Introduction

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 some economic improvement. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in May 2009.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`13 30 S, 34 00 E`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 118,484 sq km country comparison to the world: 99 land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,404 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

Population: |  |
`15,879,252 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 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`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 45.1% (male 3,586,696/female 3,571,298) 15-64 years: 52.2% (male 4,140,874/female 4,155,015) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 182,304/female 243,065) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 17.2 years male: 17.1 years female: 17.4 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`2.763% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 17`
Birth rate: |  |
`40.85 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 10`
Death rate: |  |
`13.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 21`
Net migration rate: |  |
`0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 98`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 20% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 5.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`Blantyre 856,000; LILONGWE (capital) 821,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.015 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 81.04 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 11 male: 85.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 51.7 years country comparison to the world: 211 male: 50.93 years female: 52.48 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`5.43 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 12`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`11% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`920,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`51,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9`
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 animal contact disease: rabies (2009)`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 95% of population rural: 77% of population total: 80% of population unimproved: urban: 5% of population rural: 23% of population total: 20% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 51% of population rural: 57% of population total: 56% of population unimproved: urban: 49% of population rural: 43% of population total: 44% of population (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 (official) 57.2%, 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.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 9 years male: 9 years female: 9 years (2007)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`4.2% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 98`

Government

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 the UK)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)`
Constitution: |  |
`18 May 1994`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal`
International law organization participation: |  |
`accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
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
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4`
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 [Dindi NYASULU]; Congress of Democrats or CODE [Ralph KASAMBARA]; 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]; Maravi People's Party [Uladi MUSSA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Rainbow Coalition Party [Beatrice MWALE]; New Republican Party [Gwanda CHAKUWAMBA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Stanley MASAULI]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]; United Democratic Party [Kenedy KALAMBO]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |

`
Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Council for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and development); Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human rights); Malawi Law Society (human rights and law reform); Malawi Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore and maintain democracy); Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and unity)
`

International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. Tennyson MATENJE chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador [vacant]; Charge d'Affaires Lisa VICKERS embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3 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 red (top), black, and green; a white sun disc is centered on the black band, its surrounding 45 white rays extend partially into the red and green bands; black represents the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for freedom, and green the color of nature; the sun represents Malawi's economic progress since attaining independence`
National anthem: |  |
`name: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi) lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA note: adopted 1964`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 80% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture, which has benefited from fertilizer subsidies since 2006, 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 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. 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. 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. The government has announced infrastructure projects that could yield improvements, such as a new oil pipeline, for better fuel access, and the potential for a waterway link through Mozambican rivers to the ocean, for better transportation options. Since 2009, however, Malawi has experienced some setbacks, including a general shortage of foreign exchange, which has damaged its ability to pay for imports, and fuel shortages that hinder transportation and productivity. Investment fell 23% in 2009, and continued to decline in 2010. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages, poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of services.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$12.98 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 $12.18 billion (2009 est.) $11.32 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$5.053 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`6.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 7.6% (2009 est.) 8.6% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$800 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 $800 (2009 est.) $800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 33.4% industry: 21.7% services: 44.9% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`5.747 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66`
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%: 3% highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`39 (2004) country comparison to the world: 69`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`27.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $1.735 billion expenditures: $1.769 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`40.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 44.6% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 8.4% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`15% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 19 15% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`25.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 25.28% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$626.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $580.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$1.434 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $1.233 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$1.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $1.515 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$1.771 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 106 $587.2 million (31 December 2006)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats`
Industries: |  |
`tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`17.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5`
Electricity - production: |  |
`1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 139`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`8,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184`
Oil - imports: |  |
`6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 138`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-315 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $-332 million (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$1.189 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $912 million (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Germany 12.37%, Egypt 8.52%, South Africa 7.67%, Zimbabwe 7.55%, US 7.4%, Russia 6.79%, Netherlands 6.64%, Japan 4.1% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$1.675 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $1.502 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`food, petroleum products, semi-manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment`
Imports - partners: |  |
`South Africa 40.15%, China 6.79%, India 6.73%, France 5.03%, Tanzania 4.81%, Mozambique 4.03% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$301 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $163.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$1.213 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $1.166 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$NA`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 151.65 (2010) 141.14 (2009) 142.41 (2008) 141.12 (2007) 135.96 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`175,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 130`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`2.4 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 126`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership about 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`radio is the main broadcast medium; state-run radio has the widest geographic broadcasting reach, but about a dozen privately-owned radio stations broadcast in major urban areas; the single television network is government-owned; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.mw`
Internet hosts: |  |
`870 (2010) country comparison to the world: 167`
Internet users: |  |
`716,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 109`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`32 (2010) country comparison to the world: 113`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 12 (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 797 km country comparison to the world: 99 narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 15,451 km country comparison to the world: 120 paved: 6,956 km unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)`
Waterways: |  |
`700 km (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River) (2010) country comparison to the world: 76`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Malawi Defense Forces (MDF): Army (includes Air Wing, Naval Detachment) (2011)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years reserve service (2007)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 3,514,809 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 2,132,909 females age 16-49: 2,043,925 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 183,683 female: 183,028 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 111`

Transnational Issues

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

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011