Malawi

Malawi

Introduction

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

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 118,484 sq km
country comparison to the world: 100 land:94,080 sq km
water:24,404 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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 (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops:1.18%
other:78.14% (2005)

Irrigated land

590 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

17.3 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

NA

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

Nationality

noun: Malawian(s)
adjective:Malawian

Ethnic groups

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)

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)

Religions

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

Population

15,879,252 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.1% (male 3,586,696/female 3,571,298)
15-64 years:52.2% (male 4,140,874/female 4,155,015)
65 years and over:2.7% (male 182,304/female 243,065) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 17.2 years
male:17.1 years
female:17.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.763% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Birth rate

40.85 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Death rate

13.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Urbanization

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)

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

510 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 27

Infant mortality rate

total: 81.04 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 12 male:85.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female:76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 51.7 years
country comparison to the world: 210 male:50.93 years
female:52.48 years (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

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 95% of population
rural: 77% of population
total: 80% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5% of population
rural: 23% of population
total: 20% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 51% of population
rural: 57% of population
total: 56% of population
unimproved:
urban: 49% of population
rural: 43% of population
total: 44% of population (2008)

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

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:62.7%
male:76.1%
female:49.8% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years
male:9 years
female:9 years (2007)

Government

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 the World 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

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.98 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140 $12.18 billion (2009 est.)
$11.32 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.053 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

6.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 7.6% (2009 est.)
8.6% (2008 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

GDP – composition by sector

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

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)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%:31.9% (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

Budget

revenues: $1.667 billion
expenditures:$1.619 billion (2010 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183 8.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

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

Stock of narrow money

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

Stock of broad money

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

Stock of domestic credit

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

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

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

Industrial production growth rate

12.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity – production

1.676 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity – consumption

1.559 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Oil – consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

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: 202

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

Exports

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

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

India 10.4%, Germany 9.7%, South Africa 7.5%, Russia 7.4%, Zimbabwe 7.4%, Canada 6.4%, US 6.3%, Netherlands 4.7% (2010)

Imports

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

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

South Africa 41.4%, Zambia 7.8%, India 7.5%, China 6.1%, Tanzania 5%, France 4.4%, Mozambique 4.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Debt – external

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

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)

Transportation

Airports

32 (2010)
country comparison to the world:112

Airports – with paved runways

total: 6
over 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:4 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:13
under 914 m:12 (2010)

Railways

total: 797 km
country comparison to the world: 99 narrow gauge:797 km 1.067-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 15,451 km
country comparison to the world: 120 paved:6,956 km
unpaved:8,495 km (2003)

Waterways

700 km (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 76

Ports and terminals

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Military

Military branches

Malawi Defense Forces (MDF): Army (includes Air Wing, Naval Detachment) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service

standard obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years reserve service (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,514,809 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,132,909
females age 16-49:2,043,925 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 183,683
female:183,028 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 114

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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