Background: Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400 during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. Several of Malawi’s ethnic groups trace their origins to different Maravi lineages. A powerful Maravi kingdom, established around 1500, reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi as well as portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia before beginning to decline because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Malawi and further undermined the Maravi. Members of the Yao ethnic group - which had long traded with Malawi from Mozambique - introduced Islam and began to settle in Malawi in significant numbers the mid-1800s; in the late 1800s, members of the Lomwe ethnic group also moved into southern Malawi from Mozambique. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Nyasa in the mid-1800s, and Britain declared a protectorate, called British Central Africa, over what is now Malawi in 1891 and eliminated various political entities that sought to retain their autonomy over the subsequent decade. The British renamed the territory Nyasaland in 1907 and it was part of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland - including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe - from 1953 to 1963 before gaining independence as Malawi in 1964.

Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 118,484 km²
Land: 94,080 km²
Water: 24,404 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
Total: 2,857 km
Border countries: (3) Mozambique 1498 km; , Tanzania 512 km; , Zambia 847 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
Highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
Mean elevation: 779 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 59.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 38.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 19.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 34% (2018 est.)
Other: 6.8% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 740 km² (2012)

Major rivers
By length in km: Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 km²)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 143.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Industrial: 47.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Agricultural: 1.166 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 17.28 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Natural hazards: flooding; droughts; earthquakes

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
Distribution: population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa : 20,308,502 (July 2021 est.)
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
Growth rate: 2.39% (2021 est.)
Below poverty line: 51.5% (2016 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Malawian(s)
Adjective: Malawian

Ethnic groups: Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign 0.3% (2018 est.)

Languages: English (official), Chewa (common), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao

Religions: Protestant 33.5% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 14.2%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 9.4%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 2.3%), Roman Catholic 17.2%, other Christian 26.6%, Muslim 13.8%, traditionalist 1.1%, other 5.6%, none 2.1% (2018 est.)

Demographic profile: Malawi has made great improvements in maternal and child health, but has made less progress in reducing its high fertility rate. In both rural and urban areas, very high proportions of mothers are receiving prenatal care and skilled birth assistance, and most children are being vaccinated. Malawi’s fertility rate, however, has only declined slowly, decreasing from more than 7 children per woman in the 1980s to about 5.5 today. Nonetheless, Malawians prefer smaller families than in the past, and women are increasingly using contraceptives to prevent or space pregnancies. Rapid population growth and high population density is putting pressure on Malawi’s land, water, and forest resources. Reduced plot sizes and increasing vulnerability to climate change, further threaten the sustainability of Malawi’s agriculturally based economy and will worsen food shortages. About 80% of the population is employed in agriculture.

Age structure
0-14 years: 45.87% (male 4,843,107/female 4,878,983)
15-24 years: 20.51% (male 2,151,417/female 2,195,939)
25-54 years: 27.96% (male 2,944,936/female 2,982,195)
55-64 years: 2.98% (male 303,803/female 328,092)
65 years and over: 2.68% (male 249,219/female 318,938) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 83.9
Youth dependency ratio: 79.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.9
Potential support ratio: 20.6 (2020 est.)

Median age
Total: 16.8 years
Male: 16.7 years
Female: 16.9 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.39% (2021 est.)

Birth rate: 28.59 births/1000 population (2021 est.)

Death rate: 4.66 deaths/1000 population (2021 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2021 est.)

Population distribution: population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa

Urbanization
Urban population: 17.7% of total population (2021)
Rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.171 million LILONGWE (capital), 962,000 Blantyre-Limbe (2021)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations; negative effects of climate change (extreme high temperatures, changing precipatation pattens)
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 22.14 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.3 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 11.12 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.1 years (2015/16 est.)
Note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 349 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 34.19 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 38.61 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 29.71 deaths/1000 live births (2021 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.16 years
Male: 69.04 years
Female: 75.33 years (2021 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.51 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 59.2% (2015/16)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 95.9% of population
Improved rural: 87.3% of population
Improved total: 88.7% of population
Unimproved urban: 4.1% of population
Unimproved rural: 12.7% of population
Unimproved total: 11.3% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 9.3% (2018)

Physicians density: 0.04 physicians/1000 population (2018)

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

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 58.2% of population
Improved rural: 35.9% of population
Improved total: 39.6% of population
Unimproved urban: 41.8% of population
Unimproved rural: 64.1% of population
Unimproved total: 60.4% of population (2017 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 8.1% (2020 est.)
People living with hivaids: 990,000 (2020 est.)
Deaths: 12,000 (2020 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2020)
Food or water borne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vector borne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Watercontactdiseases: schistosomiasis
Animalcontactdiseases: rabies

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 5.8% (2016)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9% (2019)

Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2020)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 62.1%
Male: 69.8%
Female: 55.2% (2015)

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

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 8.5%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 6.7%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 10.6% (2017 est.)

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
Etymology: named for the East African Maravi Kingdom of the 16th century; the word 'maravi' means 'fire flames'

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Lilongwe
Geographic coordinates: 13 58 S, 33 47 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city

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, 6 July (1964); note - also called Republic Day since 6 July 1966

Constitution
History: previous 1953 (preindependence), 1964, 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995
Amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty and territory of the state, fundamental constitutional principles, human rights, voting rights, and the judiciary, requires majority approval in a referendum and majority approval by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2017

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

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descentonly: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government 
Head of government: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020) 
Cabinet: Cabinet named by the president 
Elections and appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
Election results: Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.7%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 21 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)
Election results: percent of vote by party - n/a; seats by party - DPP 62, MCP 55, UDF 10, PP 5, other 5, independent 55, vacant 1; composition - men 161, women 32, percent of women 16.6%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges)
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 the 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: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Peter MUTHARIKA]
Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Lazarus CHAKWERA]
Peoples Party or PP [Joyce BANDA]
United Democratic Front or UDF [Atupele MULUZI]
United Transformation Movement or UTM [Saulos CHILIMA]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Edward Yakobe SAWERENGERA (since 16 September 2016)
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
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Charge d' Affaires Jeremy NEITZKE (26 October 2021 
From the us embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
From the us mailing address: 2,280 Lilongwe Place, Washington DC  20,521-2,280
From the us telephone: [265] (0) 177-3,166
From the us FAX: [265] (0) 177-0471
From the us email address and website:

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 symbols: lion; national colors: black, red, green

National anthem
Name: 'Mulungu dalitsa Malawi' (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)
Lyrics and music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA
Note: adopted 1964

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 4% (2017 est.)

2.3% (2016 est.)

3% (2015 est.)

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 84.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 16.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 15.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 27.9% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -43.8% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 28.6% (2017 est.)
Industry: 15.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 56% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: sweet potatoes, cassava, sugar cane, maize, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, bananas, plantains

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

Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (2017 est.)

Labor force: 7 million (2013 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 76.9%
By occupation industry: 4.1%
By occupation services: 19% (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20.4% (2013 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 8.5%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 6.7%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 10.6% (2017 est.)

Population below poverty line: 51.5% (2016 est.)

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 44.7 (2016 est.)

39 (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.2%
Highest 10: 37.5% (2010 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $1.356 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $1.567 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 21.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt: 59.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

60.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 6.19% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 9.3% (2019 est.)

12.4% (2018 est.)

11.7% (2017 est.)

Current account balance: -$591 million (2017 est.)

-$744 million (2016 est.)

Exports: $1.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$1.11 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

$9.658 billion (2017 est.)
Partners: Belgium 16%, United States 8%, Egypt 7%, South Africa 6%, Germany 6%, Kenya 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Commodities: tobacco, tea, raw sugar, beans, soybean products, clothing and apparel (2019)

Imports: $3.2 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$2.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

$11.631 billion (2017 est.)
Partners: South Africa 17%, China 16%, United Arab Emirates 9%, India 9%, United Kingdom 8% (2019)
Commodities: postage stamps, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, fertilizers, office machinery/parts (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $780.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$585.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt external: $2.102 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 13% (2019)
Access electrification urban areas: 55% (2019)
Access electrification rural areas: 5% (2019)
Production: 1.42 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption: 1.321 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 375,000 kW (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 1% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 93% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources: 6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 4,769 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (2017 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 12,465 (2020)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 10,004,680 (2020)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52.3 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media: radio is the main broadcast medium; privately owned Zodiak radio has the widest national broadcasting reach, followed by state-run radio; numerous private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns around the country; the largest TV network is government-owned, but at least 4 private TV networks broadcast in urban areas; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet
Country code: .mw
Users total: 3.45 million (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 13.78% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 12,255 (2020)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)

Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

0.9% of GDP (2019)

0.9% of GDP (2018)

0.7% of GDP (2017)

0.6% of GDP (2016)

Military and security forces: Malawi Defense Force (MDF): Army (includes marine unit), Air Force (established as a separate service August 2019; previously was an air wing under the Army) (2021)

note - the Malawi Police Service is under the Ministry of Homeland Security

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 (2021)

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 10,545 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10,000 mt-km (2018)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7Q

Airports
Total: 32 (2013)
With paved runways total: 7
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4 (2019)
With unpaved runways total: 25 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 13 (2013)

Railways
Total: 767 km (2014)
Narrowgauge: 767 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

Roadways
Total: 15,452 km (2015)
Paved: 4,074 km (2015)
Unpaved: 11,378 km (2015)

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

Ports and terminals
Lakeport(s): Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba (Lake Nyasa)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 32,142 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 12,068 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 7,392 (Rwanda) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021)