Malawi

Broadcast media

radio is the main broadcast medium; state-run radio has the widest geographic broadcasting reach, but about a dozen privately owned radio stations broadcast in major urban areas; the single TV network is government-owned; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.mw

Internet hosts

1,099 (2012) country comparison to the world: 171

Internet users

716,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 109

Telephone system

general assessment: rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

227,300 (2012) country comparison to the world: 126

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.42 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 117

Agriculture - products

tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Budget

revenues: $1.032 billion expenditures: $1.358 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Central bank discount rate

15% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 9 15% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

32.4% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 23.8% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$-315.1 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $-764.7 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$1.354 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $1.202 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2004) country comparison to the world: 70

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. Since 2005 President BANDA'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. 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. 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.

Exchange rates

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 249.11 (2012 est.) 156.93 (2011 est.) 150.49 (2010 est.) 141.14 (2009) 142.41 (2008)

Exports

$1.224 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $1.531 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Canada 10.6%, Zimbabwe 9.3%, Germany 7.3%, South Africa 6.6%, Russia 6.5%, US 6.1%, China 4.2% (2012)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.118 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.11 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $13.85 billion (2011 est.) $13.27 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 75.9% government consumption: 21% investment in fixed capital: 13.6% investment in inventories: 2% exports of goods and services: 29.1% imports of goods and services: -41.6% (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 29% industry: 19.2% services: 51.8% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$800 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 $900 (2011 est.) $800 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 4.3% (2011 est.) 6.5% (2010 est.)

Gross national saving

8.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 1.9% of GDP (2011 est.) 9.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)

Imports

$2.151 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $2.63 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 27%, China 16.6%, India 8.7%, Zambia 8.5%, Tanzania 5.1%, US 4.3% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

0.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

21.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 218 7.6% (2011 est.)

Labor force

5.747 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.384 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 104 $1.363 billion (31 December 2010) $1.383 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

53% (2004)

Public debt

62.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 40.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$246 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $213.1 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.382 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $1.92 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$1.128 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $2.042 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$457.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $866.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

956,900 Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Crude oil - production

200 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - consumption

1.835 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - from fossil fuels

0.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

99.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Electricity - installed generating capacity

287,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Electricity - production

1.973 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 167

Refined petroleum products - consumption

12,060 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,059 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

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

Climate

sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.36 cu km/yr (11%/4%/86%) per capita: 99.86 cu m/yr (2005)

Geographic coordinates

13 30 S, 34 00 E

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

Irrigated land

735 sq km (2006)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 30.38% permanent crops: 1.1% other: 68.52% (2011)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Total renewable water resources

17.28 cu km (2011)

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

Capital

name: Lilongwe geographic coordinates: 13 58 S, 33 47 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 2005 (2007)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON (since 11 September 2011) 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Dick Tennyson MATENSE (since 10 September 2010) chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288

Executive branch

chief of state: President Joyce BANDA (since 7 April 2012); Vice President Khumbo Hastings KACHALI (since 11 April 2012); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA died on 5 April 2012, Vice President Joyce BANDA was subsequently sworn in on 7 April 2012 head of government: President Joyce BANDA (since 7 April 2012); Vice President Khumbo Hastings KACHALI (since 11 April 2012) cabinet: 36-member Cabinet named by the president (For more information visit theWorld 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%; note - MUTHARIKA passed away on 5 April 2012 and was succeeded by then vice president Joyce BANDA

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

Government type

multiparty democracy

Independence

6 July 1964 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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 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

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal

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

National anthem

name: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)

National holiday

Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Godfrey SHAWA] Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Peter 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] New Labour Party or NLP [Friday JUMBE] New Republican Party [Gwanda CHAKUWAMBA] People's Party or PP [Joyce BANDA] People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Mark Katsonga PHIRI] People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO] United Democratic Front or UDF [Atupele MULUZI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Council for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and development) Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human rights) Malawi Economic Justice Network or MEJN (pro economic growth, development, government accountability) Malawi Law Society (an umbrella organization of all lawyers in Malawi) Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and unity)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. As president, 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. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

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 branches

Malawi Defense Forces (MDF): Army (includes Air Wing, Marine Unit) (2012)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 146

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 (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 3,754,206/female 3,738,521) 15-24 years: 20.6% (male 1,723,098/female 1,725,326) 25-54 years: 28.5% (male 2,422,642/female 2,364,137) 55-64 years: 3.6% (male 269,058/female 327,158) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 192,928/female 260,473) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

39.98 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 993,318 percentage: 26 % (2006 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

13.8% (2010) country comparison to the world: 55

Contraceptive prevalence rate

46.1% (2010)

Death rate

12.54 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 94.1 % youth dependency ratio: 87.9 % elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 % potential support ratio: 16.1 (2013)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 95% of population rural: 80% of population total: 83% of population unimproved: urban: 5% of population rural: 20% of population total: 17% of population (2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 57

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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

11% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

HIV/AIDS - deaths

51,000 (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

Health expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 56

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 76.98 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 10 male: 80.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 72.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 52.78 years country comparison to the world: 210 male: 51.95 years female: 53.62 years (2013 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.8% male: 81.1% female: 68.5% (2010 est.)

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 dengue fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Major urban areas - population

Blantyre 856,000; LILONGWE (capital) 821,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

460 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 24

Median age

total: 17.3 years male: 17.2 years female: 17.4 years (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

18.9 note: Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 168

Physicians density

0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

16,777,547 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 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

Population growth rate

2.74% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Religions

Christian 82.7%, Muslim 13%, other 1.9%, none 2.5% (1998 census)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 49% of population rural: 51% of population total: 51% of population unimproved: urban: 51% of population rural: 49% of population total: 49% of population (2010 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.26 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Urbanization

urban population: 15.7% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Airports

32 (2013) country comparison to the world: 113

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 13 (2013)

Ports and terminals

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Railways

total: 797 km country comparison to the world: 99 narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 15,450 km country comparison to the world: 120 paved: 6,951 km unpaved: 8,499 km (2011)

Waterways

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