Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 9, FM 4 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios [time series]

2.6 million (1997)

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 - main lines in use) [time series]

34,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

382 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1999)

Televisions [time series]

0 (1999)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $490 million expenditures: $523 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala

Debt - external [time series]

$2.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$416.5 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - 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 37% of GDP and 85% of export revenues. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The government faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports, to improve educational and health facilities, to face up to environmental problems of deforestation and erosion, and to deal with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

857 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

922 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 2.39% hydro: 97.61% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Malawian kwachas (MK) per US$1 - 46.3494 (December 1999), 44.0881 (1999), 31.0727 (1998), 16.4442 (1997), 15.3085 (1996), 15.2837 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$510 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

tobacco, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products

Exports - partners [time series]

South Africa 15%, US 9%, Germany 9%, Netherlands 7%, Japan (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 37% industry: 29% services: 34% (1998 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $940 (1999 est.)

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

4.2% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$512 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 38%, Zimbabwe 18%, Zambia 8%, Japan 4%, US, UK, Germany (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

45% (1999)

Labor force [time series]

3.5 million

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 86%, wage earners 14% (1990 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

54% (1990-91 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 118,480 sq km land: 94,080 sq km water: 24,400 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

280 sq km (1993 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: 34% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 39% other: 7% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

NA

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

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 note: there may be three new districts named Balaka, Likoma, and Phalombe

Capital [time series]

Lilongwe

Constitution [time series]

18 May 1995

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

MI

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Ellen SHIPPY embassy: address NA, in new development area in Lilongwe mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] 783 166 FAX: [265] 780 471

Diplomatic representation in the 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: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: 28-member cabinet named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: Bakili MULUZI reelected president; percent of vote - Bakili MULUZI (UDF) 51.4%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MCP-AFORD) 44.3%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government - note [time series]

the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature

Government type [time series]

multiparty democracy

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, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court, chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; magistrate's courts

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]

National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 15 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - UDF 48%, MCP 34%, AFORD 15%, others 3%; seats by party - UDF 93, MCP 66, AFORD 29, others 4, vacancy 1

National holiday [time series]

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

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

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA, president]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Gwanda CHAKUAMBA, president, John TEMBO, vice president]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA, president]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eston KAKHOME, president]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI] - governing party

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution, which took full effect the following year.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$17 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.8% (FY96/97)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,397,385 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,229,676 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (male 2,335,440; female 2,324,012) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,671,580; female 2,766,560) 65 years and over: 3% (male 117,932; female 170,325) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.49 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

22.44 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

122.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 37.58 years male: 37.2 years female: 37.98 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 72.8% female: 43.4% (1999 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

10,385,849 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.61% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.33 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

44 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 23 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

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