Country profile

Many Malawians rely on subsistence farming, but the food supply situation is precarious. The country is subject to natural disasters of both extremes - drought and floods. Its single major natural resource - agricultural land - is under severe pressure from rapid population growth. Malawi has more research and development organizations than many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This is partly the result of the adverse climatic conditions the country endured in the late 1990s and the early part of this decade, which led to an emphasis on famine relief activities.

Many external organisations have remained in the country and are changing from a relief to a development focus. Over all, there are around 1700 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), of which about 140 are working in the natural resources sector. A Government priority is to encourage greater coordination of development effort through the Agricultural Development Programme.

Malawi statistics

Population	Around 13.9 million Source UN 2007
Land area	118,484 sq km
Life expectancy	37 years Source World Bank, WDI 2005
GNI per capita	US$250 Source World Bank, WDI 2007
Average per capita GDP	US$160 Source World Bank, WDI 2004
Growth rate	7.5% Source IMF 2008
% of people not meeting daily food needs	22% Source IHS 2005 ??