MALAWI
(African State of Malawi)

Capital: Lilongwe
Currency: Malawian kwacha (MWK)
Population: 13,1 million people
GDP (PPS): 23 bln. dollars of the USA (2017)
Area: 118 484 sq.km.
IRCHP: 170 (2015)

GEOGRAPHY

Malawi is the state which doesn't have an outlet to the sea of the size of Pennsylvania. The state is located in a southeast part of Africa, in encirclement of Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. Lake Malawi, the former lake Nyasa, occupies the most part of eastern frontier of the country. The North southern rift valley is surrounded with ridges and high platovy areas.

HISTORY

Ancient the population from what now is in Malawi was made 8000-2000. The bow-speaking people migrated between the 1st and 4th centuries of A. D. there. The big slave trade took place in the 18th and 19th centuries and brought Islam into the region. At the same time missionaries entered Christianity. During the precolonial period several large kingdoms were established: Marav in 1480, Ngonda in 1600 and Chikulamayembe in the 18th century.

David Livingston in 1850th and 1860th was the first European who conducted extensive researches in this area. In 1884 the British South African company of Cecile Roouds received the charter for development of the country. The company entered the conflict with the Arab slave traders in 1887-1889. Britain attached what then was called the territory Nyasaland in 1891 and made it protectorate in 1892. Sir Harry Johnston, the first High Commissioner, used gun vessels of the Royal fleet to destroy slave traders.
Between 1951 and 1953 Britain united Nyasaland with colonies of Northern and Southern Rhodesia to create federation, the movement, protestovanny black Africans who were afraid of coordination with the ultraconservative rule of white minority in Southern Rhodesia.

ECONOMY

Economic summary: GDP / PPS (assessment of 2012): 14,58 bln. dollars of the USA; per capita - 900 US dollars. Real growth rate: 4,3%. Inflation: 18,4%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 20,68%. Agriculture: tobacco, sugar cane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, bean, peanut, macadamia nuts; cattle, goats. Labor: 5,774 million. (Assessment of 2007); agriculture of 90%, industry and services of 10% (assessment of 2003). Branches: tobacco, tea, sugar, sawing products, cement, consumer goods. Natural resources: limestone, arable lands, hydropower, unused fields of uranium, coal and bauxites. Export: 860 million US dollars (2012): tobacco of 53%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanut, products from a tree, clothes. Import: $1,752 billion (2012): food, oil products, semi-finished products, consumer goods, transport equipment. Main trade partners: South Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Egypt, Great Britain, India, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, China, Russia.