Malawi Profile


Malawi Profile

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Malawi, taking its name from 'fire flames’, the reflection of the rising sun on the waters of Lake Malawi, is situated in Central Africa and was a former British colony called Nyasaland that was established in 1891 and became independent as the nation of Malawi in 1964. It is now a democratic country with its first ever free elections in May 1994, although that and subsequent election results have been deemed 'irregular' and there continue to be significant public corruption issues. Malawi is one of the ten poorest nations on the planet and is in 174th place out of 189 countries and territories in 2019 when ranked in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards of a country. 85% of its population live in rural areas and overall over half that population are living on less than 60p a day with malnutrition accounting for the death of half of all Malawi children.



Life expectancy in Malawi is 64.26 years (2019) with many suffering from malaria, tuberculosis and HIV-AIDS, with Malawi's HIV prevalence being one of the highest in the world given 9.2% of the adult population (aged 15-49) live with the virus despite concerted attempts by the governemtnt to address the issue. In fact, the death rate is so severe that 42.99% of the population in 2020 was under the age of 14. Part of the reason for the lack of resources chronic and underdevelopment in Malawi was the mismanagement of the economy by President Hastings Kamuzu Banda for thirty years after the country's independence. However, after he left power in the 1990s, political stability has provided a footing for a reformation of the country with the privatisation of many loss making state-run institutions. Uranium exports are also helping to boost export earnings in a move away from reliance on foreign humanitarian aid. Yet natural phenomena continue to hinder progress with the country often being afflicted by severe famines caused by droughts with eight serious episodes in the last 36 years affecting millions leaving them without proper food supplies. Only a third of children in Malawi have access to safe water making childhood disease common.


Malawi Country Profile


As ever education is the key to change, however poverty is so rife, many Malawi children spurn school in order to beg for food for themselves and their families. In fact, some three-quarters of secondary school-aged children have left education to either work or stay at home provide care for their families and nearly 30% of children in Malawi are engaged in some form of child labour. Those children who do attend school benefit from learning in general but specifically regarding how to develop the agricultural base of their country and how to prevent the spread of AIDS. All this costs money of course and, without international aid, these much needed programmes for change would falter. For more about Malawi, check out our profile articles below.




Malawi Profile: Volunteer in Malawi

African Volunteer Work: Malawi


Check out all the latest fee paying and free African volunteer work placements and charity work job opportunities abroad with local projects and volunteering organisations in Malawi.

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Malawi Profile: Malawi History

Malawi History


A brief history of Malawi from ancient to modern times and how one of Africa's poorest nations made a smooth transition from dictatorship to democracy.

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Malawi Profile: Life in Malawi

Life in Malawi


Daily life Inside Malawi explored in video and images including facts and figures and the Human Development Index for Malawi.

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Malawi Profile: Malawi Children

Malawi Children


Find out more about children's lives in Malawi in pictures and video together with facts and figures about their lives.

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Malawi Profile: Malawi Street Children

Malawi Street Children


Facts, information and video about Malawi street children together with details of projects and programs helping them.

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Malawi Profile: Lilongwe Profile

Lilongwe Profile


A complete profile of Lilongwe, capital city of Malawi including Lilongwe information, facts, pictures and tourist attractions..

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Malawi Profile: Malawi Airport

Malawi Airport


Lilongwe or Kamuzu airport is a small, one runway airport that is the main air access route to Malawi and the probable entry into the country for your volunteer work.

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Malawi Profile: Malawi Images

Malawi Images


Explore the beauty of the Malawi countryside in this video, packed with pictures and images of the stunning Malawi scenery.

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Malawi Profile: Lake Malawi

African Lakes: Lake Malawi


Take a virtual tour of Lake Malawi both above and underwater in another in our African lakes series.

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Malawi Profile: Malawi Quiz

Malawi Quiz


Take our Malawi country quiz and find out how much you really know about Malawi including some interesting facts about the country.

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Malawi Profile: Child Sponsor Malawi

Child Sponsor Malawi


Details of how to sponsor children in Malawi with Malawi child sponsor organisations, charities, programs and projects.

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Malawi Profile: Malawi Map

Malawi Map


Use this Google Earth satellite map of Malawi in Africa to explore and take a virtual tour of Malawi and zoom in on places of interest.

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Malawi Profile: Malawi News

Malawi News


Read all the latest and breaking news from Malawi here at our Malawi news profile page. Updated daily.

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