2010 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 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. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in May 2009.

Area

land

94,080 sq km

total

118,484 sq km

water

24,404 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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

78 cu m/yr (2000)

total

1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%)

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

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%

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: 45.4% (male 3,419,711/female 3,404,726) 15-64 years: 51.9% (male 3,889,065/female 3,915,309) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 172,679/female 227,267) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

41.28 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

13.69 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2003)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

11.9% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

68,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

930,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

79.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

87.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

83.5 deaths/1,000 live births

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

female

51.64 years (2010 est.)

male

50.22 years

total population

50.92 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

49.8% (2003 est.)

male

76.1%

total population

62.7%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

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

Median age

female

17.3 years (2010 est.)

male

17 years

total

17.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Malawian

noun

Malawian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

15,447,500 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 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.758% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2007)

male

9 years

total

9 years

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

5.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

19% of total population (2008)

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

geographic coordinates

13 59 S, 33 47 E

name

Lilongwe

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

former

British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

local long form

Dziko la Malawi

local short form

Malawi

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter W. BODDE

embassy

16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3

FAX

[265] (1) 770 471

mailing address

P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi

telephone

[265] (1) 773 166

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Stephen D. Tennyson MATENJE

FAX

[1] (202) 721-0288

telephone

[1] (202) 721-0270

Executive branch

cabinet

46-member Cabinet named by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%

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)

head of government

President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)

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

Government type

multiparty democracy

Independence

6 July 1964 (from the 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, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, 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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4

elections

last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA note: adopted 1964

name

"Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)

National holiday

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

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

15% (31 December 2009) 15% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

25.25% (31 December 2009 est.) 25.28% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$315 million (2010 est.) -$332 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.213 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.166 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2004)

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 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. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages, poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of services.

Electricity - consumption

1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 151.65 (2010), 141.14 (2009), 142.41 (2008), 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006)

Exports

$1.189 billion (2010 est.) $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)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

33.4%

industry

21.7%

services

44.9% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2010 est.) $800 (2009 est.) $800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.5% (2010 est.) 7.6% (2009 est.) 9.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.035 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$13.51 billion (2010 est.) $12.69 billion (2009 est.) $11.79 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)

Imports

$1.675 billion (2010 est.) $1.502 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, 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)

Industrial production growth rate

17.3% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8% (2010 est.) 8.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

5.747 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

90%

industry and services

10% (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2009) $1.771 billion (31 December 2008) $587.2 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

53% (2004)

Public debt

40.4% of GDP (2010 est.) 44.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$301 million (31 December 2010 est.) $163.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.434 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.233 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$1.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.515 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$626.5 million (31 December 2010 est) $580.3 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

NA%

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)

Internet users

716,400 (2009)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006

international

country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

175,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.4 million (2009)

Airports

32 (2010)

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)

Ports and terminals

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Railways

narrow gauge

797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

total

797 km

Roadways

paved

6,956 km

total

15,451 km

unpaved

8,495 km (2003)

Waterways

700 km; (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,402,724 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,048,900 females age 16-49: 1,960,258 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

176,905 (2010 est.)

male

177,376

Military branches

Malawi Armed Forces

Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (2009)

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 page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================