Malawi
Republic of MalawiDziko la Malawi
presidential republicIndependence 6 July 1964 (from the UK)
Malawi as the 2020 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 160 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
From the late 15th to the 18th centuries, a prosperous Kingdom of Maravi - from which the name Malawi derives - extended its reach into what are now areas of Zambia and Mozambique. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Malawi in the second half of the 19th century. In 1889, a British Central African Protectorate was established, which was renamed Nyasaland in 1907, and which 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. Bakili MULUZI became the first freely elected president of Malawi when he won the presidency in 1994; he won re-election in 1999. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in 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 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 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 2014 election. Peter MUTHARIKA was reelected in a disputed 2019 election that resulted in countrywide protests. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the scourge of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.
Geography
Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique
19 fieldsLand useshare of 118,484 sq km
Natural resources
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Population distribution
population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa as shown in this population distribution map
Environment - current issues
- deforestation;
- land degradation;
- water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes;
- siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations;
- negative effects of climate change (extreme high temperatures, changing precipatation pattens)
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;
- it contains more fish species than any other lake on earth
People and Society
38 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2020 est.)
Note
Per 1,000 population(2020 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2018 est.)
Ethnic groups
Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign .3% (2018 est.)
Languages
English (official), Chewa (common), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao note : Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects; Nkhonde and Nyakyusa are mutually intelligible dialects
Demographic profile
Malawi has made great improvements in maternal and child health, but has made less progress in reducing its high fertility rate. In both rural and urban areas, very high proportions of mothers are receiving prenatal care and skilled birth assistance, and most children are being vaccinated.
Malawi’s fertility rate, however, has only declined slowly, decreasing from more than 7 children per woman in the 1980s to about 5.5 today. Nonetheless, Malawians prefer smaller families than in the past, and women are increasingly using contraceptives to prevent or space pregnancies.
Rapid population growth and high population density is putting pressure on Malawi’s land, water, and forest resources. Reduced plot sizes and increasing vulnerability to climate change, further threaten the sustainability of Malawi’s agriculturally based economy and will worsen food shortages.
About 80% of the population is employed in agriculture. Historically, Malawians migrated abroad in search of work, primarily to South Africa and present-day Zimbabwe, but international migration became uncommon after the 1970s, and most migration in recent years has been internal.
During the colonial period, Malawians regularly migrated to southern Africa as contract farm laborers, miners, and domestic servants. In the decade and a half after independence in 1964, the Malawian Government sought to transform its economy from one dependent on small-scale farms to one based on estate agriculture.
The resulting demand for wage labor induced more than 300,000 Malawians to return home between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s. In recent times, internal migration has generally been local, motivated more by marriage than economic reasons.
Population distribution
population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa as shown in this population distribution map
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.93 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.78 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high (2020)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact diseases:
- rabies
Government
Presidential republic; President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020)
21 fieldsNational Assembly, 193 seats, elected 21 May 2019one dot, one seat
Composition: men 161, women 32, percent of women 16.6%
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
- etymology:
- named for the East African Maravi Kingdom of the 16th century; the word "maravi" means "fire flames"
Capital
- name:
- Lilongwe
- geographic coordinates:
- 13 58 S, 33 47 E
- time difference:
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- etymology:
- named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city
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
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1953 (preindependence), 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995
- amendments:
- proposed by the National Assembly;
- passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty and territory of the state, fundamental constitutional principles, human rights, voting rights, and the judiciary, requires majority approval in a referendum and majority approval by the Assembly;
- passage of other amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly;
- amended several times, last in 2017
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
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi
- dual citizenship recognized:
- no
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 7 years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020);
- Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020);
- note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet named by the president
- elections/appointments:
- president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 23 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
- election results:
- Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.7%
Legislative branch
- description:
- unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 21 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - n/a;
- seats by party - DPP 62, MCP 55, UDF 10, PP 5, other 5, independent 55, vacant 1;
- composition - men 161, women 32, percent of women 16.6%
Judicial branch
- highest courts:
- 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 the 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
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Peter MUTHARIKA]
- Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Lazarus CHAKWERA]
- Peoples Party or PP [Joyce BANDA]
- United Democratic Front or UDF [Atupele MULUZI]
- United Transformation Movement or UTM [Saulos CHILIMA]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Edward Yakobe SAWERENGERA (since 16 September 2016)
- 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 Robert SCOTT (since 6 August 2019)
- telephone:
- +(265) 1-773-166, 1-773-342 and 1-773-367 (Dial "0" before the "1" within Malawi); EMER: +(265) (0) 999-591-024 or +(265) (0) 888-734-826
- embassy:
- 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
- mailing address:
- P.O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
- FAX:
- 265 (0) 1770471
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
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 least developed countries.
33 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2017 est.)
Economic overview
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The country’s economic performance has historically been constrained by policy inconsistency, macroeconomic instability, poor infrastructure, rampant corruption, high population growth, 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 80% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports, although Malawi is looking to diversify away from tobacco to other cash crops.
The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. Donors halted direct budget support from 2013 to 2016 because of concerns about corruption and fiscal carelessness, but the World Bank resumed budget support in May 2017.
In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program but recent increases in domestic borrowing mean that debt servicing in 2016 exceeded the levels prior to HIPC debt relief. Heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture, with corn being the staple crop, Malawi’s economy was hit hard by the El Nino-driven drought in 2015 and 2016, and now faces threat from the fall armyworm.
The drought also slowed economic activity, led to two consecutive years of declining economic growth, and contributed to high inflation rates. Depressed food prices over 2017 led to a significant drop in inflation (from an average of 21.7% in 2016 to 12.3% in 2017), with a similar drop in interest rates.
Agriculture - products
tobacco, sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sorghum, pulses, cotton, groundnuts, macadamia nuts, coffee; cattle, goats
Exports - commodities
tobacco (55%), dried legumes (8.8%), sugar (6.7%), tea (5.7%), cotton (2%), peanuts, coffee, soy (2015 est.)
Imports - commodities
food, petroleum products, semi-manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$780.2 million (31 December 2017 est.) · $585.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 762.4951 (2020 est.) · 736.6548 (2019 est.) · 732.335 (2018 est.) · 499.6 (2014 est.) · 424.9 (2013 est.)
Energy
24 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2019)
Installed generating capacity, 375,000 kW(2016 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2018–19 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- rudimentary;
- 2 fixed-line and 3 mobile-cellular operators govern the market;
- some mobile services to rural areas;
- in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since 2018;
- 50 licensed ISPs;
- DSL services are available;
- LTE services are available;
- mobile penetration low in comparison to the region average;
- potential for growth;
- national fiber backbone nearing completion;
- prospect of gaining access to international submarine fiber optic cables from neighboring countries (2020)
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership 48 per 100 households (2019)
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide;
overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media
- radio is the main broadcast medium;
- privately owned Zodiak radio has the widest national broadcasting reach, followed by state-run radio;
- numerous private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns around the country;
- the largest TV network is government-owned, but at least 4 private TV networks broadcast in urban areas;
- relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 2 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 10,545 (2018)
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 10,000 mt-km (2018)
Military and Security
6 fieldsMilitary and security forces
Malawi Defense Force (MDF): Army (includes Air Wing, Marine Unit); note - a 2017 amendment to Malawi’s Defense Force Act established a separate Army, Air Force, and Maritime Force within the MDF, but these services have yet to develop independent budgets, chains of command, and training institutions (2019)
Military and security service personnel strengths
size estimates for the Malawi Defense Force vary; approximately 8,000 personnel (including about 200 in the Air Wing and 200 in the Marine Unit) (2019 est.)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the Malawi Defense Force inventory is comprised of mostly obsolescent or second-hand equipment from France, Germany, South Africa, and the UK;
- since 2010, it has taken deliveries of additional second-hand equipment from South Africa (2012-15) and the UK (2015), as well as new patrol boats from China (2019) and non-lethal equipment donated by the US (2019) (2019)
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)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - 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
refugees (country of origin): 29,416 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 10,838 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 6,696 (Rwanda) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Malawi.” The World Factbook 2020. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/malawi/2020.