Mali has several schools of higher education. But many Malian students prefer to get higher degrees and professional training in other nations, mainly France and Senegal. Mali is also challenged by poor health conditions. The average life expectancy for infants in the country is less than 50 years. Approximately a fifth of the babies born in rural areas die as infants.
Malaria is widespread in Mali and is a chief cause of death among children.
Mali has only a few hundred doctors to serve its entire population. Most of them work in urban areas. Land and climate. Mali has few mountains. The Senegal and Niger are Mali's chief rivers.