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 elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution, which came into full effect the following year. Current President Bakili MULUZI came to power in the 1994 elections and was reelected to office in 1999. His attempts to amend the constitution to allow for a third term have been unsuccessful. Increasing corruption, population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.

Facts

Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Population: 11,906,855
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46.8% (male 2,811,751; female 2,759,515)
15-64 years: 50.5% (male 2,978,406; female 3,029,735)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 130,600; female 196,848) (2004 est.)
Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%
Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally

Facts and map image taken from CIA - The World Factbook (www.cia.gov)

Malawi News

• Winter 2009 Update
  22/12/09 17:20:25
• YOUNG GIRLS QUIZ PROJECT DEDZA AREA
  20/02/10 16:42:58
• Evangelism - Malawi and Mozambique
  03/07/09 13:11:30