Malawi

Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

multiparty democracyIndependence 6 July 1964 (from UK)

Malawi as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLilongwe

Position13 30 S, 34 00 E

Area118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km

LocationSouthern Africa, east of Zambia

Populationas each edition published it

10.55 million July 2001 est. · 9.16m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.5% 2001 est. · -0.95% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

37.08 years 2001 est. · 40.48 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.18 children per woman 2001 est. · 7.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

121.12 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 130 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$900 2000 est. · $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 2000 est. · -7.7% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution, which took full effect the following year. National multiparty elections were held again in 1999.

Geography

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

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Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Irrigated land

280sq km

(1993 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Geographic coordinates

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

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

Land boundaries

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

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 34% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 39% other: 7% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note

landlocked

People

18 fields

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

37.8Death

22.81Net migration

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

15.96%

(1999 est.)

Population

10,548,250 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 2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.43% (male 2,348,940; female 2,337,290) 15-64 years: 52.78% (male 2,741,622; female 2,825,966) 65 years and over: 2.79% (male 119,283; female 175,149) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.5% (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

121.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 37.08 years male: 36.61 years female: 37.55 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.18 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

800,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

70,000 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs

Languages

English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 72.8% female: 43.4% (1999 est.)

Government

Multiparty democracy; President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

51.4%

Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%

National Assembly, 193 seatsone dot, one seat

UDF 94MCP 66AFORD 29others 4

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

Government type

multiparty democracy

Capital

Lilongwe

Administrative divisions

24 districts;
Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba;
note - there may be three new districts named Balaka, Likoma, and Phalombe

Independence

6 July 1964 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1964)

Constitution

18 May 1994

Legal system

based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: 36-member Cabinet named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Bakili MULUZI reelected president;
percent of vote - Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - UDF 48%, MCP 34%, AFORD 15%, others 3%;
seats by party - UDF 94, MCP 66, AFORD 29, others 4

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

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA, president];
Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Gwanda CHAKUAMBA, president, John TEMBO, vice president];
Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA, president];
National Independence Party;
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eston KAKHOME, president];
United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI] - governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul Tony Steven KANDIERO chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Roger A. MEECE embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] 773 166

FAX

[265] 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

the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature

Economy

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries.

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Real growth rate

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

29.5%

(2000)

Population below poverty line

54%

(FY90/91 est.)

Labor force

3.5million

Electricity

Electricity production

1.025 billion (1999)Electricity consumption

950 million (1999)Electricity exports

3 million (1999)

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 accounts for 37% of GDP and 85% of export revenues. 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, e.g., to fully develop a market economy, to improve educational facilities, to face up to environmental problems, and to deal with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS.