Moving to Iceland from Mali

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Mali to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 95°F in Bamako, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2022
1

people moved from Mali to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Iceland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Mali.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ML
20.2
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Mali across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

ML
$104
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ML
1.9
IS
45.2

Mali generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland 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

ML
65.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ML
0.3t
IS
8.5t

Mali generally does better on environment, though Iceland 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

ML
0.8
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ML
8.0%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Mali across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ML
3.0%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ML
$2,500
IS
$66,500

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Mali leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ML
62.4 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ML
60.6
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Mali across all family life metrics.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bamako Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 97°/68°F (36°/20°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 100°/76°F (38°/25°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/66°F (34°/19°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Bamako Reykjavik
Jan 92°/63°F (33.4°/17.0°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 98°/68°F (36.4°/19.9°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 101°/73°F (38.5°/22.9°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 103°/77°F (39.6°/25.2°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 101°/78°F (38.5°/25.4°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 96°/74°F (35.3°/23.6°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.2°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 88°/71°F (31.1°/21.8°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 90°/71°F (32.2°/21.6°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 94°/70°F (34.6°/21.3°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 96°/65°F (35.3°/18.4°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.8°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali (MALI-METEO) Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali (MALI-METEO), Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Mali passport

Mali passport holder visiting Iceland

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

Iceland passport holder visiting Mali

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iceland: 38.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iceland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Mali across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Mali?

Mali generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 1.9 in Mali. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mali: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 95°F in Bamako. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bamako gets 39.0 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Mali, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

ML IS
Population 20,741,769 357,603
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages French Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +223 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112