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Geography of Malawi

Location:Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain:narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use:arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land:560 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature

Malawi Quickstats

  • Population: 13,603,181
  • Area: 118,480 sq km
  • Density: 109 /km² (91st)
  • GDP (total): $7.67 billion (143rd)
  • GDP (per capita): $596 (181st)
  • Literacy: 62.7%

Languages of Malawi

  • Chichewa 57.2%
  • Chinyanja 12.8%
  • Chiyao 10.1%
  • Chitumbuka 9.5%
  • Other 10.4%

Useful to know

  • Currency: Kwacha (D) (MWK)
  • Dial code: +265

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