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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.mw

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

18 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

36,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third station held in standby status) (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

85,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

135,100 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $528.1 million expenditures: $653.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

MWK

Current account balance [time series]

$-58 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.026 billion (2003)

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

$540 million (1999)

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 accounted for nearly 40% of GDP and 88% of export revenues in 2001. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. In November 2002 the World Bank approved a $50 million drought recovery package, which is to be used for famine relief. The government faces strong challenges, e.g., to fully develop a market economy, to improve educational facilities, to face up to environmental problems, to deal with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and to satisfy foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for over 50% of exports.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

715.3 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

769.2 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Malawian kwachas per US dollar - NA (2003), 76.6866 (2002), 72.1973 (2001), 59.5438 (2000), 44.0881 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$455 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel

Exports - partners [time series]

South Africa 23.3%, US 13.4%, Germany 11.3%, Egypt 5.7%, Portugal 4.8%, Japan 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $6.845 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 51% industry: 21.8% services: 27.2% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $600 (2003 est.)

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

1.7% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$505 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

South Africa 53.7%, India 4.9%, Tanzania 3.9% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-1.6% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.5% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

12.3% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

4.5 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 90% (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

5,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

55% (2003 est.)

Public debt [time series]

235.7% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$132 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA (2003 est.)

Geography

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 (Mount Mlanje) 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, 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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature

Irrigated land [time series]

280 sq km (1998 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: 23.38% permanent crops: 1.49% other: 75.13% (2001)

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Lilongwe

Constitution [time series]

18 May 1994

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen BROWNING embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi telephone: [265] (1) 773 166 FAX: [265] (1) 770 471

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul Tony Steven KANDIERO chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0976

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held NA May 2009) election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (UDF) 35.9%, John TEMBO (MCP) 27.1%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MC) 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA (NDA) 8.7%, Justin MALEWEZI (independent) 2.5%

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, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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]

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held NA May 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MCP 56, UDF 49, Mgwirizano Coalition (MC) 25, independents 39, others 24

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

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

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP) [Gwandaguluwe Chakuamba]; Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Congress for Democracy or NCD [Hetherwick NTABA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Gwandaguluwe Chakuamba]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA] - governing party

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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 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 was unable 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.

Military

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$11.5 million (2003)

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

0.7% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,691,881 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,381,607 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46.8% (male 2,811,751; female 2,759,515) 15-64 years: 50.5% (male 2,978,406; female 3,029,735) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 130,600; female 196,848) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

44.35 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

23.01 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

14.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

84,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

900,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 104.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 108.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 99.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 37.48 years male: 37.08 years female: 37.88 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 16.4 years male: 16.1 years female: 16.7 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

11,906,855 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 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.14% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.04 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

Transportation

Airports [time series]

42 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Railways [time series]

total: 797 km narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

700 km note: on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River (2003)