2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.5% (male 3,056,522/female 3,000,493) 15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,277,573/female 3,332,907) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 139,953/female 206,478) (2006 est.)

Area

land

94,080 sq km

total

118,480 sq km

water

24,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

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 which 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, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor, who still leads their shared political party. MUTHARIKA's anti-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests and one prominent conviction. Increasing corruption, population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country. Geography Malawi

Birth rate

43.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

geographic coordinates

13 59 S, 33 44 E

name

Lilongwe

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

18 May 1994

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Malawi

conventional short form

Malawi

former

British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

local long form

Dziko la Malawi

local short form

Malawi

Death rate

19.33 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

lowest point

junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m

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

Ethnic groups

Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European

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

Geographic coordinates

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature People Malawi

Government type

multiparty democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

14.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

84,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

900,000 (2003 est.)

Independence

6 July 1964 (from UK)

Infant mortality rate

female

89.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

98.66 deaths/1,000 live births

total

94.37 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

560 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

total

2,881 km

Land use

arable land

20.68%

other

78.14% (2005)

permanent crops

1.18%

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)

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

41.45 years (2006 est.)

male

41.93 years

total population

41.7 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

49.8% (2003 est.) Government Malawi

male

76.1%

total population

62.7%

Location

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

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 are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2007)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

16.8 years (2006 est.)

male

16.2 years

total

16.5 years

National holiday

Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

Nationality

adjective

Malawian

noun

Malawian(s)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

13,013,926

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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

2.38% (2006 est.)

Religions

Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Terrain

narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Total fertility rate

5.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Airports

42 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

total

6

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15

under 914 m

20 (2006)

Budget

expenditures

$895.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$818.4 million

Currency (code)

Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Currency code

MWK

Current account balance

$-186 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$982.4 million (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David GILMOUR

embassy

Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road

mailing address

P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi

telephone

[265] (1) 773 166

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005

chief of mission

Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDE

telephone

[1] (202) 721-0270

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 8 February, 2007

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.3 (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$401.5 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted for nearly 36% of GDP and 80% of export revenues in 2005. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for over 60% of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces strong 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. Malawi's recent fiscal policy performance has been very strong, but a serious drought in 2005 and 2006 heightened pressure on the government to increase spending.

Electricity - consumption

1.202 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

1.293 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

3.3%

hydro

96.7%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 139.786 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003), 76.687 (2002)

Exports

$513.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel

Exports - partners

US 17.9%, South Africa 11.2%, Egypt 7.6%, Germany 7%, Netherlands 6.9%, Japan 4.8%, Russia 4.6%, Mozambique 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 721-0288

[265] (1) 770 471

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Malawi

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

35.4%

industry

17.6%

services

47% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$600 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.172 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.038 billion (2006 est.)

Government - note

the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature Economy Malawi

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$767.9 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners

South Africa 36.9%, Zambia 9.2%, Zimbabwe 7.7%, Mozambique 7.1%, India 6.8%, Tanzania 4.9%, US 4% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

6.4% (2006 est.)

Industries

tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15.1% (2006 est.)

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), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.mw

Internet hosts

377 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2002)

Internet users

52,500 (2005) Transportation Malawi

Investment (gross fixed)

9.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

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

Labor force

4.5 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

90%

industry and services

10% (2003 est.)

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16, others 18, vacancies 1

elections

last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)

Malawi Armed Forces

Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (includes Mobile Force Unit)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

2,430,514 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

1,226,802 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$15.81 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.8% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Malawi

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; 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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population below poverty line

55% (2004 est.)

Ports and terminals

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba Military Malawi

Public debt

68.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third station held in standby status) (2001)

Radios

2.6 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

797 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

total

797 km

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$175.5 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

6,956 km

total

15,451 km

unpaved

8,495 km (2003)

Telephone system

domestic

system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

102,700 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

429,300 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

NA

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2006)