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National Map
Of |
Malawi |
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National Flag
Of |
Malawi |
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Flag Description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green
with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
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Malawi |
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National Anthem
Of |
Malawi |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Malawi |
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Background:
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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 failed 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.
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Location:
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Southern
Africa, east of Zambia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 30 S,
34 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Pennsylvania |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania
475 km, Zambia 837 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season
(May to November) |
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Terrain:
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narrow
elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills,
some mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: junction of the Shire River and international
boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
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Natural resources:
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limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits
of uranium, coal, and bauxite |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 23.38%
permanent crops: 1.49%
other: 75.13% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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280 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from
agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes;
siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the
country's most prominent physical feature |
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Population:
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12,158,924
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 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 46.9% (male 2,877,568/female 2,823,296)
15-64 years: 50.4% (male 3,041,352/female
3,081,762)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 132,175/female
202,771) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
16.34 years
male: 16.04 years
female: 16.65 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.06%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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43.95
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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23.39
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
103.32 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 107.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 99.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 41.43 years
male: 41.66 years
female: 41.2 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.98
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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14.2%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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900,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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84,000
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high
risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
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Nationality:
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noun:
Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Chewa,
Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European |
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Religions:
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Christian
79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
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Languages:
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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) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate,
Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland |
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Government type:
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multiparty democracy |
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Capital:
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Lilongwe
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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6 July
1964 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964) |
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Constitution:
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18 May
1994 |
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Legal system:
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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 |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 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% |
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Legislative branch:
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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
May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16,
others 18, vacancies 1 |
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Judicial branch:
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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
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Political parties and leaders:
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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 |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDE
chancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320,
Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
David GILMOUR
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 |
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Flag description:
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three
equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green
with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black
band |
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Government - note:
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the
executive exerts considerable influence over the
legislature |
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Economy - overview:
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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 performance of
the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as
tobacco accounts for over 50% of exports. 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. The government faces strong 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, the
anticorruption campaign championed by President
MUTHARIKA may help encourage investment and economic
growth. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$7.41
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2004
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 54.8%
industry: 19.2%
services: 26% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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4.5
million (2001 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 90% (2003 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA (2003
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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55% (2004
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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12% (2004
est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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10.7% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $536 million
expenditures: $635.6 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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228.3% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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tobacco,
sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava
(tapioca), sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts;
cattle, goats |
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Industries:
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tobacco,
tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1.4%
(2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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1.088
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 3.3%
hydro: 96.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.012
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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5,400
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Current account balance:
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$-55.5
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$503.4
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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tobacco
60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,
apparel |
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Exports - partners:
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South
Africa 13.5%, US 12%, Germany 11.6%, Egypt 8.4%, UK
6.6%, Mozambique 4.5% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$521.1
million f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food,
petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment |
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Imports - partners:
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South
Africa 37.3%, India 8.1%, Mozambique 7.7%, Zimbabwe
7.2%, Tanzania 4.6%, Germany 4.1% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$160.5
million (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$3.129
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$540
million (1999) |
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Currency (code):
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Malawian
kwacha (MWK) |
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Currency code:
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MWK |
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Exchange rates:
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Malawian
kwachas per US dollar - 108.894 (2004), 97.433 (2003),
76.687 (2002), 72.197 (2001), 59.544 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July -
30 June |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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85,000
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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135,100
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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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) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 9, FM
5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third
station held in standby status) (2001) |
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Radios:
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2.6
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2001)
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Televisions:
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NA |
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Internet country code:
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.mw |
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Internet hosts:
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18 (2003)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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3 (2002)
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Internet users:
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36,000
(2003) |
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Railways:
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total:
797 km
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
28,400 km
paved: 5,254 km
unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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700 km
note: on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River
(2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Chipoka,
Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba |
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Airports:
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42 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Malawi
Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval
Detachment), Police (includes Mobile Force Unit) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 2,320,190 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 995,084 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$11.1
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.7%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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disputes
with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake
Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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