Malawi

Republic of Malawi Dziko la Malaŵi  (Chichewa) Charu cha Malaŵi  (Chitumbuka)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Unity and Freedom"
Anthem: Mlungu dalitsani Malaŵi (Chichewa) (English: "O God Bless Our Land of Malawi")[1]
Location of Malawi (dark green) in southeast Africa
Capital and largest city	Lilongwe 13°57′S 33°42′E / 13.950°S 33.700°E / -13.950; 33.700
Official languages	English
Recognised regional languages	Chewa Tumbuka Yao Tonga Sena Lomwe Ngonde Lambya
Ethnic groups (2018 census[2])	25.2% Chewa 20.4% Tumbuka 17.9% Lomwe 15.3% Yao 5.4% Ngoni 4.8% Sena 3.2% Mang'anja 1.9% Nyanja 1.8% Tonga 1.0% Ngonde 0.6% Lambya 0.5% Sukwa 1.1% other
Religion (2018 census)[3]	82.3% Christianity 58.5% Protestantism 17.2% Catholicism 6.6% other Christian 13.8% Islam 2.1% none 1.2% traditional faiths 0.6% other
Demonym(s)	Malawian
Government	Unitary presidential republic
• President	Lazarus Chakwera
• Vice-President	Michael Usi
• House Speaker	Catherine Gotani Hara
• Chief Justice	Rizine Mzikamanda
Legislature	National Assembly
Independence  from the United Kingdom
• Dominion	6 July 1964
• Republic	6 July 1966
Area
• Total	118,484 km2 (45,747 sq mi) (98th)
• Water (%)	20.6%
Population
• 2024 estimate	21,240,689[4] (62nd)
• 2018 census	17,563,749[2]
• Density	153.1/km2 (396.5/sq mi) (56th)
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$37.919 billion[5] (137th)
• Per capita	$1,668[5] (186th)
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$13.176 billion[5] (149th)
• Per capita	$579[5] (190th)
Gini (2016)	44.7[6] medium inequality
HDI (2022)	0.508[7] low (172nd)
Currency	Malawian kwacha (D) (MWK)
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Drives on	left
Calling code	+265[8]
ISO 3166 code	MW
Internet TLD	.mw[8]
* Population estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected. Information is drawn from the CIA World Factbook unless otherwise noted.

Malawi (/məˈlɑːwi/; lit. 'flames' in Chichewa and Chitumbuka),^[9] officially the Republic of Malawi and formerly known as Nyasaland, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. Malawi spans over 118,484 km² (45,747 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 21,240,689 (as of 2024).^[10] Malawi's capital and largest city is Lilongwe. Its second-largest is Blantyre, its third-largest is Mzuzu, and its fourth-largest is Zomba, the former capital.

The part of Africa now known as Malawi was settled around the 10th century by migrating Bantu groups. They formed the Maravi kingdom which flourished from the 16th century.^[11] In 1891, the area was colonised by the British as the British Central African Protectorate, and it was renamed Nyasaland in 1907. In 1964, the protectorate was ended: Nyasaland became an independent country as a Commonwealth realm under Prime Minister Hastings Banda, and was renamed Malawi. Two years later, Banda became president by converting the country into a one-party presidential republic. Banda was declared President for life in 1971, and Malawi's next few decades of independence were characterized by Banda's highly repressive dictatorship.^[12][13][14]

Following the introduction of a multiparty system in 1993, Banda lost the 1994 general election. Today, Malawi has a democratic, multi-party republic headed by an elected president. According to the 2024 V-Dem Democracy indices, Malawi is ranked 74th electoral democracy worldwide and 11th electoral democracy in Africa.^[15] The country maintains positive diplomatic relations with most countries, and participates in several international organisations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the African Union (AU).

Malawi is one of the world's least-developed countries. The economy is heavily based on agriculture, and it has a largely rural and growing population. The Malawian government depends heavily on outside aid to meet its development needs, although the amount needed (and the aid offered) has decreased since 2000. Key indicators of progress in the economy, education, and healthcare were seen in 2007 and 2008.

Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent, which both reduces the labour force and requires increased government expenditures. The country has a diverse population that includes native peoples, Asians, and Europeans. Several languages are spoken, and there is an array of religious beliefs. Although in the past there was a periodic regional conflict fuelled in part by ethnic divisions, by 2008 this internal conflict had considerably diminished, and the idea of identifying with one's Malawian nationality had reemerged.