{{short description|Region of Mali}} {{refimprove|date=June 2026}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2026}} {{Infobox settlement <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name = Koulikoro Region | native_name = | native_name_lang = fr<!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French language --> | type = [[Regions of Mali|Region]] | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = Koulikoro in Mali 2023.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location within Mali | mapsize = 300px | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 6 | mapframe-point = none | mapsize1 = 300px | coordinates = {{coord|13|56|41|N|7|37|28|W|type:adm1st_region:ML_source:nlwiki|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Mali}} | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | seat_type = [[Capital (political)|Capital]] | seat = [[Koulikoro]] | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = [[Lamine Kapory Sanogo]] | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 43,290 | area_note = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/mali/cities/ |title=Mali: Regions, Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |website=Citypopulation.de |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref> | population_total = 2,224,418 | population_as_of = 2023 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_note = | timezone1 = [[UTC±0|UTC]] | utc_offset1 = ±0 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | blank_name_sec1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2017) | blank_info_sec1 = 0.437<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><br/>{{color|#900|low}} · [[List of regions of Mali by Human Development Index|2nd]] | website = | footnotes = }} [[Image:Un-koulikoro region.png|right|thumb|300px|Map of Koulikoro Region (borders before 2023).]] '''Koulikoro Region''' ([[Bambara language|Bambara]]: ߞߎߟߌߞߏߙߏ ߘߌߣߋߖߊ tr. Kulikoro Dineja) is a region in western [[Mali]]. It is the second administrative area of Mali and covers an area of {{cvt|43,290|km2}}. Its capital city is [[Koulikoro]].
== Geography == The region of Koulikoro is bordered by the regions of [[Nara Region|Nara]] and [[Nioro Region|Nioro]] on the north, the region of [[Kita Region|Kita]] on the west, by [[Guinea]] and the region of [[Sikasso Region|Sikasso]] on the south, and by the regions of [[Ségou Region|Ségou]], [[Bougouni Region|Bougouni]] and [[Dioïla Region|Dioïla]] to the east. In 2023 the Koulikoro Region had a population of 2,224,418. These were mainly [[Bambara people|Bambaras]], [[Mandinka people|Malinkés]], [[Soninke people|Soninkes]] and [[Somono]] around the [[Niger River]].
The region is irrigated by several rivers, including the Niger, Baoulé, [[Sankarani River|Sankarani]], Baogé, [[Bani River|Bani]] and [[Bafing River|Bafing]]. The climate of the region's south has the high rainfall typical of the [[Sudan (region)|Sudan]], while north of the Kita-Bamako axis, it tends to a [[Sahel]]ian aridity.
The largest cities of the region are [[Kati]], [[Koulikoro]], [[Kolokani]], and [[Banamba]]; however the most populous ''commune'' is [[Kalabancoro]]. The [[Boucle du Baoulé National Park]] and the natural reserves of Fina, [[Kongossambougou]] and [[Badinko]] shelter a diversity of wildlife.
== History == The region of Koulikoro is the seat of several great empires which followed one another in Mali: the [[Ghana Empire]], the [[Sosso Empire]] and the [[Mali Empire]].
== Culture == The land of the [[Mandé peoples|Mandé]] is located in this area. It is the cradle of the [[Empire of Mali]], and known for preserving its traditional culture, with its [[griots]] and its hunters. Like much of Mali, the area is strongly [[Islam]]ized, but the practices of [[animists]] remain very present in the villages. [[Bambara language|Bambara]] serves as the area's most common language.
Koulikoro is famous for its traditional [[puppet]] theater, showcased in many festivals such as in the village of Diarabougou. Several musicians are natives of the region, including [[Salif Keita]] and [[Rokia Traoré]].
== Transport and economy == [[Koulikoro]] is the terminus of the [[Dakar-Niger railway]]. It is also an important port on the Niger River which makes it possible to serve the towns of [[Ségou]], [[Mopti]], [[Timbuktu|Tombouctou]], and [[Gao]]. The area is served by the airport of Bamako-sénou.
Agriculture remains the dominant economic activity, although several industries are present in the district, such as the [[Selingue Dam|Hydroelectric dam of Sélingué]], gold-bearing industries around [[Kangaba]], and the [[cotton]] production site in [[Fana, Mali|Fana]], Mali's second largest.
== Administrative subdivisions == {{as of|2012}} the Koulikoro Region is divided into eight [[Cercles of Mali|''cercles'']], encompassing 29 [[Arrondissements of Mali|''arrondissements'']], 61 [[Communes of Mali|''communes'']], and 1,218 villages.<ref name=unmap>{{cite web | title=Carte de Référence - Région de Koulikoro - Nouveau Découpage administratif du Mali (Août 2025)| author = [[UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]] | via=Reliefweb | url=https://reliefweb.int/map/mali/carte-de-reference-region-de-koulikoro-nouveau-decoupage-administratif-du-mali-aout-2025 | access-date=1 June 2026| date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref>
The eight ''cercles'' are:<ref name=unmap/> * [[Koulikoro Cercle]] * [[Banamba Cercle]] * [[Kangaba Cercle]] * [[Kati Cercle]] * [[Kolokani Cercle]] * [[Nyamina Cercle]] * [[Siby Cercle]] * [[Néguéla Cercle]]
Mali's capital ([[Bamako]]) is located in the heart of the region, but forms a separate administrative entity called the Bamako Capital District; it is entirely surrounded by Kati Cercle.
==See also== *[[Regions of Mali]] *[[Cercles of Mali]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{citation | title= Synthèsis des 106 Plans Communaux de Securité Alimentaire de la Région de Koulikoro 2009-2013 | publisher=Commissariat à la Sécurité Alimentaire, République du Mali, USAID-Mali | year=2009 | url=http://www.aec.msu.edu/fs2/mali_fd_strtgy/plans/koulikoro/Synthese_reg_kkro.pdf | language=fr | ref=none }}.
{{Mali regions}} {{Communes of the Koulikoro Region}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Koulikoro Region| ]] [[Category:Regions of Mali]]