MALAWI

GENERAL MALAWI INFO

Malawi is landlocked, densely populated: 15.3m, with few exploitable mineral resources.  

Area:18,484 sq km, GNI per capita: US $160  

Its economy is heavily dependent on agriculture - nearly 90% of the population engages in subsistence farming, so is particularly vulnerable to external conditions such as drought.

Currency - Kwacha
Official Language -English

In the southern region of Malawi where AID AFRICA is based, the main city is Blantyre. It has banks, an international airport, metalled roads, supermarkets, multi-storey buildings, shops and businesses.

Three hours drive out into the Bush, where Aid Africa works,the roads became potholed dirt tracks, the shops and businesses mainly roadside kiosks, homes mostly mud huts, and subsistence farming the main lifestyle.  

Signs of abject poverty and hunger are everywhere, but there’s always a smile or shout of welcome - no wonder this magnificent country is known as

A carbon footprint - life in the remote areas
A brief glimpse into the day-to-day poverty in Malawi

About Malawi .....

Malawi faces many challenges:
•Hunger, poverty
•a million orphans
•a shockingly high prevalence of HIV/AIDS
•limited education, healthcare & nutrition
•water, fuel and power shortages and
 an erratic, extreme climate

Over half of Malawi’s 15,263,OOO population is under 18 years old, and 30% of those are under 5 years old.

There are a million orphans under 17yrs, and 65% of those were orphaned by AIDS. (Unicef:2009)

FAQS
Frequently asked questions