CIA - The World Factbook

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 economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation, and anti-corruption measures have stalled. 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.

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

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

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

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

deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations

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

41.28 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

13.69 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

5.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)

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

Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)

Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census)

multiparty democracy

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

6 July 1964 (from the UK)

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

based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

18 years of age; universal

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

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

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]

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)

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture 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. In 2009, however, Malawi has experienced some setbacks, including a general shortage of foreign exchange, which has damaged its ability to pay for imports. Investment fell 23% in 2009. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages, poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of services.

$12.81 billion (2009 est.)

$12.09 billion (2008 est.)

$11.02 billion (2007 est.)

$4.967 billion (2009 est.)

5.747 million (2007 est.)

11.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

58% of GDP (2009 est.)

49.1% of GDP (2008 est.)

15% (31 December 2008)

15% (31 December 2007)

25.28% (31 December 2008)

27.72% (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$361.5 million (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$250.4 million (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$406.2 million (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$NA (31 December 2007)

$587.2 million (31 December 2006)

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

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

1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.)

1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

8,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

-$216 million (2009 est.)

-$241 million (2008 est.)

$945 million (2009 est.)

$830 million (2008 est.)

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

South Africa 14.2%, Egypt 9.8%, Zimbabwe 8.7%, US 7.4%, Netherlands 7%, Germany 5.7%, Russia 5.6% (2008)

$1.625 billion (2009 est.)

$1.587 billion (2008 est.)

food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

South Africa 41.1%, India 7.5%, China 7.2%, Tanzania 5.3%, US 4.1% (2008)

$194 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$185 million (31 December 2008 est.)

$1.091 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.005 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 159.16 (2009), 142.41 (2008), 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005)

1.781 million (2008)

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

700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2008)

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (2009)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service (2007)

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