Statistical information Malawi 1989

Malawi in the World
top of pageBackground: Established in 1891 the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. It has had one-party rule ever since.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 2,881 km total; Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline: none - landlocked
Maritime claims: none - landlocked
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to May; dry season (May to November)
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
ElevationNatural resources: limestone; unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: 25% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 20% meadows and pastures; 50% forest and woodland; 5% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: a majority of exports would normally go through Mozambique on the Nacala railroad, but now most go through South Africa because of insurgent activity and damage to rail line
top of pagePopulation: 8,736,743 (July 1989), growth rate 6.0% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Malawian(s; adjective - Malawian
Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Languages: English and Chichewa (official; other languages important regionally
Religions: 55% Protestant, 20% Roman Catholic, 20% Muslim; traditional indigenous beliefs are also practiced
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 51 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 18 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 27 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 132 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 46 years male, 50 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 7.7 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 25%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
Government type: one-party state
Capital: Lilongwe
Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Kasupe, Lilongwe, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ncheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhota Kota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Dependent areasIndependence: 6 July 1964 (from UK; formerly Nyasaland)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
Constitution: 6 July 1964; republished as amended January 1974
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal over age 21
Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government - President Dr. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA (since 6 July 1966; sworn in as President for Life 6 July 1971)
Legislative branch: Army, Army Air Wing, Army Naval Detachment, paramilitary Police Mobile Unit, paramilitary Young Pioneers
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AfDB, CCC, Commonwealth, EC (associated member), FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Robert B. MBAYA; Chancery at 2,408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 797-1007; US - Ambassador George A. TRAIL, III; Embassy in new capital city development area, address NA (mailing address is P. O. Box 30,016, Lilongwe; telephone 730-166
Flag description
: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band; similar to the flag of Afghanistan which is longer and has the national coat of arms superimposed on the hoist side of the black and red bands
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is predominately agricultural and operates under a relatively free-enterprise environment, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for 40% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. In 1986 the economy deteriorated and GDP declined by 0.3% as a result of depressed international commodity prices, the high production costs of manufactured goods, and higher transportation costs brought about by the civil war in Mozambique. (Malawi is a landlocked country and must now ship goods through Durban, South Africa.) In 1986 the inflation rate rose to 20%.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: cash crops - sugar, tea, coffee, peanuts, cotton; subsistence crops - corn, sorghum, millet, root crops; self-sufficient in food production under normal conditions
Industries: agricultural processing (tea, tobacco, sugar), sawmilling, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: 1.7% (1986)
Labor force: 428,000 wage earners; 43% agriculture, 16% manufacturing, 15% personal services, 9% commerce, 7% construction, 4% miscellaneous services, 6% other permanently employed (1986)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $246 million; expenditures $390 million, including capital expenditures of $97 million (FY88 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $277 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts
Partners: US, UK, Zambia, South Africa, FRG
Imports: $296 million (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: food, petroleum, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment
Partners: South Africa, Japan, US, UK, Zimbabwe
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1.3 billion (December 1988 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Malawian kwacha (MK) per US$1 - 2.6231 (January 1989), 2.5613 (1988), 2.2087 (1987), 1.8611 (1986), 1.7191 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 172,000 kW capacity; 535 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $31 million, 11.1% of central government budget (FY88)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 51 total, 50 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 9 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi; Shire River, 144 km
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsMalawi - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: maritime dispute with Tanzania in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs