Moving to Mali from Benin

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Benin to Mali? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Benin to Mali.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Benin to Mali.

Living there in 2020
1,869 ↑ 17% vs 2015

people born in Benin 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

The numbers behind daily life in Mali compared to Benin.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
24.8
ML
20.2

Mali performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BJ
$138
ML
$104
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BJ
2.0
ML
1.9

Mali generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BJ
77.0
ML
65.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BJ
0.5t
ML
0.3t

Mali performs significantly better than Benin across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BJ
0.2
ML
0.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BJ
1.0%
ML
8.0%

Benin generally does better on infrastructure, though Mali leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BJ
1.4%
ML
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BJ
$3,800
ML
$2,500

Benin performs better than Mali across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BJ
62.2 yrs
ML
62.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BJ
55.8
ML
60.6

Benin generally does better on family life, though Mali leads in life expectancy.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Porto-novo Bamako
Jan–Mar 97°/68°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 100°/76°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/66°F (34°/19°C)
View all months
Month Porto-novo Bamako
Jan 92°/63°F (33.4°/17.0°C)
Feb 98°/68°F (36.4°/19.9°C)
Mar 101°/73°F (38.5°/22.9°C)
Apr 103°/77°F (39.6°/25.2°C)
May 101°/78°F (38.5°/25.4°C)
Jun 96°/74°F (35.3°/23.6°C)
Jul 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.2°C)
Aug 88°/71°F (31.1°/21.8°C)
Sep 90°/71°F (32.2°/21.6°C)
Oct 94°/70°F (34.6°/21.3°C)
Nov 96°/65°F (35.3°/18.4°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN), 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 Benin 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.

Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting Mali

Visa Free
Benin passport holders can enter Mali without a visa.
Mali passport

Mali passport holder visiting Benin

Visa Free
Mali passport holders can enter Benin without a visa.

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Mali: 0.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Mali offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Mali safe for expats?

Mali performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Mali compared to Benin?

Mali generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Mali, compared to 2.0 in Benin. Mali scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Benin: 38).

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

The average high temperature in Bamako is 95°F, compared to None°F in Porto-novo. Bamako receives around 39.0 in of rainfall per year, while Porto-novo gets 47.0 in.

What language do they speak in Mali?

Both Benin and Mali share the same official language: French.

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At a Glance

BJ ML
Population 13,754,688 20,741,769
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages French French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +229 +223
Time zones 1 1