Malawi

Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. The country covers over 118,484 km² and is home to more than 22 million people. Its capital and largest city is Lilongwe.

The area now known as Malawi has been home to people for many centuries. Early groups such as the Akafula were later joined by Bantu people who formed kingdoms like the Maravi. In the late 1800s, the British took control, and in 1964 the country became independent, renaming itself Malawi. Since then, the country has moved toward democracy, with peaceful changes in leadership.

Today, Malawi is one of the world's least developed countries. Most people live in rural areas and depend on farming. The country faces challenges such as lower life expectancy and health issues, but it remains an important part of Africa, working with many nations around the world through groups like the United Nations and the African Union.

Etymology

The name Malawi means "flames" in the languages Chichewa and Chitumbuka. The first president of Malawi, Hastings Banda, chose this name when the country became independent from Great Britain in 1964.

History

Main article: History of Malawi

Pre-colonial history

Long ago, before people from the north arrived around the year 1000, the land that is now Malawi had a few groups of people who moved around looking for food and things to use. These groups were later called names like Akafula, BaTwa, Akaombe, and Mwandionerakuti. Over time, new people came and started farming. They formed groups based on family ties and by the 1500s, they had created kingdoms such as the Maravi Empire. This empire grew big, reaching from north of Nkhotakota to the Zambezi River, and from Lake Malawi to the Luangwa River in what is now Zambia.

In the 1600s, these people met traders from far away places like Portugal. By the 1700s, the big empire split into smaller groups. Sadly, around the middle of the 1800s, many people were taken away from their homes and forced to work far away.

Colonialisation (1859–1960)

Main article: Political history of Malawi

In 1859, a traveler named David Livingstone reached Lake Malawi and thought the area south of the lake would be good for people from Europe to live. Soon after, groups from Europe started setting up places to teach and trade. In 1889, the British government claimed control over the Shire Highlands and later all of what is now Malawi. They called it the British Central Africa Protectorate, and later Nyasaland.

In 1944, local people formed a group to speak up for their rights. In 1953, Nyasaland was joined with two other areas to form a bigger group, but many people did not like this. A man named Hastings Banda helped lead the fight for independence.

Banda era (1961–1993)

In 1961, Banda's party won elections and he became the leader. In 1964, Malawi became independent from British rule and changed its name to Malawi. In 1966, Malawi became a republic with Banda as president. For many years, Banda was the only leader and did not allow other parties. Though Malawi did not have wars, many people wanted change.

Multi-party democracy (1993–present)

In 1993, people voted to allow more than one party. In 1994, new elections were held and a new leader, Bakili Muluzi, won. Over the years, different leaders have been elected, though sometimes there were problems with the elections. In 2020, an election was overturned because of mistakes, and a new one was held. The leader now is Lazarus Chakwera.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Malawi

See also: Elections in Malawi, Judiciary of Malawi, and Malawian Defence Force

Malawi is a unitary presidential republic led by President Peter Mutharika since 2025. The country has a constitution that began on 18 May 1995. The government has three parts: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president, who is both the leader of the country and the government, is elected every five years along with a vice president. The president also chooses other leaders to help run the country.

The legislative branch has one group called the National Assembly with 193 members who are elected every five years. Although the constitution allows for a group called the Senate, it does not exist right now. The main ruling party is the Democratic Progressive Party, led by Peter Mutharika, and the main opposition party is the Malawi Congress Party. People can vote when they are 18 years old.

The judicial branch is based on the English system and includes a Supreme Court of Appeal, a High Court, and lower courts. The judicial system has changed many times since Malawi became independent in 1964.

Malawi is divided into three regions—the Northern, Central, and Southern regions—which are split into 28 districts. Local leaders are chosen by the central government.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Regions of Malawi and Districts of Malawi

Malawi is divided into 28 districts within three regions:

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Malawi

Malawi has friendly relationships with many countries, especially Western nations. Many students from Malawi study in the United States, and the U.S. has several groups working in Malawi. Malawi and South Africa have been close, even during a time when South Africa had rules that were not fair to all people. Malawi also has ties with China, which has invested more in the country.

Malawi has helped people fleeing from danger in other African countries, such as Mozambique and Rwanda. This has brought help from other nations but also challenges for Malawi’s economy. Malawi is part of many international groups, like the Commonwealth, the UN, and the African Union.

Human rights

See also: Human rights in Malawi

Malawi is considered one of the more peaceful countries in the world. However, there are some problems. Sometimes police use too much force, and conditions in prisons can be very hard. There are also issues with freedom of speech and the press, long times before trials begin, and arrests that seem unfair. Corruption in government and among police is a big concern. Many girls are married very young, and there are problems with unsafe conditions for women and children. There have been efforts to improve these situations, but challenges remain.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Malawi

Malawi is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa. It is surrounded by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique to the south, southwest, and east. The country has Lake Malawi, also called Lake Nyasa, which is very long and wide, along its eastern edge. There are also high plateaus and mountains in different parts of Malawi.

Flora and fauna

Main article: Wildlife of Malawi

Malawi is home to many animals, including elephants, hippos, antelopes, and many types of birds. Lake Malawi has a huge variety of fish and other water animals. The country also has many different kinds of forests and grasslands that help protect its wildlife.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Malawi

See also: Malawian food crisis and List of companies based in Malawi

Malawi is one of the world's least developed countries. About 85% of its people live in rural areas. The country’s economy depends mostly on farming. More than one-third of its money earned (GDP) and 90% of its sales to other countries come from farming. In the past, Malawi relied a lot on help from groups like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Malawi was considered the 119th safest place to invest money in 2011. The government works on building a stronger economy, protecting nature, solving health issues like the HIV/AIDS problem, improving schools, and getting help from other countries.

In 2000, a group called the IMF stopped giving money because of worries about honesty in the government. But in 2005, Malawi got over half a billion dollars in help. Many experts think Malawi needs to control how fast its people grow to improve its economy. In 2009, buying a private airplane for the president caused problems, especially when fuel became hard to find.

Agriculture and industry

Main article: Agriculture in Malawi

Farming is a big part of Malawi’s economy. Over 80% of people work on farms, even though farming only made up 27% of the country’s money made (GDP) in 2013. More than half of Malawi’s GDP comes from services, with manufacturing making up 11% and other industries like mining making up 8%. Malawi spends more money on farming than any other African country—28% of its GDP.

Starting in 2006, Malawi mixed a type of fuel called ethanol into gasoline to use less imported fuel. In 2006, the country began giving out cheap seeds and fertilizer to help farmers grow more food. This helped Malawi start selling food to nearby countries. The main crops grown are tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, sorghum, and animals like cattle and goats. Important industries include making tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmills, cement, and everyday goods. In 2009, the country sent about $945 million worth of goods to other countries each year. Tobacco is a big part of these sales, but prices have gone down, so Malawi is trying to grow other crops like spices such as paprika.

Other things Malawi sells include cotton, peanuts, wood, and clothes. Countries that buy from Malawi include South Africa, Germany, Egypt, Zimbabwe, the United States, Russia, and the Netherlands. Malawi buys about $1.625 billion worth of goods each year, such as food, fuel, everyday products, and equipment for moving things. The main places Malawi buys from are South Africa, India, Zambia, Tanzania, the US, and China.

In 2016, Malawi had a very dry year, and in 2017, a pest called armyworms destroyed thousands of hectares of corn crops around Zomba.

Infrastructure

Main articles: Transport in Malawi, Rail transport in Malawi, and Communications in Malawi

Malawi has 31 airports, seven with paved runways (two international airports) and 24 with unpaved runways. It also has about 797 kilometers of railroad tracks and over 24,000 kilometers of roads, some paved and some not. There are also waterways on Lake Malawi and the Shire River. By 2022, there were about 10 million mobile phone users and around 4 million people using the Internet. Malawi has one government-run radio station and many private ones. In the past, its phone system was one of the worst in Africa, but it is getting better, with many more landlines being added, especially in cities.

Science and technology

Main article: Science and technology in Malawi

Research trends

In 2010, Malawi spent about 1.06% of its money on research and development, which was one of the highest amounts in Africa. This meant about $7.8 for each person. In 2014, scientists from Malawi published 322 articles in important science journals, which was three times more than in 2005. Malawi was ranked 125th in a list of countries that are good at new ideas and inventions in 2025.

Policy framework

Malawi made its first rules about science and technology in 1991 and updated them in 2002. These rules talked about creating a group to help the government with science and technology ideas. Although laws were made in 2003 to start this group, it didn’t really begin working until 2011. The laws also talked about a special money fund for science projects, but this fund wasn’t set up by 2014.

In 2012, most money from other countries went to building things like roads and power plants. The government offered special tax rules to attract more foreign investors. In 2013, they made a plan to sell more things to other countries by focusing on making products from oilseeds, sugarcane, and factories.

Women

In schools, boys and girls start out equal, but as they get older, girls fall behind. Women in Malawi live about 68 years on average. Women and men have the same rights to inherit property. More men have jobs, but women also work and have similar rates of not having jobs. Women are less involved in government than men, partly because they need help and resources to get elected. Over 20% of the seats in the country’s parliament are held by women.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Malawi

Malawi is home to over 19 million people. The country’s population is growing quickly, and it is expected to nearly triple by the year 2050. Many different groups live in Malawi, including the Chewa, Tumbuka, Yao, and several others.

The official language of Malawi is English, but many people also speak Chichewa, Chitumbuka, and Chiyao. Most schools teach in Chichewa during the early years.

Most people in Malawi follow Christianity, with many also following Islam. Other religions are also practiced, though by smaller numbers. The country has worked to improve health and education, but challenges remain.

Military

Malawi has a small military of about 25,000 people. It includes an army, a navy, and an air force. The army started from old units from when Malawi was a British colony. The air force began in 1976 with help from Germany and has a few planes and helicopters. The navy, which started in the 1970s with help from Portugal, has three boats that work on Lake Malawi. In 2017, Malawi joined a United Nations agreement to stop the use of nuclear weapons.

Culture

See also: Music of Malawi, Malawian cuisine, and Women in the Republic of Malawi

The name "Malawi" comes from the Maravi, a group of people who moved from the southern Congo around the year 1400. Today, people in Malawi are friendly and peaceful, earning the country the nickname "Warm Heart of Africa."

The flag of Malawi has three horizontal stripes: black, red, and green, with a red sun in the center of the black stripe. The colors represent the people, their history, and the country's natural beauty.

Traditional music and dances are enjoyed at special events like weddings and celebrations. Artists also create beautiful baskets, masks, wood carvings, and paintings, often selling these items to visitors. Malawi has talented writers, such as poet Jack Mapanje and author Legson Kayira.

Media

Main article: Mass media in Malawi

Radio, television, and postal services are managed by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority. There are 20 television stations, with Television Malawi being the main public broadcaster, running both radio and TV programs.

Sports

Football is the most popular sport in Malawi. Although the national team has not reached the World Cup, it has played in the Africa Cup of Nations three times. Some well-known teams include the Mighty Wanderers, Big Bullets, and Silver Strikers. Basketball is becoming more popular, while the Malawi national netball team is ranked among the best in the world.

Cuisine

Malawian cuisine includes many tasty dishes. Tea and fish are common, along with sugar, coffee, corn, potatoes, and sorghum. Lake Malawi provides fish such as chambo, usipa, and mpasa. Nsima, made from ground corn, is a staple food usually served with meat and vegetables for lunch or dinner.