Malawi Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 26, 2020

Malawi, Eastern African State; 118,000 km² (including 24 208 km² inland water), 18.1 million residents (2019).Malawi is located along the southernmost outlet of the East African rift system and borders Tanzania in the northeast, Mozambique in the east, south and west and Zambia in the west. The capital is Lilongwe (1.2 million residents, 2018).

Country facts

Republic of Malaŵi / Republic of Malawi
Country abbreviation: MW
Area: 118 000 km²
Population (2019): 18.1 million residents
Capital: Lilongwe
Main languages: English, (chi) chewa
State: Republic
Head of State and Head of Government: Peter Mutharika (President)
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 389
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 360
Coin unit: 1 kwacha = 100 tambala
Currency code: MWK
Country number (telephony): 265
Internet domain name: mw
Time difference compared to Sweden: +1
National Day: July 6 (Independence Day, 1964)

Nature

Land use: forest (39%), agricultural land (21%), other (40%)
Highest mountain: Sapitwa (3,000 meters above sea level)
Largest lake: Lake Malawi (31,000 km² )

Population

Population density (2019): 153 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 2.8%; birthrate 35 ‰, deathrate 7 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (45%), 15-64 (52%), 65- (3%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 60 years, women 66 years
Infant mortality (2019): 43 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 37 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.477 (place 171 of 188)
Urbanization rate (2019): 17%
Most populous cities (2018): Lilongwe (1.2 million residents), Blantyre (994,500)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (29%), industry (15%), service (56%)
Exports (2017): US $ 1,420 million
Main export products: tobacco, tea, sugar
Main exporting countries: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Belgium
Imports (2017): US $ 2 312 million
Main Import Products: Food, Oil Products, Manufacturing
Main importing countries: South Africa, China, India
Railway network (2014): 770 km

Along the western side of the Malawi Lake there is a narrow coastal plain, where swamplands and lagoons are abundant. To the west from Lake Malawi a plateau landscape rises. Higher, isolated mountain areas are found in the north and partly in the southwest. Due to the height of the country, a warm temperate climate dominates.

The country’s parliament is elected for five years. At the same time, the president is elected for the same term. The president is both the head of state and the prime minister and appoints the government. The country became independent in 1964.

Malawi is very poor and dependent on aid and lenders. Poverty is the worst in the countryside. Poor access to natural resources and a low level of education mean that the country’s development opportunities are limited. The economy is entirely dependent on commodity exports, mainly tobacco exports. This makes the country sensitive to weather conditions and world market prices.