Discover Fascinating Malawi Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Malawi.

Malawi

Background

๐ŸŒ Malawi has a fascinating history that dates back to the late 15th century! It was once part of the Kingdom of Maravi, a prosperous kingdom that spread into areas now known as Zambia and Mozambique. ๐Ÿš€ Fast forward to 1889, when the British established the Central African Protectorate. This land was later renamed Nyasaland in 1907, and after many years, it became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964! ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ผ What a journey! ๐Ÿ›ค๏ธ

Year Malawi became independent

1964

Year Nyasaland was renamed

1907

Year British Protectorate was established

1889

Exports - commodities

Malawi has a rich export palette! ๐ŸŒโœจ In 2022, the country primarily exported tobacco, known for its quality, along with gold, tea, ground nuts, and dried legumes. Each of these commodities plays an important role in Malawi's economy and helps the nation to connect with the world! ๐ŸŒฑ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Export Commodities

Tobacco, Gold, Tea, Ground Nuts, Dried Legumes

Exports - partners

๐Ÿ“Š Let's explore the export partners of Malawi in 2022! The country traded significantly with a variety of nations. Here's a fun overview of the percentages of exports to different countries:

  • UAE: 21% ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Belgium: 12% ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Tanzania: 6% ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฟ
  • Kenya: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • South Africa: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

As we can see, the UAE stands out as the largest export partner, followed by Belgium. Isn't that interesting? ๐Ÿ˜Š

Total Export Percentage

49%

Exports Partners of Malawi in 2022

Capital

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ผ Welcome to Lilongwe! This vibrant city is not only the capital of Malawi but also a hub for culture and government. ๐Ÿ™๏ธ With its green parks and beautiful landscape, itโ€™s a place where nature meets urban life. Enjoy exploring its markets, museums, and the friendly atmosphere! ๐ŸŒณโœจ

Imports - commodities

๐ŸŒ Malawi imports a variety of essential commodities to support its economy and meet the needs of its people. In 2022, the main items imported included:

  • Refined petroleum ๐Ÿš—
  • Fertilizers ๐ŸŒฑ
  • Crude petroleum ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ
  • Packaged medicine ๐Ÿ’Š
  • Plastic products ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

These imports are crucial for energy, agriculture, health, and everyday consumer goods. Each category plays a significant role in ensuring that Malawi can continue to grow and support its population!

Climate

Malawi enjoys a sub-tropical climate ๐ŸŒฑ, making it a warm and delightful place to experience nature! It has two main seasons:

  • Rainy season: From November to May, when the skies open up to nourish the land. This is when you can expect lovely greenery to flourish!
  • Dry season: From May to November, where the weather is much drier, letting you enjoy the beautiful outdoors without much worry about getting wet โ˜€๏ธ.

This delightful combination offers a unique climate perfect for various activities and agriculture. ๐Ÿฅฆ๐ŸŒพ

Executive branch

In Malawi, the Executive branch is headed by President Lazarus CHAKWERA, who has been in office since June 28, 2020. ๐ŸŒŸ He serves both as the chief of state and the head of government, which means he holds a pivotal role in leading the country. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ This dual responsibility showcases the level of trust and authority given to him by the people of Malawi!

Current President

Lazarus CHAKWERA

Assumed office date

June 28, 2020

Legislative branch

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ผ In Malawi, the legislative branch is represented by a unicameral National Assembly. This means there is only one chamber where all the important laws and decisions are made! ๐Ÿ“œ The National Assembly consists of 193 seats, making it a crucial part of Malawi's governance. Each seat plays a vital role in representing the people and ensuring their voices are heard in the heart of the nation's democracy! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ

Total seats in National Assembly

193

Natural resources

๐ŸŒ Malawi is rich in various natural resources that play a crucial role in its economy! Here are some of the key natural resources found in the country:

  • Limestone: A valuable resource for construction and industry.
  • Arable Land: Perfect for farming and growing crops that feed the population.
  • Hydropower: A renewable energy source harnessed from rivers and lakes.
  • Unexploited Deposits of Uranium: Potential resource for future energy needs ๐Ÿ’ก.
  • Coal: Used for energy production and industrial processes.
  • Bauxite: The primary ore for aluminum, an essential material in many industries.

Each of these resources contributes to Malawi's growth and sustainability! ๐ŸŒฑ

Natural resources present in Malawi

6

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Malawi's Economy at a Glance!
Malawi is a low-income economy located in East Africa. The country relies heavily on agriculture, making it primarily agrarian. ๐Ÿ…๐ŸŒพ

  • Investing in Human Capital: Malawi is working hard to enhance its people's skills and education!
  • Urban Poverty: ๐Ÿšจ Due to the challenges brought on by COVID-19, urban poverty has been on the rise.
  • Public Debt: The country is facing high levels of public debt, which can make future investments tricky.
  • Corruption & Property Rights: Endemic corruption and weak property rights are hurdles that Malawi is striving to overcome.
  • Electricity Issues: The country struggles with a poor hydroelectric grid, which affects energy supply.
  • Pharmaceutical Industry: ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ผ Malawi has a localized pharmaceutical industry, contributing to health care but still needing improvement to meet demand.

These factors paint a picture of a nation facing challenges while also making efforts to invest in its people and resources! ๐ŸŒฑ

Economic Status

Low-income

Agriculture Focus

Primarily agrarian

Urban Poverty Trend

Increasing due to COVID-19

Public Debt Status

High

Corruption Level

Endemic

Property Rights

Poor

Hydroelectric Grid Condition

Poor

Pharmaceutical Industry

Localized

Government type

๐ŸŒ Malawi is a presidential republic! This means that the President of Malawi is both the head of state and the head of government. It's a system where citizens have the power to vote for their leaders. How cool is that? ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ

Government System

Presidential Republic

Ethnic groups

Ethnic Groups in Malawi ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ผ

In Malawi, the ethnic landscape is beautifully diverse! ๐ŸŒ Hereโ€™s a breakdown of the different ethnic groups that make up this vibrant country:

  • 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%
  • Others: 2.2%
  • Foreign: 0.3%

These percentages showcase how many people belong to each group, giving a glimpse into Malawi's rich cultural heritage! ๐ŸŽ‰ With the Chewa making up the largest portion, we can see a variety of traditions and histories celebrated across the country.

Let's visualize this data! ๐Ÿ“Š

Total Ethnic Groups Represented

12

Largest Ethnic Group

Chewa 34.3%

Smallest Ethnic Group

Foreign 0.3%

Ethnic Group Distribution in Malawi (2018)

Religions

In Malawi, the religious landscape is quite diverse and vibrant! ๐ŸŒ Hereโ€™s a breakdown of the various beliefs:

  • Protestant: 33.5% โœ๏ธ
    • Church of Central Africa Presbyterian: 14.2%
    • Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist: 9.4%
    • Pentecostal: 7.6%
    • Anglican: 2.3%
  • Roman Catholic: 17.2% โœ๏ธ
  • Other Christian: 26.6% โœ๏ธ
  • Muslim: 13.8% โ˜ช๏ธ
  • Traditionalist: 1.1% ๐ŸŒฟ
  • Other: 5.6% ๐Ÿ”„
  • None: 2.1% ๐Ÿšซ

This data is from 2018, and it shows how various faiths coexist in this beautiful country! ๐Ÿ“…

Percentage of Protestant Christians

33.5%

Percentage of Roman Catholics

17.2%

Percentage of Muslims

13.8%

Percentage of Traditionalists

1.1%

Percentage of Individuals with No Religion

2.1%

Religion Distribution in Malawi (2018)

Languages

In Malawi, a beautiful country in Southeast Africa, languages are a big part of its culture! ๐ŸŒโœจ The official language is English, which means you'll hear it in government and schools. But there's more! The most commonly spoken language is Chewa, making it the dominant one in daily conversations. ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฌ

Hereโ€™s a look at some of the other languages you might hear as you travel around Malawi: Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, and Yao. This rich tapestry of languages shows how diverse and vibrant Malawi's culture is! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŒˆ

Languages Spoken in Malawi

Imports - partners

๐ŸŒ Malawi has a diverse range of import partners! In 2022, the percentages of imports from different countries showcased a colorful mosaic of trade relationships. Check out the top five partners and their contributions:

  • South Africa: 20% ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
  • China: 15% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • UAE: 11% ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • India: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Kuwait: 5% ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ

Isn't it interesting to see how much Malawi relies on these countries for its imports? ๐ŸŒŸ Each partner plays a vital role in providing goods and services to the nation!

Total Percentage from Top Partners

57%

Malawi's Import Partners in 2022

Population

๐ŸŒ Malawi is home to a lively population of 21,763,309 people! That's a lot of smiles and cultures coming together in one amazing place. Let's dive into some fun facts about the population!

Total Population

21,763,309

Area

๐ŸŒ Welcome to Malawi! This beautiful country has a total area of 118,484 sq km. Let's break it down to see what makes up this area:

  • ๐Ÿž๏ธ Land Area: 94,080 sq km
  • ๐Ÿ’ง Water Area: 24,404 sq km

Malawi is known for its stunning landscapes and rich water bodies, including the famous Lake Malawi! ๐ŸŸ๐Ÿ–๏ธ

Total Area

118484 sq km

Land Area

94080 sq km

Water Area

24404 sq km

Malawi Area Breakdown

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐Ÿ“ˆ Let's take a look at Malawi's Real GDP (purchasing power parity) over the past few years! It's like a snapshot of the country's economic health, showing how much money is flowing in. Here are the estimated values for 2021 to 2023:

  • 2021: $34.386 billion
  • 2022: $34.703 billion
  • 2023: $35.238 billion

As you can see, thereโ€™s been a steady increase in GDP, which is great news for Malawi! ๐ŸŒโœจ

This growth indicates that the economy is getting stronger, and that's something to celebrate! ๐ŸŽ‰

GDP in 2023

35.238 billion USD

GDP in 2022

34.703 billion USD

GDP in 2021

34.386 billion USD

Malawi's Real GDP (PPP) Over Time

Real GDP per capita

๐ŸŒ Let's take a look at the Real GDP per capita for Malawi! This figure gives us an idea of how much money each person would have if we divided the country's total GDP by its population. It's a great way to understand the economic well-being of the citizens.

In Malawi, the Real GDP per capita is estimated to be $1,700 for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023! ๐Ÿ“ˆ This shows a steady state of the economy over these years.

Knowing the GDP per capita helps us compare Malawi's wealth with other countries and understand its economic progress over time. Let's visualize that data! ๐Ÿ“Š

Real GDP per capita of Malawi (2021-2023)

Imports

๐ŸŒ Malawi has been engaged in some interesting trade activities! Hereโ€™s a look at the countryโ€™s total imports over the past few years:

  • In 2020, imports were valued at $3.373 billion.
  • In 2021, they slightly increased to $3.768 billion.
  • For 2022, imports are estimated to reach $3.706 billion.

This data shows how Malawi's imports have fluctuated over the years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Isn't it fascinating to see how trade impacts the economy?

Total Imports in 2022

$3.706 billion

Total Imports in 2021

$3.768 billion

Total Imports in 2020

$3.373 billion

Malawi's Total Imports Over Time

Exports

๐Ÿ“Š Let's take a look at the exports of Malawi over the last few years! The country has seen some fluctuations in its export values, which is super interesting! Here's how much Malawi exported in the millions of dollars:

  • 2020: $1.308 billion
  • 2021: $1.587 billion
  • 2022: $1.487 billion

This data shows how Malawi's exports have changed year by year! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Total Exports in 2022

$1.487 billion

Total Exports in 2021

$1.587 billion

Total Exports in 2020

$1.308 billion

Malawi Exports Over Years

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ Malawi is experiencing a population growth rate of 2.22% as of the year 2024! This means that for every 100 people living in Malawi, about 2.22 more will be added each year! Such a vibrant growth reflects the dynamic changes happening in this beautiful country. ๐Ÿš€

Population growth rate for Malawi in 2024

2.22%