1986 Edition

Airfields

152 total, 125 usable; 28 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 42 with runways 1, 220-2,439 m

Branches

Popular Army, Aeronaval Forces (includes Navy and Air Force), paramilitary Gendarmerie

strong presidential system with Cabinet appointed by President; unicameral National Assembly of 87 elected and up to 15 nominated members; High Court with Chief Justice and at least two justices

Capital

Lilongwe

Civil air

6 major transport aircraft

Communists

no Communist party

Elections

President Banda designated President for Life in 1970; parliamentary elections last held June 1983, next scheduled for Political parties and leaders: Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Robson Chirwa, administrative secretary

Ethnic divisions

Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Asian, European

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Government leader

Dr. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA, President (since 1966)

Highways

40,000 km total; 4,694 km paved, 811km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil; remainder improved and unimproved earth (est.)

Infant mortality rate

14/1,000(1983)

Inland waterways

of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes

Labor force

344,052 wage earners employed in Malawi (1982); 52% agriculture, 16% personal services, 9% manufacturing, 7% construction, 6% commerce, 4% miscellaneous services, 5% other permanently employed

Land boundaries

2,881 km People

Language

English and Chichewa (official); Tombuka is second African language

Legal system

based on English common law and customary law; constitution adopted 1964; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeals; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy

47

Literacy

25%

Member of

Af DB, Commonwealth, EC (associated member), FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 31 December 1985, $60,000; about .01% of central government budget Lake Nyasa Chtsefnula Island Likoms Island ^~\ { Zombi Land 1 18,484 km2; the size of Pennsylvania; 34% of land area arable (of which 86% is cultivated), nearly 25% forest, 6% meadow and pasture, 35% other

Military manpower

males 15-49, 2,260,000; 1,383,000 fit for military service; 93,000 reach military age (20) annually

Monetary conversion rate

621.12 Malagasy francs=US$l (October 1984)

National holiday

Republic Day, 6 July

Nationality

noun — Malawian(s); adjective— Malawian

Official name

Republic of Malawi

Organized labor

small minority of wage earners are unionized Government

Political subdivisions

3 administrative regions and 24 districts

Population

7,292,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 3.3%

Ports

4 major (Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliary)

Railroads

1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge

Religion

55% Protestant, 20% Roman Catholic, 20% Muslim; traditional indigenous beliefs are also practiced by some members of these groups

Suffrage

universal over age 18

Telecommunications

fair system includes open-wire lines, coaxial cables, and radiorelay links; 1 Indian Ocean satellite station; 38,200 telephones (0.4 per 100 popl.); 14 AM, no FM, 24 TV stations Defense Forces

Type

one-party state