The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country which occupies a total area of: 118,480 sq km (land: 94,080 sq km water principally lake Nyasa: 24,400 sq km).

Its bordering neighbors are: in the North and Northeast: Tanzania over 475 km; in the East: Mozambique over 1,569 km; in the West: Zambia over 837 km.

Population : 10,000,416 (July 1999); 11,651,239 (July 2003 est.). Growth rate: 1.57% (1999); 2.21% (2003 est.)

Independence from United Kingdom: July 6, 1964
National holiday: Independence Day July 6, 1964
Republic Day July 6

Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite.

Agriculture production: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; cattle, goats.

Industrial production: tea, tobacco, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods. Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (1998); -0.8% (2002 est.)

On this May 20, 2004 Malawi is experiencing its third multiparty election. President Bakili Muluzi, who led the southeast African country from the dictatorship of self-proclaimed president-for-life Dr. Hastings Banda to democracy, is bowing out after a decade of deepening poverty and hunger. (See on "Some Figures Section" below the sharp decline in per capita GNP from US$ 175 in 2001 to 81 in 2003).

While President Muluzi's United Democratic Front (UDF) seems certain to retain parliamentary majority, the controversial choice of successor made by departing Muluzi thrown the presidential race wide open. Indeed, the selection of a political outsider - Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika - who in 1999 mounted an unsuccessful challenge to Muluzi at the head of his own party, angered UDF stalwarts. Wa Mutharika's rivals say he would be a figurehead, with Muluzi the real power behind the presidency. The main challenger is Gwanda Chakuamba, 69, who heads a seven-member opposition coalition that has accused electoral officials of colluding with the ruling party to rig the vote.

Poll results released on May 22, 2004 showed UDF failed to retain parliamentary majority picking up just 49 of the National Assembly's 193 seats. The Malawi Congress Party won 60 seats, the coalition had 28 and independent candidates took 38. A number of smaller parties accounted for the remaining seats.

Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika - the candidate of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) - polled over a million votes while his nearest rival John Tembo of the Malawi Congress Party got over 800 000 votes. Thus, Dr Bingu WA Mutharika is the new elected Malawi's president.

Dr. Bingu WA Mutharika, a former economist from the World Bank promises to tackle poverty during his term. His government faces strong challenges: Combating drought, developing modern agriculture, expanding exports, improving educational and health facilities to deal with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS; resolving environmental problems linked to deforestation and erosion. Etc.

Ninety percent of the population living in rural areas, an efficient developing strategy should focus on developing and diversifying economic activities in rural areas in close linkage with industrialization (transformation of crops). Currently, industrial production rate is quite nil.

The economy depends on substantial financial assistance inflows from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program.

There are business opportunities in all lines of economic activities: infrastructure establishment, agribusiness development, processing of crops to producing foods and agro-allied products. Etc.

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GNP: : US$ 833 million (2000); 917 million (2001); 932 million (2002); 943 million (2003)
GNP-growth rate: 3% (2000); 1.7% (2001); 1.2% (2002)
GNP-per capita: US$ 175 (2000); 81 (2002)

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 37%
   

2. industry: 16%
   
3. services: 47%

Exports: US$ 416 million (f.o.b., 2000): 435 million f.o.b. (2001)
Commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products.
Imports: US$ 435 million (f.o.b., 2000); 435 million f.o.b. (2001)
Commodities: food, petroleum products, semi finished products, consumer goods, transportation equipment

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A passport, return ticket and adequate funds are required. A 30-day visa, which can be extended up to an additional 60 days is issued at point of entry.

There is an airport departure tax.

An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required if you are arriving from an infected area within 5 days. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the following addresses:

USA Embassy of Malawi 2408 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20008, Tel: +(1) 202 797-1007 Fax: +(1) 202 2650976 embassy@malawi.org	United Kingdom Embassy of Malawi 33 Grosvenor Street, London Tel: +44 171 4914172 Fax: +44 171 4919916 tourism@malawi
Belgium Embassy of Malawi 46, Avenue Herrmann Debroux 1160 Brussels Tel: +(32) 2 2310980 Fax: +(32) 2 2311066	Canada Embassy of Malawi 7 Clemow Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2A9 Tel: +(1) 613 2368931/2 Fax: +(1) 613 2361054

Malawi has good air connection with neighboring Mozambique and South Africa which develops a constant flow of tourists to the country.

Railways: total: 789 km narrow gauge: 789 km 1.067-m gauge Highways: total: 16,451 km paved: 3,126 km unpaved: 13,325 km (1997)

Waterways: 144 km note: on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire Riverall

Ports and harbors: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Imports and exports are made through the Southern Africa's railways maze to and from Mozambique and South Africa's ports.

It is highly recommended to plan a trip to Malawi by booking hotels and other services such as car rental long in advance of the departure date.

As credit cards are not commonly accepted, it is wise to make inquiry - in advance - with the service provider.

There is some luxury accommodation in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Zomba Plateau, Mzuzu and certain other resorts. Cheaper accommodation including camping (many in some scenic areas), can be found all around the country.