Introduction
Background
From the late 15th to the 18th centuries, a prosperous Kingdom of Maravi -- from which the name Malawi derives -- extended its reach into what are now areas of Zambia and Mozambique. In 1889, a British Central African Protectorate was established, which was renamed Nyasaland in 1907 and became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964.
Geography
Area
total: 118,484 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,404 sq km
Climate
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Natural resources
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
People and Society
Population
total: 21,763,309
male: 10,674,594
female: 11,088,715 (2024 est.)
Ethnic groups
Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign 0.3% (2018 est.)
Languages
English (official), Chewa (dominant), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao
Religions
Protestant 33.5% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 14.2%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 9.4%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 2.3%), Roman Catholic 17.2%, other Christian 26.6%, Muslim 13.8%, traditionalist 1.1%, other 5.6%, none 2.1% (2018 est.)
Population growth rate
2.22% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Lilongwe
Executive branch
chief of state: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
low-income East African economy; primarily agrarian; investing in human capital; urban poverty increasing due to COVID-19; high public debt; endemic corruption and poor property rights; poor hydroelectric grid; localized pharmaceutical industry
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$29.932 billion (2022 est.)
$29.658 billion (2021 est.)
$28.864 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$1,500 (2022 est.)
$1,500 (2021 est.)
$1,500 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, sugarcane, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, bananas, pumpkins/squash (2022)
Industries
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Exports
$1.538 billion (2021 est.)
$1.268 billion (2020 est.)
$1.447 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 21%, Belgium 12%, Tanzania 6%, Kenya 5%, South Africa 5% (2022)
Exports - commodities
tobacco, gold, tea, ground nuts, dried legumes (2022)
Imports
$3.582 billion (2021 est.)
$3.208 billion (2020 est.)
$3.266 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
South Africa 20%, China 15%, UAE 11%, India 6%, Kuwait 5% (2022)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, plastic products (2022)
Exchange rates
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
749.527 (2020 est.)
745.541 (2019 est.)
732.333 (2018 est.)
730.273 (2017 est.)
718.005 (2016 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
