Malawi is a small landlocked country in southeast Africa east of Zambia, a little smaller than Penn sylvania. It was a British protectorate until 1964 and is now a multiparty democracy. The country runs parallel to a long lake called Lake Malawi.

About 20% of the people in Malawi are Catholics, 55% are Protestant and another 20% Muslim. English and Chichewa are the two official languages, with other languages important regionally. The literacy rate is 58%. The rainy season is from November to May and the dry season from May to November.

Malawi is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. Per capita income is $180 a year, the lowest in the region. Out of a population of 11 million, 4 million people suffered from food shortages in 2005. Infant mortality is 119.96 per 1,000 live births. The HIV-AIDS virus affects 16.4% of the population, many of whom do not have access to life-prolonging drugs. Because of the AIDS crisis, there is an ever-growing number of orphans, for whom the future is uncertain.

Agricultural methods are primitive and many villages do not have their own water supply. The land suffers from deforestation and the water is polluted from agricultural runoff, sewage, and industrial wastes. Siltation of spawning grounds endangers the fish populations. Government schools teach the ‘three Rs but do not always teach the basic life skills people need, such as sanitation, sustainable agricultural methods, and skilled trades.

In spite of the many problems they face, the people of Malawi are a people of hope. They have a rich culture and a tradition of community life that we can learn from. Nowhere can you see the promise and possibility more than in the shining eyes of the children. Our dream is that, by linking our hands and hearts with the people of Malawi, we can make it just a little more likely that these children will reach their full potential. We may not be able to change the world, but together we can make a significant difference to one small part of it—and how wonderful is that!

MALAWI LINKS

Information about Malawi by an organization of former Peace Corps workers
www.friendsofmalawi.org

Up-to-date news articles about Malawi
allafrica.com/malawi/

Malawi Government
www.malawi.gov.mw

National Statistics Office of Malawi
www.nso.malawi.net

Malawi Government Ministry of Tourism, Parks and Wildlife
www.tourismmalawi.com/index.html

U.S. Department of State travel advisory information
travel.state.gov

Population 13,013,926

Climate
Sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Nationality
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian 

Ethnic groups
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European 

Religions
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)

Languages
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)

Capital
Lilongwe

Independence
6 July 1964 (from UK)

Legal system
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

Administrative divisions
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

Time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time)

Currency
Malawian kwacha

Agricultural products
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats 

Commercial products
Tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods 

Exports commodities:
Tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel 

Imports - commodities
Food, petroleum products, semi-manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners
South Africa 37.5%, India 8.1%, Mozambique 7.7%, Zambia 7.5%, Zimbabwe 7.2%, Tanzania 4.6% (2005)