BackgroundEstablished 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 yr. 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 substantial economic improvement but because of political ddlock in the legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation, and anti-corruption msures have stalled. Population growth, incrsing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the sprd of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.
GeographyLandlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical fture.Loion:Southern Africa, st of ZambiaGeographic coordinates:13 30 S, 34 00 r:total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq kmSize comparison: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land Boundaries:total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none (landlocked)Climate:sub-tropical; rainy sson (November to May); dry sson (May to November)Terrain:narrow elongated platu with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountainsElevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 mNatural resources:limestone, arable land, hydropower, uned deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxiteLand use:arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)Irrigated land:560 sq km (2003)Natural hazards:NACurrent Environment Issues:deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populationsInternational Environment Agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertifiion, Endangered Species, Environmental Modifiion, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the S
PeoplePopulation:13,931,831 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 dth rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 46% (male 3,208,112/female 3,194,600)
15-64 yrs: 51.4% (male 3,592,073/female 3,563,840)
65 yrs and over: 2.7% (male 159,450/female 213,756) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 16.8 yrs
male: 16.7 yrs
female: 16.8 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:2.39% (2008 est.)Birth rate:41.79 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:17.89 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:NA (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 90.55 dths/1,000 live births
male: 94.69 dths/1,000 live births
female: 86.35 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.45 yrs
male: 43.74 yrs
female: 43.15 yrs (2008 est.)Total fertility rate:5.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:14.2% (2003 est.)HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:900,000 (2003 est.)HIV/AIDS - dths:84,000 (2003 est.)Nationality:noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: MalawianEthnic groups:Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, EuropnReligions:Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)Languages: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)Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can rd and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
GovernmentCountry 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, NyasalandGovernment type:multiparty democracyCapital:name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahd 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, ZombaIndependence:6 July 1964 (from UK)National holiday:Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)Constitution:18 May 1994Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appl; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservationsSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and hd of government
hd of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-yr term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held in 19 May 2009)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 35.9%, John TEMBO 27.1%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA 8.7%, Justin MALEWEZI 2.5%Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (193 sts; members elected by popular vote to serve five-yr terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held in 19 May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; sts by party - MCP 56, UDF 49, independents 39, RP 15, others 25, vacancies 8Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Appl; High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courtsPolitical parties and lders:Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Tom CHIHANA]; Congress of Democrats or COPE [Ralph KASAMBARA]; Congress for National Unity or CONU [Daniel MUKHUMBWE]; 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]; Malawi People's Party [Uladi MUSSA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for uine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Rainbow Coalition Party [Btrice 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 [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]; United Democratic Party [Kenedy KALAMBO]Political pressure groups and lders:Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Malawi Law Society (human rights); Malawi Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore and maintain democracy); National Democratic Alliance or NDA (acts to restore democracy; Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, pce and unity)International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE
chancery: 1029 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE
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
EconomyLandlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and lst developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 85% of the population living in rural ars. Agriculture accounts for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is 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 December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi will now begin a consultative process to develop a five-yr program before funding can begin. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Hvily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces many challenges including developing a market economy, improving eduional facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dling with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA championed an anticorruption campaign. Since 2005 President MUTHARIKA'S government has exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three yr Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF ld other international donors to resume aid as well.GDP (purchasing power parity):$11.82 billion (2008 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$4.082 billion (2008 est.)GDP - rl growth rate:7% (2008 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):$800 (2008 est.)GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 38.1%
industry: 17.7%
services: 44.2% (2008 est.)Labor force:4.5 million (2001 est.)Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)Unemployment rate:NA%Population below poverty line:53% (2004)Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 31.8% (2004)Distribution of family income - Gini index:39 (2004)Inflation rate (consumer prices):9% (2008 est.)Investment (gross fixed):8.6% of GDP (2008 est.)Budget:revenues: $1.227 billion
expenditures: $1.337 billion (2008 est.)Public debt:49.1% of GDP (2008 est.)Agriculture - products:
Industries:tobacco, t, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goodsIndustrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:1.13 billion kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - consumption:1.051 billion kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - consumption:6,160 bbl/day (2006 est.)Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005)Oil - imports:6,788 bbl/day (2005)Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)Current account balance:-$420 million (2008 est.)Exports:$679 million f.o.b. (2008 est.)Exports - commodities:tobacco 53%, t, sugar, cotton, coffee, pnuts, wood products, apparelExports - partners:Germany 11.7%, South Africa 10%, Egypt 9.2%, Zimbabwe 8.2%, US 7.3%, Russia 5.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2007)Imports:$1.023 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)Imports - commodities:food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipmentImports - partners:South Africa 36.1%, India 8.5%, Tanzania 6.1%, US 6.1%, China 4.9% (2007)Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$221 million (31 December 2008 est.)Debt - external:$974 million (31 December 2008 est.)Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:$NAStock of direct foreign investment - abroad:$NAMarket value of publicly traded shares:$NACurrency ():Malawian kwacha (MWK)Exchange rates:Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 142.41 (2008 est.), 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004)Fiscal yr:1 July - 30 June
CommuniionsTele in use:175,200 (2007)Cellular in use:1.051 million (2007)Telephone system:eral assessment: rudimentary
domestic: fixed-line subscribership about 1 per 100 persons; privatization of Malawi Telecommuniions (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommuniions services, completed in 2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban ars; mobile cellular subscribership roughly 8 per 100 persons
international: country - 265; satellite rth stations - 2 sat (1 Indian Ocn, 1 Atlantic Ocn)Radio broadcast stations:AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repter stations), shortwave 2 (plus one shortwave station on standby) (2001)Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)Internet country :.mwInternet hosts:107 (2008)Internet users:139,500 (2007)
TransportationAirports:39 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2007)Airports (unpaved runways):total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 16 (2007)Railways:total: 797 km
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)Roadways:total: 15,451 km
paved: 6,956 km
unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)Waterways:700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2008)Ports and terminals:Chipoka, Mon Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Military
Military branches:Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (2007)Military service age and obligation:18 yrs of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation is 2 yrs of active duty and 5 yrs of reserve service (2007)Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 3,050,444 (2008 est.)Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 1,676,117 (2008 est.)
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