Malawi
Official Country Name
Malawi
Malawi Overview
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 a failed attempt by the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor, culminating in MUTHARIKA quitting the political party on whose ticket he was elected into office. MUTHARIKA subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and has continued with a halting anti-corruption campaign against abuses carried out under the previous regime. Increasing corruption, population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.
Malawi Economy
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted for nearly 36% of GDP and 80% of export revenues in 2005. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for over 53% of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. 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.
Malawi Location
Malawi is located in Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Region
Malawi is located in Africa
Malawi Population
Malawi has population of 13,013,926 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS
Malawi Climate
Malawi has sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Malawi Terrain
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Malawi Natural Resources
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Ethnic Groups in Malawi
Malawi has the following ethnic groups - Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Malawi Religions
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Malawi 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)
Malawi Capital
Malawi capital is Lilongwe
Malawi Currency
Malawi currency is Malawian kwacha
Map of Malawi
