Information about Malawi
Malawi is a landlocked country in southern Africa at approx 14'S, 34'E. Its area is 118,480 sq km, of which 24,400 sq km is water: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi), some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature. The country has a sub-tropical climate with a rainy season from November to May and the dry season from May to November.
Politics
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi on 6 July 1964. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994. National multiparty elections were also held in 1999 and are due to take place again this year. The head of state and head of the government since 21 May 1994 has been President Bakili Muluzi.
People
Malawi has a population of 11,651,239 (July 2003 est). Protestants make up 55%, Roman Catholics 20%, Muslims 20%, while indigenous beliefs and other religions make up the remaining 5% of the population. There are two official languages, English and Chichewa.
HIV / AIDS is highly prevalent, as in much of Southern Africa, with 15% (2001 est) of the adult population suffering from HIV / AIDS. It is estimated that in 2001 850,000 people in Malawi were living with HIV / AIDS. The life expectancy at birth in Malawi is just 37.98 years (2003 est).
Economy
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 GDP is just $600 per capita (2002 est) and 54% of the population lives below the poverty line (FY 90/91 est).
Industries include tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement and consumer goods, with tobacco accounting for over 50% of exports. The country’s natural resources include limestone, arable land, hydropower and unexploited deposits of uranium, coal and bauxite.
The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations.
(Source: CIA World Fact Book)
Links
Government of Malawi home page
Government of Malawi ‘Visit Malawi’ tourism site
US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Fact Book (Malawi)
Lonely Planet (Malawi)
UK government Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Country Profile (Malawi)
UK government Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel Advice (Malawi)
Click here for the BBC weather forecast for Lilongwe, Malawi.