2008 Edition

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.

Area

total: 118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%) per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

560 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 2,881 km border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Land use

arable land: 20.68% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 78.14% (2005)

Location

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

17.3 cu km (2001)

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.)

Birth rate

41.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

17.89 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2003)

Ethnic groups

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

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.)

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.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 43.45 years male: 43.74 years female: 43.15 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62.7% male: 76.1% female: 49.8% (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)

Median age

total: 16.8 years male: 16.7 years female: 16.8 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

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.)

Population growth rate

2.39% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2004)

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.)

Total fertility rate

5.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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

Capital

name: Lilongwe geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

18 May 1994

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] (1) 773 166

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE chancery: 1029 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270

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

FAX

[1] (202) 721-0288

[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

Government type

multiparty democracy

Independence

6 July 1964 (from UK)

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, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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

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

National holiday

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

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

Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Malawi Law Society (human rights); Malawi Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore and maintain democracy); National Democratic Alliance or NDA (acts to restore democracy; Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and unity)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.128 billion expenditures: $1.185 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

15% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

27.72% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Currency code

MWK

Current account balance

-$318 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$894 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2004)

Economic aid - recipient

$575.3 million (2005)

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.

Electricity - consumption

1.051 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

1.13 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003)

Exports

$604 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel

Exports - partners

Germany 11.7%, South Africa 10%, Egypt 9.2%, Zimbabwe 8.2%, US 7.3%, Russia 5.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2007)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 37.8% industry: 18.1% services: 44.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$800 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.538 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.59 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 31.8% (2004)

Imports

$866 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 36.1%, India 8.5%, Tanzania 6.1%, US 6.1%, China 4.9% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.9% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

8.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

4.5 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

6,160 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

6,788 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

53% (2004)

Public debt

50.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$217.2 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$406.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$361.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$250.4 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet country code

.mw

Internet hosts

107 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2002)

Internet users

139,500 (2007)

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)

Telephone system

general assessment: rudimentary domestic: fixed-line subscribership about 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; mobile cellular subscribership roughly 8 per 100 persons international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

175,200 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.051 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

NA

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)

Ports and terminals

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

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)

Malawi Armed Forces

Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (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.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 168,858 female: 168,946 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2006)

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)

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 18 December, 2008