2015 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 presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. 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 in 2005. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in May 2009. He oversaw some economic improvement in his first term, but was accused of economic mismanagement and poor governance in his second term. He died abruptly in April 2012 and was succeeded by vice president, Joyce BANDA, who had earlier started her own party, the People's Party. MUTHARIKA’s brother, Peter MUTHARIKA, defeated BANDA in the May 2014 election. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the scourge of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

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

99.86 cu m/yr (2005)

total

1.36 cu km/yr (11%/4%/86%)

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; it contains more fish species than any other lake on earth

Irrigated land

735 sq km (2006)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Mozambique 1,498 km, Tanzania 512 km, Zambia 847 km

total

2,857 km

Land use

arable land 38.2%; permanent crops 1.4%; permanent pasture 19.6%

agricultural land

59.2%

forest

34%

other

6.8% (2011 est.)

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

17.28 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

46.73% (male 4,175,706/female 4,218,955)

15-24 years

20.38% (male 1,820,047/female 1,841,331)

25-54 years

27.14% (male 2,418,126/female 2,457,419)

55-64 years

3.06% (male 262,067/female 287,637)

65 years and over

2.69% (male 213,735/female 269,674) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

41.56 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

26% (2006 est.)

total number

993,318

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

13.8% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

46.1% (2010)

Death rate

8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.7%

potential support ratio

14.9% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

94.5%

youth dependency ratio

87.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 95.7% of population

rural: 89.1% of population

total: 90.2% of population

urban: 4.3% of population

rural: 10.9% of population

total: 9.8% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2011)

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%

Health expenditures

8.3% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

10.04% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

32,600 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,063,900 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

39.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

53.07 deaths/1,000 live births

total

46.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Chichewa (common), Chinyanja, Chiyao, Chitumbuka, Chilomwe, Chinkhonde, Chingoni, Chisena, Chitonga, Chinyakyusa, Chilambya

Life expectancy at birth

female

62.69 years (2015 est.)

male

58.67 years

total population

60.66 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

58.6% (2015 est.)

male

73%

total population

65.8%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

LILONGWE (capital) 905,000; Blantyre-Limbe 808,000 (2015)

Median age

female

16.5 years (2015 est.)

male

16.3 years

total

16.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Malawian

noun

Malawian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.3% (2014)

Physicians density

0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

17,964,697

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 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

3.32% (2015 est.)

Religions

Christian 82.6%, Muslim 13%, other 1.9%, none 2.5% (2008 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 47.3% of population

rural: 39.8% of population

total: 41% of population

urban: 52.7% of population

rural: 60.2% of population

total: 59% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2011)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

0.99 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.6 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.77% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

16.3% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

13 58 S, 33 47 E

name

Lilongwe

time difference

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

Constitution

previous 1953 (preindependence), 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995; amended several times, last in 2013 (2013)

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 Virginia E. PALMER (since 5 February 2015)

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 Necton Darlington MHURA (since 18 May 2015)

FAX

[1] (202) 721-0288

telephone

[1] (202) 721-0270

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet named by the president

chief of state

President Arthur Peter MUTHARIKA (since 31 May 2014); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 31 May 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Peter MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Peter MUTHARIKA (DPP) 36.4%, Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 27.8%, Joyce BANDA (PP) 20.2%, Atupele MULUZI (UDF) 13.7%, other 1.9%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019)

head of government

President Arthur Peter MUTHARIKA (since 31 May 2014); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 31 May 2014)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered on the black band; black represents the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for freedom, and green the color of nature; the rising sun represents the hope of freedom for the continent of Africa

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, CD, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; other judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, which regulates judicial officers; judges serve until age 65

subordinate courts

High Court; magistrate courts; Industrial Relations Court; district and city traditional or local 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

description

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 50, MCP 48, PP 26, UDF 14, other 2, independent 52; note - voting in one electoral constituency to be rescheduled due to death of candidate

elections

last held on 20-22 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

name

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

note

adopted 1964

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: black, red, green

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Godfrey SHAWA]

Chipani Cha Fuko or CCP [Davis KATSONGA PHIRI]

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Peter MUTHARIKA]

Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Lazarus CHAKWERA]

People's Party or PP [Joyce BANDA]

United Democratic Front or UDF [Atupele MULUZI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Council for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and development)

Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human rights)

Malawi Economic Justice Network or MEJN (pro economic growth, development, government accountability)

Malawi Law Society (an umbrella organization of all lawyers in Malawi)

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 (manioc, tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Budget

expenditures

$1.573 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$1.264 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

15% (31 December 2009)

15% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

44% (31 December 2014 est.)

46% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$216 million (2014 est.)

-$958.4 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$1.729 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.487 billion (31 December 2013 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 country’s economic performance has historically been constrained by policy inconsistency, macroeconomic instability, limited connectivity to the region and the world, and poor health and education outcomes that limit labor productivity. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 80% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for about 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 program. Between 2005 and 2009 Malawi’s government exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million. The government 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.

The government faces many challenges, including developing a market economy, improving educational facilities, addressing environmental problems, dealing with HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors on anti-corruption efforts.

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. In October 2013, the African Development Bank, the IMF, several European countries, and the US indefinitely froze $150 million in direct budgetary support in response to a high level corruption scandal, called “Cashgate,” citing a lack of trust in the government’s financial management system and civil service. Most of the frozen donor funds—which accounted for 40% of the budget—have been channeled through non-governmental organizations in the country. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages, poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of services. Investment had fallen continuously for several years, but rose 4 percentage points in 2014 to 17% of GDP.

Exchange rates

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -

412.1 (2014 est.)

364.41 (2013 est.)

249.11 (2012 est.)

156.93 (2011 est.)

150.49 (2010 est.)

Exports

$1.332 billion (2014 est.)

$1.374 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel (2010 est.)

Exports - partners

Belgium 12.4%, Zimbabwe 10.4%, South Africa 6.8%, Germany 6.8%, Russia 6.6%, Canada 6.1%, US 6% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

28.1%

government consumption

11%

household consumption

95%

imports of goods and services

-57.1%

investment in fixed capital

16.5%

investment in inventories

6.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

30.1%

industry

18.5%

services

51.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$800 (2014 est.)

$700 (2013 est.)

$700 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.7% (2014 est.)

5.2% (2013 est.)

1.9% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.263 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$13.73 billion (2014 est.)

$12.98 billion (2013 est.)

$12.34 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

10.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

14.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

13.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.9% (2004)

lowest 10%

3%

Imports

$2.498 billion (2014 est.)

$2.52 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 26.2%, India 15.5%, China 10%, Zambia 9.8%, Tanzania 5.4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.7% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

23.8% (2014 est.)

27.3% (2013 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

$753.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$1.384 billion (31 December 2011)

$1.363 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

53% (2004 est.)

Public debt

48% of GDP (2014 est.)

49.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$469.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$435.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.481 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$1.176 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$969.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$578.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$454.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.91 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

1.924 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

0.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

99.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

301,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

2.069 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

13,040 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,059 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

radio is the main broadcast medium; privately owned Zodiac radio has the widest national broadcasting reach, followed by state-run radio; about a dozen private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns around the country; the largest TV network is government-owned, but two private TV networks now broadcast in urban areas and more plan to begin broadcasting in 2014; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2014)

Internet country code

.mw

Internet users

percent of population

2.2% (2014 est.)

total

387,500

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus one shortwave station on standby) (2001)

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 25 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) (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

64,200

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

30 (2014 est.)

total

5.1 million

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Airports

32 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

4 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

7

Airports - with unpaved runways

13 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

11

total

25

Ports and terminals

lake port(s)

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba (Lake Nyasa)

Railways

narrow gauge

767 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

total

767 km

Roadways

paved

6,951 km

total

15,450 km

unpaved

8,499 km (2011)

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

3,514,809 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

2,043,925 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,132,909

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

183,028 (2010 est.)

male

183,683

Military branches

Malawi Defense Forces (MDF): Army (includes Air Wing, Marine Unit) (2012)

Military expenditures

0.93% of GDP (2012)

0.79% of GDP (2011)

0.93% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; high school equivalent required for enlisted recruits and college equivalent for officer recruits; initial engagement is 7 years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers (2014)

Disputes - international

dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lake

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

107,000 (floods in 2015) (2015)