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Africa :: Malawi

- ## Introduction :: MALAWI

- Background:
  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 presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. 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 in 2005. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in May 2009. He oversaw some economic improvement in his first term, but was accused of economic mismanagement and poor governance in his second term. He died abruptly in April 2012 and was succeeded by vice president, Joyce BANDA, who had earlier started her own party, the People's Party. MUTHARIKA’s brother, Peter MUTHARIKA, defeated BANDA in the May 2014 election. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the scourge of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

- ## Geography :: MALAWI

- Location:
  Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique
  Geographic coordinates:
  13 30 S, 34 00 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 118,484 sq km
  land: 94,080 sq km
  water: 24,404 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
  Land boundaries:
  total: 2,857 km
  border countries (3): Mozambique 1,498 km, Tanzania 512 km, Zambia 847 km
  Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
  Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)
  Climate:
  sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
  Terrain:
  narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
  highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
  Natural resources:
  limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 59.2%
  arable land 38.2%; permanent crops 1.4%; permanent pasture 19.6%
  forest: 34%
  other: 6.8% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  735 sq km (2006)
  Total renewable water resources:
  17.28 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.36 cu km/yr (11%/4%/86%)
  per capita: 99.86 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  NA
  Environment - current issues:
  deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
  Environment - international agreements:
  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
  Geography - note:
  landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature; it contains more fish species than any other lake on earth

- ## People and Society :: MALAWI

- Nationality:
  noun: Malawian(s)
  adjective: Malawian
  Ethnic groups:
  Chewa 32.6%, Lomwe 17.6%, Yao 13.5%, Ngoni 11.5%, Tumbuka 8.8%, Nyanja 5.8%, Sena 3.6%, Tonga 2.1%, Ngonde 1%, other 3.5%
  Languages:
  English (official), Chichewa (common), Chinyanja, Chiyao, Chitumbuka, Chilomwe, Chinkhonde, Chingoni, Chisena, Chitonga, Chinyakyusa, Chilambya
  Religions:
  Christian 82.6%, Muslim 13%, other 1.9%, none 2.5% (2008 est.)
  Population:
  17,964,697
  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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46.73% (male 4,175,706/female 4,218,955)
  15-24 years: 20.38% (male 1,820,047/female 1,841,331)
  25-54 years: 27.14% (male 2,418,126/female 2,457,419)
  55-64 years: 3.06% (male 262,067/female 287,637)
  65 years and over: 2.69% (male 213,735/female 269,674) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 94.5%
  youth dependency ratio: 87.9%
  elderly dependency ratio: 6.7%
  potential support ratio: 14.9% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 16.4 years
  male: 16.3 years
  female: 16.5 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  3.32% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 2
  Birth rate:
  41.56 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Death rate:
  8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 16.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.77% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  LILONGWE (capital) 905,000; Blantyre-Limbe 808,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 46.26 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 53.07 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 39.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 60.66 years
  male: 58.67 years
  female: 62.69 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Total fertility rate:
  5.6 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  46.1% (2010)
  Health expenditures:
  8.3% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Physicians density:
  0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 95.7% of population
  rural: 89.1% of population
  total: 90.2% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 4.3% of population
  rural: 10.9% of population
  total: 9.8% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 47.3% of population
  rural: 39.8% of population
  total: 41% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 52.7% of population
  rural: 60.2% of population
  total: 59% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  10.04% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  1,063,900 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  32,600 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis
  animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  4.3% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  13.8% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Education expenditures:
  5.4% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 65.8%
  male: 73%
  female: 58.6% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years
  male: 11 years
  female: 11 years (2011)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 993,318
  percentage: 26% (2006 est.)

- ## Government :: MALAWI

- Country name:
  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
  Government type:
  multiparty democracy
  Capital:
  name: Lilongwe
  geographic coordinates: 13 58 S, 33 47 E
  time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
  Independence:
  6 July 1964 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
  Constitution:
  previous 1953 (preindependence), 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995; amended several times, last in 2013 (2013)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Arthur Peter MUTHARIKA (since 31 May 2014); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 31 May 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Arthur Peter MUTHARIKA (since 31 May 2014); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 31 May 2014)
  cabinet: Cabinet named by the president
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019)
  election results: Peter MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Peter MUTHARIKA (DPP) 36.4%, Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 27.8%, Joyce BANDA (PP) 20.2%, Atupele MULUZI (UDF) 13.7%, other 1.9%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 20-22 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 50, MCP 48, PP 26, UDF 14, other 2, independent 52; note - voting in one electoral constituency to be rescheduled due to death of candidate
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; other judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, which regulates judicial officers; judges serve until age 65
  subordinate courts: High Court; magistrate courts; Industrial Relations Court; district and city traditional or local courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Godfrey SHAWA]
  Chipani Cha Fuko or CCP [Davis KATSONGA PHIRI]
  Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Peter MUTHARIKA]
  Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Lazarus CHAKWERA]
  People's Party or PP [Joyce BANDA]
  United Democratic Front or UDF [Atupele MULUZI]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Council for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and development)
  Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human rights)
  Malawi Economic Justice Network or MEJN (pro economic growth, development, government accountability)
  Malawi Law Society (an umbrella organization of all lawyers in Malawi)
  Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and unity)
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Necton Darlington MHURA (since 18 May 2015)
  chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
  FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Virginia E. PALMER (since 5 February 2015)
  embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
  mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
  telephone: [265] (1) 773-166
  FAX: [265] (1) 770-471
  Flag description:
  three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered on the black band; black represents the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for freedom, and green the color of nature; the rising sun represents the hope of freedom for the continent of Africa
  National symbol(s):
  lion; national colors: black, red, green
  National anthem:
  name: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)
  lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA
  note: adopted 1964

- ## Economy :: MALAWI

- Economy - overview:
  Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The country’s economic performance has historically been constrained by policy inconsistency, macroeconomic instability, limited connectivity to the region and the world, and poor health and education outcomes that limit labor productivity. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 80% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for about 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 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries program. Between 2005 and 2009 Malawi’s government exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million. The government announced infrastructure projects that could yield improvements, such as a new oil pipeline for better fuel access, and the potential for a waterway link through Mozambican rivers to the ocean for better transportation options.
  Since 2009, however, Malawi has experienced some setbacks, including a general shortage of foreign exchange, which has damaged its ability to pay for imports, and fuel shortages that hinder transportation and productivity. In October 2013, the African Development Bank, the IMF, several European countries, and the US indefinitely froze $150 million in direct budgetary support in response to a high level corruption scandal, called “Cashgate,” citing a lack of trust in the government’s financial management system and civil service. Most of the frozen donor funds—which accounted for 40% of the budget—have been channeled through non-governmental organizations in the country. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages, poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of services. Investment had fallen continuously for several years, but rose 4 percentage points in 2014 to 17% of GDP.
  The government faces many challenges, including developing a market economy, improving educational facilities, addressing environmental problems, dealing with HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors on anti-corruption efforts.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $13.73 billion (2014 est.)
  $12.98 billion (2013 est.)
  $12.34 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 152
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $4.263 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  5.7% (2014 est.)
  5.2% (2013 est.)
  1.9% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $800 (2014 est.)
  $700 (2013 est.)
  $700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 227
  Gross national saving:
  10.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  14.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
  13.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 95%
  government consumption: 11%
  investment in fixed capital: 16.5%
  investment in inventories: 6.6%
  exports of goods and services: 28.1%
  imports of goods and services: -57.1%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 30.1%
  industry: 18.5%
  services: 51.3% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
  Industries:
  tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -1.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Labor force:
  5.747 million (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 90%
  industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  NA%
  Population below poverty line:
  53% (2004 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3%
  highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  39 (2004)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Budget:
  revenues: $1.264 billion
  expenditures: $1.573 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  28.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Public debt:
  48% of GDP (2014 est.)
  49.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  23.8% (2014 est.)
  27.3% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 221
  Central bank discount rate:
  15% (31 December 2009)
  15% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  44% (31 December 2014 est.)
  46% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 2
  Stock of narrow money:
  $578.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $454.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.481 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $1.176 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $969.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $753.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
  $1.384 billion (31 December 2011)
  $1.363 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Current account balance:
  -$216 million (2014 est.)
  -$958.4 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Exports:
  $1.332 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.374 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Exports - commodities:
  tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel (2010 est.)
  Exports - partners:
  Belgium 12.4%, Zimbabwe 10.4%, South Africa 6.8%, Germany 6.8%, Russia 6.6%, Canada 6.1%, US 6% (2014)
  Imports:
  $2.498 billion (2014 est.)
  $2.52 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Imports - commodities:
  food, petroleum products, semi-manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment
  Imports - partners:
  South Africa 26.2%, India 15.5%, China 10%, Zambia 9.8%, Tanzania 5.4% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $469.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $435.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Debt - external:
  $1.729 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.487 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $NA
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -
  412.1 (2014 est.)
  364.41 (2013 est.)
  249.11 (2012 est.)
  156.93 (2011 est.)
  150.49 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: MALAWI

- Electricity - production:
  2.069 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Electricity - consumption:
  1.924 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  301,000 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  0.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  99.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Crude oil - production:
  200 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  13,040 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  6,059 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  1.91 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151

- ## Communications :: MALAWI

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 64,200
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 5.1 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
  domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
  Broadcast media:
  radio is the main broadcast medium; privately owned Zodiac radio has the widest national broadcasting reach, followed by state-run radio; about a dozen private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns around the country; the largest TV network is government-owned, but two private TV networks now broadcast in urban areas and more plan to begin broadcasting in 2014; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2014)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus one shortwave station on standby) (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (2001)
  Internet country code:
  .mw
  Internet users:
  total: 387,500
  percent of population: 2.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135

- ## Transportation :: MALAWI

- Airports:
  32 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 7
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 25
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 11
  under 914 m:
  13 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 767 km
  narrow gauge: 767 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Roadways:
  total: 15,450 km
  paved: 6,951 km
  unpaved: 8,499 km (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Waterways:
  700 km (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Ports and terminals:
  lake port(s): Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba (Lake Nyasa)

- ## Military :: MALAWI

- Military branches:
  Malawi Defense Forces (MDF): Army (includes Air Wing, Marine Unit) (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; high school equivalent required for enlisted recruits and college equivalent for officer recruits; initial engagement is 7 years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers (2014)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 3,514,809 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,132,909
  females age 16-49: 2,043,925 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 183,683
  female: 183,028 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  0.93% of GDP (2012)
  0.79% of GDP (2011)
  0.93% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 104

- ## Transnational Issues :: MALAWI

- Disputes - international:
  dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lake
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: 107,000 (floods in 2015) (2015)

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