Malawi

Republic of MalawiDziko la Malawi

multiparty democracyIndependence 6 July 1964 (from the UK)

Malawi as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 146 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, UTC+2

Position13 30 S, 34 00 E

Area118,484 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

15.88 million July 2011 est. · 9.16m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.763% 2011 est. · -0.95% in 1993

Median ageyears

17.2 years 2011 est. · 16.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

51.7 years 2011 est. · 40.48 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.43 children per woman 2011 est. · 7.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

81.04 deaths per 1,000 live births 2011 est. · 130 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$800 2010 est. · $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.6% 2010 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 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.

Geography

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 118,484 sq km

arable land 20.68%permanent crops 1.18%other 78.14% (2005)irrigated 590 sq km (2008)

Area

118,484sq km

country comparison to the world: 100land: 94,080 sq kmwater: 24,404 sq kmslightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

3,002m

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

Land boundaries

2,881km

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

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references

Africa

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Natural resources

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

Total renewable water resources

17.3 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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, 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

Geography - note

landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature

People and Society

31 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)

182,304

65 and over2.7%

243,065

4,140,874

15-6452.2%

4,155,015

3,586,696

0-1445.1%

3,571,298

MaleFemale

Population

15,879,252

(July 2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 63growth rate: 2.763% (2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 17

Note

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

Per 1,000 population

Birth

40.85 (2011 est.)Death

13.22 (July 2011 est.)Net migration

0 (2011 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2011 est.)51.7

50.93 · 52.48Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)81.04

85.11 · 76.9Literacy (2003 est.)62.7%

76.1% · 49.8%

TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2011 est.)17.2

17.1 · 17.4School life expectancy years (2007)9

9 · 9

MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 210 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 12 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2008 census)

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)

Religions(2008 census)

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

Urban population

20%of total population

(2010)rate of urbanization: 5.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major cities - population: Blantyre 856,000; LILONGWE (capital) 821,000 (2009)

Improved drinking water

80%of population

improved: urban: 95% of populationrural: 77% of populationunimproved: urban: 5% of populationrural: 23% of populationtotal: 20% of population (2008)

Improved sanitation

56%of population

improved: urban: 51% of populationrural: 57% of populationunimproved: urban: 49% of populationrural: 43% of populationtotal: 44% of population (2008)

Maternal mortality rate

510deaths/100,000 live births

(2008)country comparison to the world: 27

Nationality

noun:: Malawian(s)
adjective:: Malawian

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)

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 (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.43 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Health expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 141

Physicians density

0.019 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 189

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 143

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

11% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

920,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

HIV/AIDS - deaths

51,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

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
animal contact disease:: rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.5% (2006) country comparison to the world: 53

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 97

Government

Multiparty democracy; President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

66%

Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%John TEMBO 30.7%other 3.3%election last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)

National Assembly, 193 seats, elected 19 May 2009one dot, one seat

DPP 114MCP 26UDF 17independents 32other 4

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

Government type

multiparty democracy

Capital

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

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

Independence

6 July 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday

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

Constitution

18 May 1994

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 government
head of government:: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)
cabinet:: 46-member Cabinet named by the president; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
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)
election results:: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 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 [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)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Stephen D. Tennyson MATENJE
chancery:: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX:: [1] (202) 721-0288

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON
embassy:: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
mailing address:: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone:: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX:: [265] (1) 770 471

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

National anthem

name:: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)
lyrics/music:: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

note: adopted 1964

Economy

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries.

53 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$12.98billion

(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 140$12.18 billion (2009 est.) · $11.32 billion (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $5.053 billion (2010 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

$800

(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 219$800 (2009 est.) · $800 (2008 est.)note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real growth rate

6.6%

(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 427.6% (2009 est.) · 8.6% (2008 est.)industrial production growth: 12.5% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 16

Inflation, consumer prices

7.4%

(2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 1838.4% (2009 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)

agriculture 30.2%industry 16.3%services 53.5% (2010 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

7.5%

South Africa

41.4%

10.4%

India

7.5%

9.7%

Germany

Zambia

7.8%

7.4%

Russia

7.4%

Zimbabwe

6.4%

Canada

6.3%

China

6.1%

Tanzania

4.7%

Netherlands

France

4.4%

Mozambique

4.2%

Exports $964.3 million (2010 est.)Imports $1.665 billion (2010 est.)(2010)

Budget

Revenues

$1.667 billionExpenditures

$1.619 billion (2010 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

1.676 billion (2008 est.)Electricity consumption

1.559 billion (2008 est.)

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.

Labor force

5.747 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

NA%

Population below poverty line

53% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2004) country comparison to the world: 72

Investment (gross fixed)

22.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Taxes and other revenues

33% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Public debt

34.6% of GDP (2010 est.) · 37.8% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Central bank discount rate

15% (31 December 2009) · 15% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 15

Commercial bank prime lending rate

24.675% (31 December 2010 est.) · 25.3% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Stock of narrow money

$677.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $561 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Stock of broad money

$1.434 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $1.233 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Stock of domestic credit

$1.464 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $1.464 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.363 billion (31 December 2010) · $1.383 billion (31 December 2009) · $1.771 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 100

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Oil - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Oil - imports

7,124 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Current account balance

-$502 million (2010 est.) · -$317.5 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Exports

$964.3 million (2010 est.) · $912.4 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$1.665 billion (2010 est.) · $1.544 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$280.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $163.4 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Debt - external

$1.269 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $1.115 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

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

Communications

7 fields

Mobile cellular

3.038 million

(2010)

Internet users

870

(2010)

Fixed lines

160,100

(2010) · country code .mw

Telephone system

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

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 users

716,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 109

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

4 (2010)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

Networkskm

Roadways

15,451Railways

797Waterways

700 (2010)

Roadways: paved: 6,956 km · unpaved: 8,495 km (2003) · Railways: narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2010) · Waterways: (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River)