Kita Region
Kita | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 13°03′01″N 9°29′00″W / 13.050400°N 9.483300°W | |
| Country | Mali |
| Capital | Kita |
| Area | |
• Total | 35,680 km2 (13,780 sq mi) |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 672,385 |
| • Density | 18.84/km2 (48.81/sq mi) |
Kita Region is an administrative region in Mali. It was created from parts of the former Kayes Region and has its capital in the town of Kita. The region lies between Bamako and Kayes and borders Guinea to the south.
Geography
Kita Region is located in western Mali, south-east of Kayes and west of the Greater Bamako area. It covers an area of 35,680 km².[1] The area belongs to south-western Mali and receives more rainfall than the Sahelian regions of the north. The landscape is characterised by savannas, wooded zones, hill ranges and agricultural land. The region lies within the drainage basin of the Senegal River. Near the town of Kita rises Mount Kita, which shapes the townscape and the surrounding area.
History
Historically, Kita belongs to the Mandé cultural area. The town of Kita developed into a regional administrative, market and transport centre. It gained importance partly because of its location on the Dakar–Niger Railway, which connected western Mali with Bamako and Senegal. During the colonial period and after independence, the town was an important transshipment point for agricultural products from the surrounding area.
The area of present-day Kita Region long belonged to Kayes Region after Mali’s independence as Kita Cercle. The creation of a separate Kita Region had already been envisaged in 2012, but was initially not implemented. Law No. 2023-006 of 13 March 2023 on the creation of 9 new administrative regions in the Republic of Mali confirmed the new territorial division and established Kita as a separate region.[2]
Administrative divisions
The region is divided into six cercles.[3] According to the OCHA, it comprises 14 arrondissements, 33 communes and 374 villages, fractions and urban quarters.[4] The region is predominantly rural; Kita, as the largest town, performs administrative and market functions.
| Cercle code | Cercle | Communes |
|---|---|---|
| 1201 | Kita | 11 |
| 1202 | Sagabari | 6 |
| 1203 | Sébékoro | 4 |
| 1204 | Toukoto | 3 |
| 1205 | Séféto | 6 |
| 1206 | Sirakoro | 3 |
Population
In 2023, the region had a population of 672,385.[5] The population is ethnically and linguistically diverse. The main population groups include the Malinke, Bambara, Soninke and Peul/Fulbe.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 303,647 |
| 2009 | 432,531 |
| 2023 | 672,385 |
Economy
The economy of Kita Region is based mainly on agriculture, livestock herding, trade and the processing of agricultural products. Crops grown include cotton, peanuts, cereals and other field crops. The area around Kita is agricultural, while Kita itself is a centre of trade and processing.[6] Small-scale trade and crafts also play a role. Its location on transport routes between Bamako, Kayes and the western parts of the country supports Kita’s role as a regional supply and transshipment centre.
References
- ^ "Mali: Regions, Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ "Loi n°2023-006 portant création des circonscriptions administratives en République du Mali" (in French). Ministère de l'Administration Territoriale et de la Décentralisation. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ "Mali - Subnational Administrative Boundaries" (XLSX; GeoJSON; Shape; GDB). The Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) - OCHA Global Subnational Administrative Boundaries. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Field Information Services Section (FISS), Geneva, Switzerland. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ "Carte de Référence - Région de Kita - Nouveau Découpage administratif du Mali" (Map) (in French). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ "Rapport d'analyse des données du RGPH5 – État et structure de la population" (PDF) (in French). Institut National de la Statistique du Mali. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ "Kita". SOS Children's Villages. Retrieved 8 May 2026.