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Malawi

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is in southern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique, which surrounds it on the east, south and west and is separated from Malawi by Lake Malawi (also Lake Nyasa).

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

Nationality:

  • noun: Malawian(s)
  • adjective: Malawian

Capital:

  • name: Lilongwe
  • geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
  • time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Independence:

  • 6 July 1964 (from UK)

Population:

  • 13,931,831
  • 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 2008 est.)
  • Population growth rate: 2.39% (2008 est.)
  • HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 14.2% (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups:

  • Chewa
  • Nyanja
  • Tumbuka
  • Yao
  • Lomwe
  • Sena
  • Tonga
  • Ngoni
  • Ngonde
  • Asian
  • European

Religions:

  • 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)

Literacy:

  • definition: age 15 and over can read and write.
  • total population: 62.7%
  • male: 76.1%
  • female: 49.8% (2003 est.)

Government type:

  • multiparty democracy

Location:

  • Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Area - comparative:

  • slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

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

Economy - overview:

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for more than 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 inh3idual donor nations. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi will now begin a consultative process to develop a five-year program before funding can begin. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. 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. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA championed an anticorruption campaign. Since 2005 President MUTHARIKA'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. Improved relations with the IMF lead other international donors to resume aid as well.

GDP - real growth rate:

  • 7.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

  • $800 (2007 est.)

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. Current 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. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen substantial economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation, and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

Environment - current issues:

  • deforestation
  • land degradation
  • water pollution from agricultural runoff
  • sewage
  • industrial wastes
  • siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations

For more info please contact:
African Studies
(310) 825-3686
africa@international.ucla.edu