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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $10.4 million, NA% of GDP (FY94/95)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,106,905 males fit for military service: 1,076,788 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

1.011 million (1995)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

43,000 (1985 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

0 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

NA Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $530 million expenditures: $674 million, including capital expenditures of $129 million (1993)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: in December 1995, donors pledged for 1996, $332 million

Economic overview [time series]

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for 31% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The new government faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports, to improve educational and health facilities, and to deal with environmental problems of deforestation and erosion. Drought hurt the 1994 economy, with GDP down by 12.4%. Good weather and a strong tobacco crop resulted in an upturn in 1995. In December 1995, donors pledged $332 million in aid for 1996.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 190,000 kW production: 905 million kWh (1993) consumption per capita: 92 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Malawian kwacha (MK) per US$1 - 16.3516 (November 1995), 8.7364 (1994), 4.4028 (1993), 3.6033 (1992), 2.8033 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$365 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products partners: US, South Africa, Germany, Japan (1994)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1.95 billion (December 1994 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $6.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 31% industry: 14% services: 55% (1994)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$700 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

9.9% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$240 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment partners: South Africa, Japan, US, UK, Zimbabwe

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.5% (1992 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

83.3% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

428,000 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services 15%, commerce 9%, construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, other permanently employed 6% (1986)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 118,480 sq km land area: 94,080 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

landlocked

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)

Irrigated land [time series]

200 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 50% other: 5%

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural resources [time series]

limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Terrain [time series]

narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m highest point: Mount Mlanje Sapitwa 3,002 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba

Legislative branch (Assembly were held at the end of the year as follows) [time series]

UDF 87, MCP 55, AFORD 35 note: the constitution of 18 May 1995, in addition to reducing the age at which universal suffrage is conferred from 21 to 18 years, provided for a bicameral legislature; by 1999, in addition to the existing National Assembly, a Senate of 80 seats is to be elected

Capital [time series]

Lilongwe

Constitution [time series]

18 May 1995; most recent revision

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994), leader of the UDF, was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage cabinet: Cabinet was named by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[265] 780 471

Flag [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Independence [time series]

6 July 1964 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court; Supreme Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi former: Nyasaland

Legislative branch (National Assembly) [time series]

elections last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (177 total) UDF 84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note - because of defections and a bi-election of 18 December 1995, the seats in the National

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day 6 July (1964); Republic Day 6 July (1966)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

ruling party: United Democratic Front (UDF), Bakili MULUZI opposition groups: Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Green MUNLO, secretary general (top party position); Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Chakufwa CHIHANA; Christian Democratic Party (CDP), Eston KAKHOME, president; Malawi Democratic Party (MDP), Kampelo KALUA, president

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

multiparty democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CHAVEAS embassy: address NA, in new capital city development area in Lilongwe mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] 783 166

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 2,189,223; female 2,168,317) 15-64 years: 51% (male 2,371,518; female 2,472,245) 65 years and over: 3% (male 107,701; female 143,840) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

41.56 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

24.48 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European

Infant mortality rate [time series]

139.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 36.16 years male: 35.87 years female: 36.46 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 56.4% male: 71.9% female: 41.8%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: the return of refugees to Mozambique is apparently complete

Population [time series]

9,452,844 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.71% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, traditional indigenous beliefs

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.91 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 41 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 with paved runways under 914 m: 20 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 27,294 km (1990 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Ports [time series]

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota

Railways [time series]

total: 789 km narrow gauge: 789 km 1.067-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km