Part 121
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 162,863/female 220,390) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 16.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.388% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
Birth rate:
41.48 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Death rate:
17.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 19% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 89.05 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 14 male: 93.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.82 years country comparison to the world: 216 male: 44.07 years
female: 43.57 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.59 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
11.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
930,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
68,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Religions:
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 44
Government ::Malawi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:
6 July 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:
18 May 1994
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Dindi NYASULU]; Congress of Democrats or CODE [Ralph KASAMBARA]; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Maravi People's Party [Uladi MUSSA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Rainbow Coalition Party [Beatrice MWALE]; New Republican Party [Gwanda CHAKUWAMBA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Stanley MASAULI]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]; United Democratic Party [Kenedy KALAMBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Council for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and development); Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human rights); Malawi Law Society (human rights and law reform); Malawi Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore and maintain democracy); Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes democracy, development, peace and unity)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hawa NDILOWE
chancery: 1029 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE
embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band
Government - note:
no party has a majority in the fractured legislature
Economy ::Malawi
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 85% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for more than one-third of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. Malawi will now begin a consultative process to develop a five-year program before funding can begin. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces many challenges including developing a market economy, improving educational facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, President MUTHARIKA championed an anticorruption campaign. Since 2005 President MUTHARIKA'S government has exhibited improved financial discipline under the guidance of Finance Minister Goodall GONDWE and signed a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility worth $56 million with the IMF. Improved relations with the IMF lead other international donors to resume aid as well.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.95 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $10.9 billion (2007 est.)
$10.1 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.268 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 7.9% (2007 est.)
8.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$800 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 $800 (2007 est.)
$700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39.2%
industry: 16.8%
services: 44% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
5.747 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
53% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 31.9% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2004) country comparison to the world: 67
Investment (gross fixed):
8.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Budget:
revenues: $1.254 billion
expenditures: $1.351 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
49.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 228.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 7.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 15 15% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25.28% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 9 27.72% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$361.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$250.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$406.2 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$587.2 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
Industries:
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - production:
1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - consumption:
1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - imports:
6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Current account balance:
-$241 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 -$75 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$830 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $721 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel
Exports - partners:
South Africa 14.2%, Egypt 9.8%, Zimbabwe 8.6%, US 7.4%, Netherlands 7%, Russia 5.7%, Germany 5.7% (2008)
Imports:
$1.587 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $1.323 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment
Imports - partners:
South Africa 41.5%, China 7.3%, India 6.1%, Tanzania 5.4%, US 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$185 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $217.2 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.005 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $894 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$11.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 142.41 (2008 est.), 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005), 108.898 (2004)
Communications ::Malawi
Telephones - main lines in use:
236,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 122
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.781 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 127
Telephone system:
general assessment: rudimentary
domestic: fixed-line subscribership about 2 per 100 persons; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile cellular subscribership approaching 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus one shortwave station on standby) (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Internet country code:
.mw
Internet hosts:
741 (2009) country comparison to the world: 165
Internet users:
316,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 125
Transportation ::Malawi
Airports:
32 (2009) country comparison to the world: 113
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 10 (2009)
Railways:
total: 797 km country comparison to the world: 102 narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 15,451 km country comparison to the world: 122 paved: 6,956 km
unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)
Waterways:
700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2008) country comparison to the world: 76
Ports and terminals:
Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba
Military ::Malawi
Military branches:
Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,050,444 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,732,621
females age 16-49: 1,562,107 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 174,044
female: 173,828 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 123
Transnational Issues ::Malawi
Disputes - international:
disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Malaysia (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Malaysia
Background:
During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by a Communist insurgency, Indonesian confrontation with Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.
Geography ::Malaysia
Location:
Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,847 sq km country comparison to the world: 66 land: 328,657 sq km
water: 1,190 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:
4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate:
tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Terrain:
coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources:
tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 5.46%
permanent crops: 17.54%
other: 77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,650 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
580 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 9.02 cu km/yr (17%/21%/62%)
per capita: 356 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
flooding; landslides; forest fires
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea
People ::Malaysia
Population:
25,715,819 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.4% (male 4,153,621/female 3,914,962)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 8,210,373/female 8,143,043)
65 years and over: 5% (male 569,245/female 724,575) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.723% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Birth rate:
22.24 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Death rate:
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Net migration rate:
NA
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 70% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.87 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 124 male: 18.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.29 years country comparison to the world: 108 male: 70.56 years
female: 76.21 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.95 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
80,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%, other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most widely spoken are Iban and Kadazan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 37
Government ::Malaysia
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
local long form: none
local short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaya
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler (commonly referred to as the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls)
Capital:
name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:
13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
Independence:
31 August 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution:
31 August 1957; amended many times, the latest in 2007
Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; Islamic law is applied to Muslims in matters of family law and religion; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: