Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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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 that 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 and subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen substantial economic improvement but because of political deadlock in the legislature, his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.
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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: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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560 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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17.3 cu km (2001)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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Total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%)
Per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)
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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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13,603,181
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 2007 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 46.1% (male 3,143,724/female 3,130,937)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 3,491,114/female 3,474,209)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 155,954/female 207,243) (2007 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 16.7 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 16.8 years (2007 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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2.383% (2007 est.)
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Birth rate:
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42.09 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Death rate:
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18.25 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.004 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.005 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.753 male(s)/female
total population: 0.997 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 92.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 96.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 42.98 years
male: 43.35 years
female: 42.61 years (2007 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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5.74 children born/woman (2007 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 (2007)
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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
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local 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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name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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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)
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2009)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 35.9%, John TEMBO 27.1%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA 8.7%, Justin MALEWEZI 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 in 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; Congress for National Unity or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA]; 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 [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; 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 [Bakili MULUZI]
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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, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE
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 Alan EASTHAM
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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no party has a majority in the fractured legislature
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Economy - overview:
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Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In December 2007 the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi will now begin a consultative process to develop a five-year program before funding can begin. 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 and signed a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF lead other international donors to resume aid as well.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$10.47 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$2.37 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.7% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$800 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 36.3%
industry: 18.6%
services: 45.1% (2007 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%
industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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NA%
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Population below poverty line:
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53% (2004)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 31.8% (2004)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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39 (2004)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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8% (2007 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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9.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.082 billion
expenditures: $1.142 billion (2007 est.)
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Public debt:
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42.2% of GDP (2007 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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2.5% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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1.397 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.299 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2005)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2005)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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6,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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0 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - imports:
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6,263 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance:
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-$180 million (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$657 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel
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Exports - partners:
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South Africa 12.6%, Germany 9.7%, Egypt 9.6%, US 9.5%, Zimbabwe 8.5%, Russia 5.4%, Netherlands 4.4% (2006)
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Imports:
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$892 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - partners:
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South Africa 34.6%, India 8.1%, Zambia 7.8%, US 6.4%, Tanzania 5.8%, Germany 4.6%, China 4.3% (2006)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$575.3 million (2005)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$140 million (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$622 million (31 December 2007 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$NA
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$NA
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA
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Currency (code):
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Malawian kwacha (MWK)
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Exchange rates:
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Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003)
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June
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Airports:
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39 (2007)
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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 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 16 (2007)
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Railways:
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total: 797 km
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 15,451 km
paved: 6,956 km
unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)
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Waterways:
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700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2007)
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Ports and terminals:
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Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
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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 17 January, 2008
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