2011 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 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.

Area

118,484 sq km 94,080 sq km 24,404 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

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

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Law of the Sea

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)

1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%) 78 cu m/yr (2000)

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

590 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

2,881 km Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

border countries

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

total

2,881 km

Land use

20.68% 1.18% 78.14% (2005)

arable land

20.68%

other

78.14% (2005)

permanent crops

1.18%

Location

Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique

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

45.1% (male 3,586,696/female 3,571,298) 52.2% (male 4,140,874/female 4,155,015) 2.7% (male 182,304/female 243,065) (2011 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

40.85 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.5% (2006)

Death rate

13.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 95% of population rural: 77% of population total: 80% of population urban: 5% of population rural: 23% of population total: 20% of population (2008)

rural

23% of population

total

20% of population (2008)

urban

5% of population

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2003)

Ethnic groups

Chewa 32.6%, Lomwe 17.6%, Yao 13.5%, Ngoni 11.5%, Tumbuka 8.8%, Nyanja 5.8%, Sena 3.6%, Tonga 2.1%, Ngonde 1%, other 3.5% (2008 census)

Health expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

11% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

51,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

920,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2007)

Infant mortality rate

81.04 deaths/1,000 live births 85.11 deaths/1,000 live births 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

81.04 deaths/1,000 live births

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)

Life expectancy at birth

51.7 years 50.93 years 52.48 years (2011 est.)

female

52.48 years (2011 est.)

total population

51.7 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 62.7% 76.1% 49.8% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

49.8% (2003 est.)

male

76.1%

total population

62.7%

Major cities - population

Blantyre 856,000; LILONGWE (capital) 821,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and plague schistosomiasis rabies (2009)

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

Maternal mortality rate

510 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

17.2 years 17.1 years 17.4 years (2011 est.)

female

17.4 years (2011 est.)

male

17.1 years

total

17.2 years

Nationality

Malawian(s) Malawian

adjective

Malawian

noun

Malawian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.019 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

15,879,252 (July 2011 est.) 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

Population growth rate

2.763% (2011 est.)

Religions

Christian 82.7%, Muslim 13%, other 1.9%, none 2.5% (2008 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 51% of population rural: 57% of population total: 56% of population urban: 49% of population rural: 43% of population total: 44% of population (2008)

rural

43% of population

total

44% of population (2008)

urban

49% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 9 years 9 years (2007)

female

9 years (2007)

male

9 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

1.015 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.015 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

5.43 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

20% of total population (2010) 5.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

5.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

20% of total population (2010)

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

Lilongwe 13 59 S, 33 47 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Republic of Malawi Malawi Dziko la Malawi Malawi British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

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

Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3 P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi [265] (1) 773 166 [265] (1) 770 471

chief of mission

Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON

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

Ambassador Stephen D. Tennyson MATENJE 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 721-0270 [1] (202) 721-0288

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

President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004) 46-member Cabinet named by the president 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) Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%

cabinet

46-member Cabinet named by the president

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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, UNOCI, UNTSO, 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

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4

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

"Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi) Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA adopted 1964

lyrics/music

Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

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

Budget

$1.667 billion $1.619 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$1.619 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$1.667 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

24.675% (31 December 2010 est.) 25.3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$502 million (2010 est.) -$317.5 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.269 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.115 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 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.

Electricity - consumption

1.559 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

1.676 billion kWh (2008 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

$964.3 million (2010 est.) $912.4 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

India 10.4%, Germany 9.7%, South Africa 7.5%, Russia 7.4%, Zimbabwe 7.4%, Canada 6.4%, US 6.3%, Netherlands 4.7% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

30.2% 16.3% 53.5% (2010 est.)

agriculture

30.2%

industry

16.3%

services

53.5% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

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

GDP - real growth rate

6.6% (2010 est.) 7.6% (2009 est.) 8.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.053 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.98 billion (2010 est.) $12.18 billion (2009 est.) $11.32 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3% 31.9% (2004)

highest 10%

31.9% (2004)

lowest 10%

3%

Imports

$1.665 billion (2010 est.) $1.544 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, petroleum products, semi-manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners

South Africa 41.4%, Zambia 7.8%, India 7.5%, China 6.1%, Tanzania 5%, France 4.4%, Mozambique 4.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

12.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.4% (2010 est.) 8.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

5.747 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

90% 10% (2003 est.)

agriculture

90%

industry and services

10% (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.363 billion (31 December 2010) $1.383 billion (31 December 2009) $1.771 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

7,124 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

53% (2004)

Public debt

34.6% of GDP (2010 est.) 37.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$280.1 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

$1.464 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.464 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$677.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) $561 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33% of GDP (2010 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

rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006 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 country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

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

160,100 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.038 million (2010)

Airports

32 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

4 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

4 (2010)

over 3,047 m

1

total

6

Airports - with unpaved runways

12 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

13

total

26

under 914 m

12 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Railways

797 km 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)

total

797 km

Roadways

15,451 km 6,956 km 8,495 km (2003)

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

3,514,809 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,514,809 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

2,132,909 2,043,925 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,043,925 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,132,909

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

183,683 183,028 (2010 est.)

female

183,028 (2010 est.)

male

183,683

Military branches

Malawi Defense Forces (MDF): Army (includes Air Wing, Marine Unit) (2011)

Malawi Defense Forces (MDF)

Army (includes Air Wing, Marine Unit) (2011)

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 reserve service (2007)

Disputes - international

disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant