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Introduction | Malawi

Background: | Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Current President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen substantial economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation, and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

Geography | Malawi

Location: | Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates: | 13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: | total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: | none (landlocked)
Climate: | sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain: | narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources: | limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: | arable land: 20.68% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 560 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: | 17.3 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%) per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards: | NA
Environment - current issues: | deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: | landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature

People | Malawi

Population: | 13,931,831 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 46% (male 3,208,112/female 3,194,600) 15-64 years: 51.4% (male 3,592,073/female 3,563,840) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 159,450/female 213,756) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 16.8 years male: 16.7 years female: 16.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 2.39% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 41.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 17.89 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | NA
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 90.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 94.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 86.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 43.45 years male: 43.74 years female: 43.15 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 5.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 14.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 900,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 84,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: | degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008)
Nationality: | noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups: | Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Religions: | Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages: | Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census)
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62.7% male: 76.1% female: 49.8% (2003 est.)

Government | Malawi

Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi local long form: Dziko la Malawi local short form: Malawi former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type: | multiparty democracy
Capital: | name: Lilongwe geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: | 28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence: | 6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: | Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution: | 18 May 1994
Legal system: | based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: | chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004) cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2009) election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 35.9%, John TEMBO 27.1%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA 8.7%, Justin MALEWEZI 2.5%
Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCP 56, UDF 49, independents 39, RP 15, others 25, vacancies 8
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders: | Alliance for Democracy or AFORD; Congress for National Unity or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE chancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Alan EASTHAM embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] (1) 773 166 FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Flag description: | three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note: | no party has a majority in the fractured legislature

Economy | Malawi

Economy - overview: | Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi will now begin a consultative process to develop a five-year program before funding can begin. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces many challenges including developing a market economy, improving educational facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA championed an anticorruption campaign. Since 2005 President MUTHARIKA'S government has exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF lead other international donors to resume aid as well.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $10.51 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $3.538 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 7.4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 37.8% industry: 18.1% services: 44.1% (2007 est.)
Labor force: | 4.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate: | NA%
Population below poverty line: | 53% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 31.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 39 (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 8.1% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 8.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $1.128 billion expenditures: $1.185 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: | 50.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products: | tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries: | tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: | 4.4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production: | 1.397 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 1.299 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 6,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports: | 0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: | 6,263 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance: | -$113 million (2007 est.)
Exports: | $604 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities: | tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel
Exports - partners: | South Africa 12.6%, Germany 9.7%, Egypt 9.6%, US 9.5%, Zimbabwe 8.5%, Russia 5.4%, Netherlands 4.4% (2006)
Imports: | $866 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities: | food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment
Imports - partners: | South Africa 34.1%, India 8%, Zambia 7.6%, US 6.3%, Tanzania 5.8%, Germany 4.5%, China 4.2% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient: | $575.3 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $217 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external: | $894 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA
Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA
Currency (code): | Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Currency code: | MWK
Exchange rates: | Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003)
Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June

Communications | Malawi

Telephones - main lines in use: | 102,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 429,300 (2005)
Telephone system: | general assessment: rudimentary domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus one shortwave station on standby) (2001)
Radios: | 2.6 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 1 (2001)
Televisions: | NA
Internet country code: | .mw
Internet hosts: | 347 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 3 (2002)
Internet users: | 59,700 (2006)

Transportation | Malawi

Airports: | 39 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 16 (2007)
Railways: | total: 797 km narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
Roadways: | total: 15,451 km paved: 6,956 km unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)
Waterways: | 700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2007)
Ports and terminals: | Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Military | Malawi

Military branches: | Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (2007)
Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service (2007)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 3,050,444 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,676,117 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.3% (2006)

Transnational Issues | Malawi

Disputes - international: | disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

This page was last updated on 19 June, 2008