Country Guide • Malawi
Malawi is a landlocked country located in South East Africa. It is bound by Mozambique to the southv west and south east, Lake Nyasa (Malawi) to the east, Tanzania to the north and Zambia to the west.
| Official Name | Republic of Malawi |
|---|---|
| Area | 118,485km² (45,748mile²) |
| Population | 11,650,000 |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population per mile² | 255 |
| Capital City | Lilongwe |
| Religions | 34% Protestant, 28% Roman Catholic, 16% Muslims and the remainder following local native tribal beliefs |
| Language | English and Chichewa |
| Government | Multi-party democracy |
| Currency | Kwacha |
| GDP | $7.2 billion |
| GDP per Head | $670 |
| Natural Resources | Limestone hydropower and unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite |
| Land Use | Arable Land 20% |
| Agriculture | Tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, livestock inc. cattle and goats, groundnuts and Macadamia nuts |
| Industry | Agriculture, Brewing, Cement, Food Processing, Tourism |
| Tourism | Malawi has been billed 'the warm heart of Africa,' and with it's gorgeous scenery lots of national parks and game reserves and very friendly people it is true. Malawi is a great place for mountain hiking and plateau trekking and the massive Lake Malawi is great for diving, boating or lazing about. The country has a reliable transport system and its compact size make getting around easy |
| Natural Hazards | None |
| Health Risks | Dysentery, giardiasis, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meninogococcal meningitis, cholera, malaria, rabies, diphtheria, tetanus and polio |
| Climate | Malawi has a subtropical climate which can be divided into four seasons. (1.) A cool season between May and mid-August. (2.) A hot season between mid-August and November. (3.) A rainy season between November and April. (4.) A post rainy between April and May. Generally, the highlands are cooler and wetter while the low lying regions are hotter and more humid. Average annual rainfall is 29 inches and average temperature ranges are from 14 to 24°C degrees between November and April to 19 to 32°C between May and October |
| Time | GMT/UTC+ 2 hours |
| National Days | 1 May - Labour Day, 14 June - Freedom Day, 6 July - Republic Day |
| Visas | British nationals do not require visas for visits of up to 90 days but most other foreign travellers will need a visa |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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