Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a large, landlocked country situated in the Sahel region of West Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Mauritania to the northwest, Burkina Faso to the south, and Guinea and Senegal to the west. The country's vast size and diverse geography encompass the Sahara Desert in the north, the semi-arid Sahel belt, and the fertile savannas of the south. The population, estimated around 20.25 million, is predominantly concentrated in the southern regions, with Bamako serving as the capital and largest urban center. Mali has historically been a crucial trans-Saharan trade hub, linking West Africa to North Africa.