{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400 during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. Several of Malawi’s ethnic groups trace their origins to different Maravi lineages. A powerful Maravi kingdom, established around 1500, reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi as well as portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia before beginning to decline because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Malawi and further undermined the Maravi. Members of the Yao ethnic group - which had long traded with Malawi from Mozambique - introduced Islam and began to settle in Malawi in significant numbers in the mid-1800s; in the late 1800s, members of the Lomwe ethnic group also moved into southern Malawi from Mozambique. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Nyasa in the mid-1800s, and Britain declared a protectorate, called British Central Africa, over what is now Malawi in 1891 and eliminated various political entities that sought to retain their autonomy over the subsequent decade. The British renamed the territory Nyasaland in 1907 and it was part of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland - including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe - from 1953 to 1963 before gaining independence as Malawi in 1964.</p> <p>Hastings Kamuzu BANDA served as prime minister at independence and, when the country became a republic in 1966, he became president. He later instituted one-party rule under his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and was declared president for life. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Bakili MULUZI of the United Democratic Front party became the first freely elected president of Malawi when he defeated BANDA at the polls in 1994; he won reelection in 1999. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA was elected in 2004 and subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party, in 2005. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in 2009. He died abruptly in 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 election in 2014. Peter MUTHARIKA was reelected in a disputed election in 2019 that resulted in countrywide protests. The courts ordered a new the election, and in 2020 Lazarus CHAKWERA of the MCP was elected president after defeating MUTHARIKA as head of a coalition of opposition parties. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the scourge of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "13 30 S, 34 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Africa"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "118,484 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "94,080 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "24,404 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than Pennsylvania"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,857 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Mozambique 1,498 km; Tanzania 512 km; Zambia 847 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "0 km (landlocked)"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "text": "none (landlocked)"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "779 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "59.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 38.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 19.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "34% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "6.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "740 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "fresh water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490"
      },
      "salt water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Major rivers (by length in km)": {
      "text": "Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km<br><strong>note</strong> – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)<br>Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "flooding; droughts; earthquakes"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "21,279,597 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Malawian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Malawian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign 0.3% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "English (official), Chewa (common), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao",
      "note": "<strong>note</strong>: Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects; Nkhonde and Nyakyusa are mutually intelligible dialects"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Protestant 33.5% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 14.2%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 9.4%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 2.3%), Roman Catholic 17.2%, other Christian 26.6%, Muslim 13.8%, traditionalist 1.1%, other 5.6%, none 2.1% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Malawi has made great improvements in maternal and child health, but has made less progress in reducing its high fertility rate. In both rural and urban areas, very high proportions of mothers are receiving prenatal care and skilled birth assistance, and most children are being vaccinated. Malawi’s fertility rate, however, has only declined slowly, decreasing from more than 7 children per woman in the 1980s to about 5.5 today. Nonetheless, Malawians prefer smaller families than in the past, and women are increasingly using contraceptives to prevent or space pregnancies. Rapid population growth and high population density is putting pressure on Malawi’s land, water, and forest resources. Reduced plot sizes and increasing vulnerability to climate change, further threaten the sustainability of Malawi’s agriculturally based economy and will worsen food shortages. About 80% of the population is employed in agriculture.</p><p>Historically, Malawians migrated abroad in search of work, primarily to South Africa and present-day Zimbabwe, but international migration became uncommon after the 1970s, and most migration in recent years has been internal. During the colonial period, Malawians regularly migrated to southern Africa as contract farm laborers, miners, and domestic servants. In the decade and a half after independence in 1964, the Malawian Government sought to transform its economy from one dependent on small-scale farms to one based on estate agriculture. The resulting demand for wage labor induced more than 300,000 Malawians to return home between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s. In recent times, internal migration has generally been local, motivated more by marriage than economic reasons.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "38.54% (male 4,073,674/female 4,128,035)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "57.64% (male 6,001,150/female 6,264,749)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "3.82% (2023 est.) (male 362,428/female 449,561)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "84.7"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "79.7"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "5"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "20.1 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "16.8 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "16.7 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "16.9 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "2.28% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "27.29 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "4.51 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "18.3% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "1.276 million LILONGWE (capital), 1.031 million Blantyre-Limbe (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "0.99 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.96 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.81 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.96 male(s)/female (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "19.1 years (2015/16 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "381 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "32.68 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "37.12 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "28.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "72.71 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "69.62 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "75.85 years (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "3.3 children born/woman (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.64 (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "65.6% (2019/20)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 96.7% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 91% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 92% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 3.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 8% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "5.4% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2020)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 59.9% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 35.9% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 40% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 40.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 64.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 60% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "very high (2023)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "malaria and dengue fever"
      },
      "water contact diseases": {
        "text": "schistosomiasis"
      },
      "animal contact diseases": {
        "text": "rabies"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> on 22 March 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Malawi is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine"
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "5.8% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10.8% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "17.5% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "4.1% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "9% (2019)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "60.7% (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "2.9% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "67.3%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "71.2%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "63.7% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "11 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "11 years (2011)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.9%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "7.6%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12.2% (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations; negative effects of climate change (extreme high temperatures, changing precipitation patterns)"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "59.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 38.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 19.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "34% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "6.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "18.3% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Food insecurity": {
      "widespread lack of access": {
        "text": "<em><em>due to </em>weather extremes and high food prices - </em>the latest analysis indicates that about 3.8 million people (20 percent of the population) are estimated to have faced high levels of acute food insecurity between January and March 2023; this figure is more than double the number in the corresponding months of 2022; high food prices are the key reason for the deterioration in food insecurity, which, in the absence of a substantial increase in incomes, are severely constraining households’ economic access to food; production shortfalls in southern districts in 2022, areas that have the highest prevalence of food insecurity, are a further contributing factor; the impact of Cyclone Freddy (February-March 2023) on southern districts, including crop losses and destruction of infrastructure as well as high food prices, are expected to aggravate food insecurity conditions in 2023 (2023)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "6.19% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "22.14 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "1.3 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "11.12 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "1,297,844 tons (2013 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "fresh water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490"
      },
      "salt water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Major rivers (by length in km)": {
      "text": "Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km<br><strong>note</strong> – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)<br>Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "140 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "1.17 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "17.28 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Malawi"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Malawi"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Dziko la Malawi"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Malawi"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named for the East African Maravi Kingdom of the 16th century; the word \"maravi\" means \"fire flames\""
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Lilongwe"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "13 58 S, 33 47 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "6 July 1964 (from the UK)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 6 July (1964); note - also called Republic Day since 6 July 1966"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "previous 1953 (preindependence), 1964, 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty and territory of the state, fundamental constitutional principles, human rights, voting rights, and the judiciary, requires majority approval in a referendum and majority approval by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2017"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "7 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet named by the president"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<p><em>2020: </em>Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.8%</p> <p><em>2014:</em> 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% </p>"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 21 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - n/a; seats by party - DPP 62, MCP 55, UDF 10, PP 5, other 5, independent 55, vacant 1; composition - men 161, women 32, percent of women 16.6%"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; other judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, which regulates judicial officers; judges serve until age 65"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "High Court; magistrate courts; Industrial Relations Court; district and city traditional or local courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Peter MUTHARIKA]<br>Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Lazarus CHAKWERA]<br>People's Party or PP [Joyce BANDA]<br>United Democratic Front or UDF<br>United Transformation Movement or UTM [Saulos CHILIMA]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Esme Jynet CHOMBO (since 19 April 2022)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 721-0270"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 721-0288"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>info@malawiembassy-dc.org<br><br>http://www.malawiembassy-dc.org/"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador David YOUNG (since 5 May 2022)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "2280 Lilongwe Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2280"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[265] (0) 177-3166"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[265] (0) 177-0471"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>LilongweConsular@state.gov<br><br>https://mw.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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)": {
      "text": "lion; national colors: black, red, green"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Mulungu dalitsa Malawi\" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1964"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Lake Malawi National Park (n); Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "low-income East African economy; primarily agrarian; investing in human capital; urban poverty increasing due to COVID-19; high public debt; endemic corruption and poor property rights; poor hydroelectric grid; localized pharmaceutical industry"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$29.658 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$28.864 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$28.635 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "2.75% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "0.8% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "5.45% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$1,500 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$1,500 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$1,500 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$7.766 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": {
        "text": "8.63% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "9.37% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": {
        "text": "12.42% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "28.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "15.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "56% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "84.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "16.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "15.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "27.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-43.8% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "sweet potatoes, cassava, sugar cane, maize, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, bananas, plantains"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "1.9% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "8.551 million (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "76.9%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "4.1%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "19% (2013 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "7.02% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2020": {
        "text": "6.7% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "5.75% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.9%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "7.6%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12.2% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "51.5% (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019": {
        "text": "38.5 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "2.2%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "37.5% (2010 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$1.628 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$2.129 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2019": {
        "text": "44.89% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2018": {
        "text": "41.7% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "34.29% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "11.72% (of GDP) (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "1 April - 31 March"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$1.543 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "-$1.466 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2019": {
        "text": "-$1.321 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$1.538 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$1.268 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$1.447 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Belgium 16%, United States 8%, Egypt 7%, South Africa 6%, Germany 6%, Kenya 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "tobacco, gold, soybeans, raw sugar, tea, dried legumes and nuts (2021)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$3.582 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$3.208 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$3.266 billion (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "South Africa 17%, China 16%, United Arab Emirates 9%, India 9%, United Kingdom 8% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "postage stamps, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, fertilizers, office machinery/parts (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": {
        "text": "$594,498,500 (31 December 2020 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": {
        "text": "$846,839,800 (31 December 2019 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2018": {
        "text": "$766,154,800 (31 December 2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$2.102 billion (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$1.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "749.527 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "745.541 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "732.333 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "730.273 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2016": {
        "text": "718.005 (2016 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "population without electricity": {
        "text": "(2020) 17 million"
      },
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "14.1% (2021)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "54.2% (2021)"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "5.5% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "618,000 kW (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "1,117,378,000 kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "460 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "11.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "nuclear": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "81.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "tide and wave": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "48,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "47,000 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "2 million metric tons (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "9,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate exports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate imports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "4,769 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "1.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "203,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "1.339 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": {
        "text": "1.809 million Btu/person (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "12,465 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2021 est.) less than 1"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "11,940,135 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "60 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "with few resources, Malawi is one of the world&rsquo;s least developed countries; there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country&rsquo;s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services; both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services; the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region; the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs; following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third; mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector; low penetration is partly attributed to the lack of competition, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022; the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region; these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021 (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 60 per 100 households (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "radio is the main broadcast medium; privately owned Zodiak radio has the widest national broadcasting reach, followed by state-run radio; numerous private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns around the country; the largest TV network is government-owned, but at least 4 private TV networks broadcast in urban areas; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".mw"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "4.8 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "24% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "12,255 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "0.1 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "2 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "9"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "10,545 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "10,000 (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "7Q"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "32 (2021)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "text": "7",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)"
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "text": "25",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "767 km (2014)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "15,452 km (2015)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "4,074 km (2015)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "11,378 km (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "700 km (2010) (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River)"
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "lake port(s)": {
        "text": "Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba (Lake Nyasa)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Malawi Defense Force (MDF): Army (includes maritime force), Air Force (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the MDF reports directly to the president as commander in chief; the Malawi Ministry of Defense was abolished in 2011; the Malawi Police Service is under the Ministry of Homeland Security"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.1% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "0.8% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "information varies; approximately 8,000 active duty troops (including about 500 air and marine forces personnel) (2022)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the MDF's inventory is comprised of mostly obsolescent or secondhand equipment originating from such countries as France and South Africa; in recent years, it has received small amounts of armaments from a few countries, including China (2023)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18 years of age for men and women 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 (2022)"
    },
    "Military deployments": {
      "text": "750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (May 2022)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the MDF’s primary responsibility is external security; it is also tasked as necessary with providing support to civilian authorities during emergencies, supporting the Police Service, protecting national forest reserves, and participating in regional peacekeeping missions, as well as assisting with infrastructure development; it is generally considered to be a professional and effective service, although most of its equipment is aging and obsolescent; Malawi contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations; the Army is the dominant service and has 3 infantry brigades while its subordinate maritime force has a few patrol boats for monitoring Lake Malawi <br><br>the MDF was established in 1964 from elements of the Kings African Rifles (KAR), a British colonial regiment raised from Great Britain's various possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s; the KAR conducted both military and internal security functions within the colonial territories, and served outside the territories during the World Wars (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p><em>Malawi-Mozambique</em>: the two countries have held exercises to reaffirm boundaries a number of times</p> <p><em>Malawi-Tanzania</em>: 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</p> <p><em>Malawi-Zambia</em>: border demarcation was completed in 2011; in 2018, the redemarcation exercise determined that some parts of Malawi actually belonged to Zambia</p> <p> </p>"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees (country of origin)": {
        "text": "33,121 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) 10,953 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 6,488 (Rwanda) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023)"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "NA"
    }
  }
}