|
Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 80% 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 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. In December 2007, the US granted Malawi eligibility status to receive financial support within the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initiative. 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. 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. In 2009, however, Malawi experienced some setbacks, including a general shortage of foreign exchange, which has damaged its ability to pay for imports. Investment fell 23% in 2009. The government has failed to address barriers to investment such as unreliable power, water shortages, poor telecommunications infrastructure, and the high costs of services.
|
|
|
$12.52 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$11.63 billion (2008 est.)
$10.6 billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
|
|
|
$4.57 billion (2009 est.)
|
|
|
7.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
9.8% (2008 est.)
7.9% (2007 est.)
|
|
|
$800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
$800 (2008 est.)
$700 (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
|
|
|
agriculture: 35.1%
industry:
19.8%
services:
45.1% (2009 est.)
|
|
|
5.747 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
|
|
|
agriculture: 90%
industry and services:
10% (2003 est.)
|
|
|
NA%
|
|
|
53% (2004)
|
|
|
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%:
31.9% (2004)
|
|
|
39 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 69
|
|
|
49.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
|
|
|
revenues: $1.438 billion
expenditures:
$1.562 billion (2009 est.)
|
|
|
39.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
40.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
|
|
|
8.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
8.7% (2008 est.)
|
|
|
15% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 14
15% (31 December 2007)
|
|
|
25.28% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 8
27.72% (31 December 2007)
|
|
|
$502.1 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 129
$361.5 million (31 December 2007)
|
|
|
$491.1 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 135
$250.4 million (31 December 2007)
|
|
|
$NA (31 December 2008)
$406.2 million (31 December 2007)
|
|
|
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 98
$1.771 billion (31 December 2008)
$587.2 million (31 December 2006)
|
|
|
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats
|
|
|
tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
|
|
|
9.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
|
|
|
1.69 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
|
|
|
1.572 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
|
|
|
0 kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
|
0 kWh (2008 est.)
|
|
|
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
|
|
|
8,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
|
|
|
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
|
|
|
6,960 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
|
|
|
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
|
|
|
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
|
|
|
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
|
|
|
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
|
|
|
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
|
|
|
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
|
|
|
-$279 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
-$221 million (2008 est.)
|
|
|
$912 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$830 million (2008 est.)
|
|
|
tobacco 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel
|
|
|
Germany 12.37%, Egypt 8.52%, South Africa 7.67%, Zimbabwe 7.55%, US 7.4%, Russia 6.79%, Netherlands 6.64%, Japan 4.1% (2009)
|
|
|
$1.474 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$1.327 billion (2008 est.)
|
|
|
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment
|
|
|
South Africa 40.15%, China 6.79%, India 6.73%, France 5.03%, Tanzania 4.81%, Mozambique 4.03% (2009)
|
|
|
$171 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
$243.3 million (31 December 2008 est.)
|
|
|
$1.091 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$1.005 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
|
|
|
$NA
|
|
|
$NA
|
|
|
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar - 159.16 (2009), 142.41 (2008), 141.12 (2007), 135.96 (2006), 108.894 (2005)
|
|
|