The Republic of Malawi, formerly the British protectorate of Nyasaland, became an independent nation in July 1964. After three decades of one-party rule under President Kamuzu Banda, the country held multiparty elections in 1994. Turbulent politics have hampered governance in Malawi, and poverty and HIV-infection are widespread. The country's official languages are English and Chichewa.

Leader: President Bingu wa Mutharika
Capital city: Lilongwe

Economic profile

Monetary unit: Malawi kwacha
GDP per capita: $800 (2010) (CIA)
GDP composition by sector:
Agriculture: 33.4% (2010) (CIA)
Industry: 21.7% (2010) (CIA)
Services: 44.9% (2010) (CIA)
GDP growth rate: 6.6% (2010) (CIA)
Budget:
Government revenue, excluding grants: $1.735-billion (2010) (CIA)
Government expenditure: $1.769-billion (2010) (CIA)
Consumer price inflation: 8% (2010) (CIA)
Industries: Tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, and consumer goods
Exports of goods and services: $1.189-billion (2010) (CIA)
Imports of goods and services: $1.675-billion (2010) (CIA)
Export commodities: Tobacco, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, and apparel.
Import commodities: Food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, and transportation equipment
Trade balance: $-315-million (2010) (CIA)
Reserves: $301-million (2010) (CIA)
Total investment: 27.7% of GDP (2010) (CIA)
Market capitalisation of listed companies: 7,2% (2000) (World Bank)

Social profile

Population: 15.26-million (2011) (World Bank)
Population growth: 2.8% (2011) (World Bank)
Life expectancy at birth: 53.8 years (2011) (World Bank)
Adult literacy: 74% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment primary: 119% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment secondary: 30% (2009) (World Bank)
Unemployment: Figures not available
Number of people living with HIV/Aids: 920 000 (2009) (Unicef)