Moving to Mali from Japan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Mali, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bamako averages 95°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
738 ↑ 17% vs 2015

people born in Japan 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 Japan to Mali.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
ML
20.2

Japan performs better than Mali across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
ML
$104
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
ML
1.9

Japan 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

JP
12.0
ML
65.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
ML
0.3t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Mali leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
ML
0.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
ML
8.0%

Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Mali leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
ML
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
ML
$2,500

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
ML
62.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
ML
60.6

Japan generally does better on family life, though Mali leads in education spending.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Bamako
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 97°/68°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 100°/76°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 94°/66°F (34°/19°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Bamako
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 92°/63°F (33.4°/17.0°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 98°/68°F (36.4°/19.9°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 101°/73°F (38.5°/22.9°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 103°/77°F (39.6°/25.2°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 101°/78°F (38.5°/25.4°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 96°/74°F (35.3°/23.6°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.2°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 88°/71°F (31.1°/21.8°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 90°/71°F (32.2°/21.6°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 94°/70°F (34.6°/21.3°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 96°/65°F (35.3°/18.4°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.8°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, 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 Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Mali

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

Mali passport holder visiting Japan

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

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?

Japan performs better than Mali across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Mali compared to Japan?

Japan 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 26.1 in Japan. Mali scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Bamako is 95°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Bamako receives around 39.0 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Mali?

The official language in Mali is French. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP ML
Population 124,214,766 20,741,769
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Japanese French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +223
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110