Malawi

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

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 (manioc, tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Budget

revenues: $1.347 billion expenditures: $1.4 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Central bank discount rate

15% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 10 15% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

29.5% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 32.4% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$280.1 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 -$315.1 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$1.556 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $1.354 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39 (2004) country comparison to the world: 68

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.

Exchange rates

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 342.1 (2013 est.) 249.11 (2012 est.) 150.49 (2010 est.) 141.14 (2009) 142.41 (2008)

Exports

$1.427 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $1.224 billion (2012 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)

$3.683 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$15.02 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $14.3 billion (2012 est.) $14.04 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 73.6% 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

agriculture: 29.4% industry: 18.9% services: 51.7% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 221 $900 (2012 est.) $900 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 1.9% (2012 est.) 4.3% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

8.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 8.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$2.42 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $2.151 billion (2012 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

2.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

26.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 21.4% (2012 est.)

Labor force

5.747 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$753.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $1.384 billion (31 December 2011) $NA (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

53% (2004)

Public debt

50.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 62.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$364.2 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $246 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.494 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $1.153 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$1.243 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $1.128 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$585.3 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $457.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

36.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

956,900 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

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 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - consumption

1.835 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - from fossil fuels

0.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

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: 135

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: 169

Electricity - installed generating capacity

287,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

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: 144

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - production

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

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) 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: 197

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: 171

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 2013 (2013)

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 Arthur Peter MUTHARIKA (since 31 May 2014); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 31 May 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government 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 (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 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%

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 20 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] Chipani Cha Fuko or CCP [Davis KATSONGA PHIRI] Christian Liberation Party or CONU [Sylvester CHABUKA] Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Peter MUTHARIKA] Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Lazarus CHAKWERA] Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA] Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA] National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Loveness GONDWE] National Salvation Front or NASAF [James NYONDO] Nthanda Congress Party or NCP [Dr. Chakhumbila KHAILA] 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] Umodzi Party or UP [John CHISI] United Democratic Front or UDF [Atupele MULUZI] United Independent Party or UIP [Helen SINGH]

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. 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.

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

0.93% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 105 0.79% of GDP (2011) 0.93% of GDP (2010)

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.9% (male 4,056,810/female 4,100,841) 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.)

Birth rate

41.8 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

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

8.74 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 93.3 % youth dependency ratio: 87 % elderly dependency ratio: 6.3 % potential support ratio: 16 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 94.6% of population rural: 83.2% of population total: 85% of population unimproved: urban: 5.4% of population rural: 16.8% of population total: 15% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 60

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

10.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

HIV/AIDS - deaths

45,600 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,129,800 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

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: 48.01 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 42 male: 54.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 59.99 years country comparison to the world: 194 male: 58.04 years female: 61.97 years (2014 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

LILONGWE (capital) 772,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

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

Median age

total: 16.3 years male: 16.2 years female: 16.4 years (2014 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

0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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

Physicians density

0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

17,377,468 country comparison to the world: 64 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 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

3.33% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 22.3% of population rural: 8% of population total: 10.3% of population unimproved: urban: 77.7% of population rural: 92% of population total: 89.7% of population (2012 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: 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.)

Total fertility rate

5.66 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Urbanization

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

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

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

lake port(s): 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