Moving to Mali from Somalia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Somalia to Mali, and you’d need to navigate life in French.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SO
20.2
ML
20.2

Somalia 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

SO
$52
ML
$104
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SO
0.2
ML
1.9

Mali generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia 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

SO
64.0
ML
65.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SO
0.0t
ML
0.3t

Somalia performs better than Mali 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

SO
0.7
ML
0.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SO
24.5%
ML
8.0%

Mali performs significantly better than Somalia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SO
19.0%
ML
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SO
$1,500
ML
$2,500

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SO
55.7 yrs
ML
62.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SO
86.5
ML
60.6

Mali performs significantly better than Somalia 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.

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mogadishu Bamako
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/24°C) 97°/68°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 100°/76°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/73°F (29°/23°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 94°/66°F (34°/19°C)
View all months
Month Mogadishu Bamako
Jan 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C) 92°/63°F (33.4°/17.0°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 98°/68°F (36.4°/19.9°C)
Mar 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C) 101°/73°F (38.5°/22.9°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C) 103°/77°F (39.6°/25.2°C)
May 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C) 101°/78°F (38.5°/25.4°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C) 96°/74°F (35.3°/23.6°C)
Jul 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.2°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 88°/71°F (31.1°/21.8°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C) 90°/71°F (32.2°/21.6°C)
Oct 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C) 94°/70°F (34.6°/21.3°C)
Nov 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C) 96°/65°F (35.3°/18.4°C)
Dec 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°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 Somalia 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.

Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Mali

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

Mali passport holder visiting Somalia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Mali passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Somalia.

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?

Somalia performs better than Mali across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Mali compared to Somalia?

Mali generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Mali, compared to 0.2 in Somalia. Mali scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Somalia: 27).

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

The average high temperature in Bamako is 95°F, compared to 86°F in Mogadishu. Bamako receives around 39.0 in of rainfall per year, while Mogadishu gets 18.7 in.

What language do they speak in Mali?

The official language in Mali is French. In Somalia, the official languages are Arabic and Somali.

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At a Glance

SO ML
Population 12,386,248 20,741,769
Currency Somali Shilling (SOS) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages Arabic, Somali French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +252 +223
Time zones 1 1