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Research Library: Malawi

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Last Updated Aug 07, 2009

Country Information

Malawi is a representative republican form of government. The president is elected by popular vote for a five year term and is limited to two terms. The current Presedient, Bingu wa Mutharika, was elected in 2004, although the opposition contested the legitimacy of the election.

Malawi, formally the British Protectorate Nyasaland, became independent in 1964. The constitution created a one party state and Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda was elected president for life in 1971. Banda remained president and ruled with totalitarian authority until relenting to popular demand for democratic elections in the 1990s.
A year after being elected, President Mutharika resigned from the United Democratic Party (UDF) and created the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In July of 2006 former UDF President Bakili Muluzi was arrested on charges of corruption.
In January of 2005 Three UDF members where charged with attempting to bring guns to a meeting with the President. They were later pardoned.

President Mutharika has maintained an anti-corruption stance throughout his presidency. His policies of anti-corruption have alienated many long-standing Malawian politicians. The opposition party, the UDF, attempted to impeach Mutharika, but were unable to gather the necessary support.
The government is working to address the AIDS problem within the country and has plans to distributed free medication to AIDS sufferers.

Malawi is a member of the UN, WTO, and IMF.
In August of 2006, the IMF and the World Bank canceled $3.6 billion of Malawi's debt. The amounted to almost half of Malawi's total debt.
In 2002 Malawi cooperated with Mozambique to reopen a cross boarder railway line that had been closed for 20 years.

Malawi's agricultural sector is subject to boom and bust periods. In 2005 Malawi required food aid as a result of a crop failure, but in 2007 they began exporting surplus grain.
The Malawian economy is underdeveloped, with 85% of the population living in rural areas. The economy is heavily supported by donations from international organizations such as the the IMF and World Bank.
Tobacco is Malawi's largest export and is an economic growth area. Tobacco exports account for over half of overall exports.

Malawi is a net recipient of official development assistance. For more information see the OECD Aid at a Glance chart.

Demographic
Population	13.57 million	2006
Population Age 15 and Younger (As % of total)	47.1%	2005
Population Age 65 and Older (As % of total)	3%	2005
Population Growth Rate	2.6%	2006
Life Expectancy	50 years	2006
Life Expectancy (male)	49 years	2006
Life Expectancy (female)	51 years	2006
Urban Population (As % of total)	17.2%	2005

Economic
Gross Domestic Product (In US$)	$2.57 billion	2008
Gross Domestic Product per capita (In US$)	$188	2008
Economic Inequality (Ratio of income/consumption of richest 10% to poorest 10%)	10.9	2007
National Budget (In US$)	$1.23 billion	2008
Total Debt Service as % of GDP	4.6%	2005
Imports (In US$)	$1.45 billion	2007
Exports (In US$)	$710 million	2007
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (In US$)	$30 million	2006
Unemployment Rate (As % of labor force)	Not Available
Carbon Dioxide Emissions (% share of world total)	0%	2004

Military
Military Expenditures (In US$)	$30 million	2006
Military Expenditures as % of GDP	1.3%	2006

Social
Human Development Index	0.44	2005
HIV Prevalence (Ages 15-49)	14.1%	2005
Literacy Rate (Age 15 and above)	62.7%	2003
Internet Users (per 1,000 people)	4	2005