← THE SECTION CUT · AFRICA

Malawi

13.5S 34.0E · 27 EVENTS · 9 DOMAINS
INDEPENDENCE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM · 6 JULY 1964
▼ PULL DOWN TO EXTRACT THE CORE
1971 – present · The Banda regime and the democratic transition
6 EVENTS
1971–1993 · Three decades of one-party rule 2 REFS
14 June 1993 · Referendum ends the one-party state 2 REFS
1953 – 1971 · Federation, Banda and independence
6 EVENTS
1953 · Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland created 2 REFS
6 July 1964 · Malawi independent 3 REFS
1891 – 1944 · Protectorate, Nyasaland and the Chilembwe rising
5 EVENTS
1891 · British Central Africa Protectorate proclaimed 2 REFS
23 January 1915 · The Chilembwe rising 3 REFS
c. 1800 – 1890 · Migrations, missionaries and the slave trade
4 EVENTS
c. 1820s–1850s · Ngoni and Yao migrations reshape the region 2 REFS
1875–1876 · Scottish missions founded at Livingstonia and Blantyre 3 REFS
c. 1480 – 1700 · The Maravi Confederacy
4 EVENTS
c. 1480 · Founding of the Maravi Confederacy 3 REFS
c. 17th century · The Maravi Empire at its peak 3 REFS
c. 1st – 15th centuries CE · Bantu farmers and the rock-painters of Chongoni
2 EVENTS
c. 1st–4th centuries CE · Bantu-speaking farmers settle the plateau 2 REFS
Late Iron Age · The Chewa rock-painting tradition at Chongoni 2 REFS
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EVERY ERA, EVENT AND REFERENCE ON ONE PAGE
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Quick facts · atlas reference
Capital
Lilongwe
Population
19 m
Area
118,484 km²
Region
Eastern Africa
Languages
English, Chewa
Currency
Malawian kwacha (MK)
Demonym
Malawian
UN member
Yes
Dossier · press a specimen — it turns over

Economy

GDP
$15 B’25 WB-WDI
GDP per capita
$672’25 WB-WDI
GDP growth
1.9%’25 WB-WDI
Inflation
28.4%’25 WB-WDI
Trade openness
39.4%’25 WB-WDI

Society

Population
22 m’25 WB-WDI
Life expectancy
67.6 yrs’24 WB-WDI
Urban population
17.6%’25 WB-WDI
Fertility rate
3.6’24 WB-WDI
Literacy rate
70.2%’20 WB-WDI

Governance

Voice & accountability
54.9’24 WB-WGI
Political stability
59.4’24 WB-WGI
Government effectiveness
37.2’24 WB-WGI
Regulatory quality
45.6’24 WB-WGI
Rule of law
54.4’24 WB-WGI
Control of corruption
34.7’24 WB-WGI

Health

Health spending
6.5%’23 WB-WHO
Physicians
0.05’22 WB-WHO
Under-5 mortality
48.8’24 WB-UNICEF-WHO
Measles immunisation
89.0%’24 WB-UNICEF-WHO
Safe drinking water
18.2%’24 WB-WHO

Education

Adult literacy
70.2%’20 WB-UNESCO
Education spending
2.7%’22 WB-UNESCO
Primary enrolment
139.0%’24 WB-UNESCO
Secondary enrolment
36.6%’23 WB-UNESCO
Tertiary enrolment
2.7%’22 WB-UNESCO

Technology

R&D spending
0.2%’19 WB-UNESCO
Researchers (per million)
25’19 WB-UNESCO
Internet users
19.0%’24 WB-ITU
Mobile subscriptions
69’24 WB-ITU
High-tech exports
1.6%’24 WB-WDI

Geography

Land area
94,280 km²’23 WB-WDI
Forest area
22.4%’23 WB-WDI
Agricultural land
64.2%’23 WB-WDI
CO₂ per capita (t)
0.2’24 WB-WDI
Renewable energy
62.9%’22 WB-WDI

Resources

Resource rents
4.2%’21 WB-WDI
Oil rents
0.0%’21 WB-WDI
Mineral rents
0.0%’21 WB-WDI
Forest rents
4.2%’21 WB-WDI
Electricity access
15.6%’24 WB-WDI

Military

Military burden
1.0%’24 WB-SIPRI
Defense spending
$118 M’24 WB-SIPRI
Armed forces
15,000’20 WB-SIPRI

A hatched gap has no underside — there is nothing to turn over. Absence is stated, never zeroed.

The record · what changed here
EVERY CLAIM SOURCED
ABSENCE ≠ ZERO
NO SIDES