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. 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. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in May 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 April 2012 and was succeeded by his vice president Joyce BANDA who had earlier started her own party the People's Party (PP). Population growth increasing pressure on agricultural lands corruption and the scourge of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S 34 00 E

Area
Rank: 100
Land: 94,080 km²
Water: 24,404 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
Border countries: (3) Mozambique 1569 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 highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

Natural resources: limestone arable land: hydropower unexploited deposits of uranium coal and bauxite

Land use
Permanent crops: 1.1%
Other: 68.52% (2011)

Irrigated land: 735 km² (2006)

Total renewable water resources: 17.28 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: NA

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

Population: 17,377,468
Rank: 64
Growth rate: 3.33% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 6
Below poverty line: 53% (2004)

Nationality
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%

Languages: English (official) Chichewa (common) Chinyanja Chiyao Chitumbuka Chilomwe Chinkhonde Chingoni Chisena Chitonga Chinyakyusa Chilambya

Religions: Christian 82.6% Muslim 13% other 1.9% none 2.5% (2008 est.)

Age structure
15-24 years: 20.2% (male 1,748,919/female 1,765,212)
25-54 years: 27.1% (male 2,329,952/female 2,371,274)
55-64 years: 3.1% (male 256,034/female 280,997)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 206,923/female 260,506) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 87 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.3 %
Potential support ratio: 16 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 16.2 years
Female: 16.4 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.33% (2014 est.)
Rank: 6

Birth rate: 41.8 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 7

Death rate: 8.74 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 71

Net migration rate: 0.25 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 75

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: LILONGWE (capital) 772,000 (2011)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff sewage industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 18.9

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 42
Male: 54.94 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 40.98 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 194
Male: 58.04 years
Female: 61.97 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.66 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 8

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 46.1% (2010)

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.02 physicians/1000 population (2008)

Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 10.8% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 9
People living with hivaids: 1,129,800 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 10
Deaths: 45,600 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 9

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
Animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 4.3% (2008)
Rank: 168

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 13.8% (2010)
Rank: 55

Education expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2011)
Rank: 60

Literacy
Total population: 74.8%
Male: 81.1%
Female: 68.5% (2010 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 11 years
Female: 11 years (2011)

Country name
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
Geographic coordinates: 13 58 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 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: previous 1953 (preindependence) 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994 approved 16 May 1994 entered into force 18 May 1995; amended several times last in 2013 (2013)

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
Head of government: President Arthur Peter MUTHARIKA (since 31 May 2014); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 31 May 2014)
Cabinet: 26-32-member Cabinet named by the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019)
Election results: Peter MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Peter MUTHARIKA 36.4% Lazarus CHAKWERA 27.8% Joyce BANDA 20.2% Atupele MULUZI 13.7% other 1.9%

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 20 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
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 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:

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU C CD COMESA FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IPU ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA MINURSO MONUSCO NAM OPCW SADC UN UNAMID UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 2,408 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
From the us embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road Lilongwe 3
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 30,016 Lilongwe 3 Malawi
From the us telephone: [265] (1) 773-166
From the us FAX: [265] (1) 770-471

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
Lyrics and music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

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 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. Between 2005 and 2009 President BANDA'S government exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) worth $56 million. The government 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 has fallen continuously for several years and in 2013 amounted to just 13% of GDP. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power water shortages poor telecommunications infrastructure and the high costs of services. Donors who provided an average of 36% of government revenue in the past five years suspended general budget support for Malawi in 2011 due to a negative IMF review and governance issues.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 143

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 60

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 221

Gross national saving:
Rank: 144

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 20.7%
Investment in fixed capital: 13%
Investment in inventories: 1.9%
Exports of goods and services: 29.2%
Imports of goods and services: -38.4%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 18.9%
Services: 51.7% (2013 est.)

Agriculture products: tobacco sugarcane cotton tea corn potatoes cassava (manioc tapioca) sorghum pulses groundnuts Macadamia nuts; cattle goats

Industries: tobacco tea sugar sawmill products cement consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (2013 est.)
Rank: 110

Labor force: 5.747 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 68
By occupation industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: 53% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 31.9% (2004)

Distribution of family income gini index: 39 (2004)
Rank: 68

Budget
Expenditures: $1.4 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -1.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 70

Taxes and other revenues: 36.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 59

Public debt: 62.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 65

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 21.4% (2012 est.)
Rank: 220

Central bank discount rate: 15% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 10

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 32.4% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 3

Stock of narrow money: $457.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 156

Stock of broad money: $1.153 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 159

Stock of domestic credit: $1.128 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 149

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 96

Current account balance: -$315.1 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 91

Exports: $1.224 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 150
Commodities: tobacco 53% tea sugar cotton coffee peanuts wood products apparel
Partners: Canada 10.6% Zimbabwe 9.3% Germany 7.3% South Africa 6.6% Russia 6.5% US 6.1% China 4.2% (2012)

Imports: $2.151 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 156
Commodities: food petroleum products semi-manufactures consumer goods transportation equipment
Partners: South Africa 27% China 16.6% India 8.7% Zambia 8.5% Tanzania 5.1% US 4.3% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $246 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 152

Debt external: $1.354 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 149

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 1.973 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 136
Consumption: 1.835 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 142
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 165
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 169
Installed generating capacity: 287,000 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 152
Generation sources fossil fuels: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 207
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 135
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 99.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 4
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 200

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 200 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 118
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 150
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 90
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 161

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 171
Products consumption: 12,060 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 150
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 197
Products imports: 6,059 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 142

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 163
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 169
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 144
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 93
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 167

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 956,900 Mt (2011 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 227,300 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 126
Mobile cellular: 4.42 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 117

Telephone system
Domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 per 100 persons
International: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2010)

Broadcast media: radio is the main broadcast medium; privately-owned Zodiac radio has the widest national broadcasting reach followed by state-run radio; about a dozen private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns around the country; the largest TV network is government-owned but two private TV networks now broadcast in urban areas and more plan to begin broadcasting in 2014; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2014)

Internet
Country code: .mw
Hosts: 1099 (2012)
Hosts rank: 171
Users: 716,400 (2009)
Users rank: 109

Military expenditures:
Rank: 105

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)

Airports: 32 (2013)
Rank: 113
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11
With unpaved runways: 13 (2013)

Railways
Rank: 99
Narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
Rank: 120
Paved: 6,951 km
Unpaved: 8,499 km (2011)

Waterways: 700 km (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River) (2010)
Rank: 76

Disputes 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