The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. The enormous Lake Malawi is almost the same size as the land area. Malawi is over 118,000 km2 with an estimated population of more than 13,900,000. Its capital is Lilongwe, the biggest city is Blantyre. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, one of the original Bantu tribes to inhabit the area.

Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. There is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, which is a drain on the labor force and government expenditures. There is a diverse population of native peoples, Asians and Europeans, with several languages spoken and an array of religious beliefs—including many Christian denominations that perform a great amount of charity work. Although there was tribal conflict in the past, by 2008 it had diminished considerably and the concept of a Malawian nationality had begun to form. Malawi has a culture combining native and colonial aspects, including sports, art, dance and music. It is reported that over 40% of the GDP comes from foreign donations.



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