Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country located in southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. The country is divided into three regions: the Northern, Central, and Southern regions, which are further divided into 28 districts.
Malawi spans over 118,484 square kilometers and has a population of over 18 million people. Its capital is Lilongwe, and other major cities include Blantyre, Zomba, and Mzuzu. English is the official language, while Chichewa is recognized as the national language.
Malawi's economy is primarily agriculture-based, with about 80% of the population engaged in farming. Major industries include tea, tobacco, sugar, textiles, and processing of other agricultural products. However, Malawi ranks among the world's least developed and most densely populated countries, confronting challenges like low life expectancy, high infant mortality rate, and high levels of corruption.
Despite these issues, Malawi is often referred to as the "warm heart of Africa" due to the kindness and hospitality of its people. In terms of natural beauty, the country is noted for its incredible landscapes, which include Lake Malawi, one of the deepest and largest freshwater lakes in the world, vast mountains, national parks, and wildlife reserves.
In terms of governance, Malawi is a democratic, multi-party government, currently under the presidency of Lazarus Chakwera (as of 2021). The country gained independence from British colonial rule on July 6, 1964.
