ME, president; Malawi Democratic Party (MDP), Kampelo KALUA,
president

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU,
SADC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1007

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CHAVEAS
embassy: address NA, in new capital city development area in Lilongwe
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] 783 166
FAX: [265] 780 471

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green
with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Economy
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Economic overview: Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least
developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with
about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture
accounts for 31% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The economy
depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF,
the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The new government
faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports, to improve
educational and health facilities, and to deal with environmental
problems of deforestation and erosion. Drought hurt the 1994
economy, with GDP down by 12.4%. Good weather and a strong tobacco
crop resulted in an upturn in 1995. In December 1995, donors pledged
$332 million in aid for 1996.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 9.9% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $700 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 31%
industry: 14%
services: 55% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 83.3% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 428,000 wage earners
by occupation: agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services
15%, commerce 9%, construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, other
permanently employed 6% (1986)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $530 million
expenditures: $674 million, including capital expenditures of $129
million (1993)

Industries: tea, tobacco, sugar, sawmill products, cement,
consumer goods

Industrial product