.8°C) 101°/78°F (38.5°/25.4°C)
Jun 86°/54°F (30.2°/12.4°C) 96°/74°F (35.3°/23.6°C)
Jul 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C) 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.2°C)
Aug 90°/58°F (32.0°/14.3°C) 88°/71°F (31.1°/21.8°C)
Sep 83°/49°F (28.5°/9.4°C) 90°/71°F (32.2°/21.6°C)
Oct 72°/39°F (22.4°/3.9°C) 94°/70°F (34.6°/21.3°C)
Nov 59°/30°F (15.0°/-1.2°C) 96°/65°F (35.3°/18.4°C)
Dec 47°/24°F (8.3°/-4.7°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali (MALI-METEO) Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali (MALI-METEO)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Afghanistan and Mali. To live, work, or study long-term in Mali, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Mali's immigration authority.

Afghanistan passport

Afghanistan passport holder visiting Mali

Visa Required
Afghanistan passport holders need a visa to enter Mali.
Mali passport

Mali passport holder visiting Afghanistan

Visa Required
Mali passport holders need a visa to enter Afghanistan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Mali?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Mali has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Mali safe for expats?

Mali performs significantly better than Afghanistan across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Mali compared to Afghanistan?

Afghanistan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mali leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Mali, compared to 2.5 in Afghanistan. Mali scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Afghanistan: 41).

What's the weather like in Mali compared to Afghanistan?

The average high temperature in Bamako is 95°F, compared to 67°F in Kabul. Bamako receives around 39.0 in of rainfall per year, while Kabul gets 12.3 in.

What language do they speak in Mali?

The official language in Mali is French. In Afghanistan, the official languages are Dari, Pashto and Turkmen.

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At a Glance

AF ML
Population 38,346,720 20,741,769
Currency Afghan Afghani (AFN) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Dari, Pashto, Turkmen French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +93 +223
Time zones 1 1