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Malawi

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Malawi is a landlocked country located in Southeastern Africa.

Malawi (orthographic projection)
Malawi (orthographic projection)

Because it is landlocked, it has no direct access to an ocean. It shares borders with three different nations. Zambia lies to the west of the country. Tanzania is located to the north and northeast. Mozambique borders Malawi to the east, south, and southwest.

Location Malawi AU Africa
Location Malawi AU Africa

The country has an estimated population of 22,224,282 as of July 2025. Lilongwe serves as the capital and the largest city. Other major urban centers include Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Zomba. The name Malawi comes from the words for "flames" in Chichewa and Chitumbuka.

The history of the region began with small groups of hunter-gatherers. Around the 10th century, the Akafula people settled in the area.

Chongoni Rock-Art Area-110124
Chongoni Rock-Art Area-110124

Later, waves of Bantu peoples migrated from the north. These groups eventually formed several powerful kingdoms. The Maravi and Nkhamanga kingdoms flourished starting in the 16th century. The Maravi kingdom was particularly large. It stretched from north of Nkhotakota to the Zambezi River. It also reached from Lake Malawi to the Luangwa River. By 1700, these large empires had broken into smaller areas. These areas were controlled by many different ethnic groups.

European contact changed the region significantly during the 19th century. In 1859, the explorer David Livingstone reached Lake Malawi.

Monoxylon beach Lake Malawi 1557
Monoxylon beach Lake Malawi 1557

He identified the Shire Highlands as a good place for European settlement. This led to the establishment of various religious missions. In 1878, the African Lakes Company was formed for trade and transport. The British government later intervened to prevent Portuguese occupation. In 1891, the British established the British Central Africa Protectorate. This territory covered about 94,000 square kilometers. In 1907, the British renamed the protectorate Nyasaland.

Stamp British Central Africa 1897 6p
Stamp British Central Africa 1897 6p

Malawi eventually gained independence from British rule in 1964.

The National Archives UK - CO 1069-165-9
The National Archives UK - CO 1069-165-9

This transition was led by Hastings Banda. He became the first Prime Minister and later the first President. Under his leadership, the nation became a one-party presidential republic in 1966. Banda was declared president-for-life in 1971. His regime was a highly repressive dictatorship that lasted for nearly 30 years. However, his government was noted for making progress in agriculture and industry. This was notable because the country lacked mineral resources. In 1993, the people voted in a referendum for a multiparty system. This led to the first multiparty elections in 1994.

Today, Malawi is a democratic, multi-party republic. It is governed by an elected president who serves as both Head of State and Head of Government. The government is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The executive branch includes the President, Vice Presidents, and the Cabinet. The President and Vice President are elected together every five years. The legislative branch is a unicameral National Assembly. It consists of 193 members who are also elected every five years.

Parliament Building of Malawi
Parliament Building of Malawi

Although the constitution mentions a Senate, one does not exist in practice.

The economy of Malawi is heavily based on agriculture. Much of the population lives in rural areas.

Groundnut harvesting in Malawi
Groundnut harvesting in Malawi

People work the land to produce crops for their communities. The country faces several significant developmental challenges. It is classified as one of the world's least developed countries. Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality rates. Additionally, HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent in the population. Despite these challenges, the country is an active member of many international groups. These include the United Nations and the African Union. It also belongs to the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Malawi is a diverse nation with many different cultures. The population includes native peoples, Asians, and Europeans. Religion plays a large role in daily life. The population is predominantly Christian, with a majority being Protestant. The country's political history has seen many changes and challenges. For example, in 2020, the Constitutional Court overturned an election result due to fraud. This led to a new election where Lazarus Chakwera won. However, the political landscape remains active and competitive. Peter Mutharika returned to the presidency after winning the 2025 general election. This shows the ongoing development of the nation's democratic processes.

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🖼️ Images & Media (24)
Malawian national anthem.oga
File:Malawi (orthographic projection).svg
Malawi (orthographic projection).svg
File:Location Malawi AU Africa.svg
Location Malawi AU Africa.svg
Malawi - various scenes around the...
File:Chongoni Rock-Art Area-110124.jpg
Chongoni Rock-Art Area-110124.jpg
File:Stamp British Central Africa 1897 6p.jpg
Stamp British Central Africa 1897 6p.jpg
File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-165-9.jpg
The National Archives UK - CO 1069-165-9.jpg
File:Parliament Building of Malawi.jpg
Parliament Building of Malawi.jpg
File:Diplomatic missions of Malawi.png
Diplomatic missions of Malawi.png
File:Livingstoniamountainsmalawi.jpg
Livingstoniamountainsmalawi.jpg
File:Monoxylon beach Lake Malawi 1557.jpg
Monoxylon beach Lake Malawi 1557.jpg
File:Elephant at Majete wildlife reserve.jpg
Elephant at Majete wildlife reserve.jpg

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