| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
13° 30' South Latitude
34° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
118,480 sq km |
| Climate |
Sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November) |
| Natural Resources |
Limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Malawi |
| Capital City |
Lilongwe |
| Government Type |
Multiparty democracy |
| Administrative Divisions |
27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi,
Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba |
| Independence Day |
6 July 1964 (from UK) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
12,158,924 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Malawian |
| Ethnic Groups |
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European |
| Religion |
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census) |
| Languages |
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census) |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.06% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Malawian kwacha (MWK) |
| Industries |
Tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods |
| Labor Force |
4.5 million (2001 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 90% (2003 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats |
| Export Commodities |
Tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel |
| Export Partners |
South Africa 13.8%, US 12.3%, Germany 11.8%, Egypt 8.2%, UK 6.8% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment |
| Import Partners |
South Africa 43.5%, India 6.8%, Tanzania 4.1% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
797 km |
| Highways |
28,400 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
42 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+265 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.mw |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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, which came into full effect the following year. Current President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA,
elected in May 2004 after the previous president failed to amend the constitution to permit another term, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor,
who still leads their shared political party. MATHARIKA's anti-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests but no convictions. Increasing corruption, population growth,
increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country. |
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