Malawi gained independence in 1964 from Britain, and was rule by a single party system until 1994 when they began holding elections. As noted by the CIA World Factbook, “The country’s economic performance has historically been constrained by policy inconsistency, macroeconomic instability, limited connectivity to the region and the world, and poor health and education outcomes that limit labor productivity. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 80% of the population living in rural areas.”

• Country Profile
  • Land Mass/Major Cities – The capital city of Malawi is Lilongwe. Malawi is landlocked, and is situated between Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
  • Languages – English (official), Chichewa (common), Chinyanja, Chiyao, Chitumbuka, Chilomwe, Chinkhonde, Chingoni, Chisena, Chitonga, Chinyakyusa, Chilambya
• Business Activity
  • Agriculture – Cassava, cattle, corn, cotton, goats, groundnuts, macadamia nuts, potatoes, pulses, sorghum, sugarcane, tea, and tobacco
  • Industries – Cement, consumer goods, sawmill products, sugar, tea, and tobacco
  • Natural Resources – Arable land, bauxite, coal, hydropower, limestone, and uranium
  • Exports – Apparel, coffee, cotton, peanuts, sugar, tea, tobacco, and wood products
  • Imports – Consumer goods, food, petroleum products, semi-manufactures, and transportation equipment
  • Major Trading Partners – Belgium, China, Germany, India, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, the United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Source: CIA. (2017). The World Factbook: Malawi. CIA. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html