Malawi
Country profile
The people
Total population: 12.6 million
Major languages: English, Chichewa (both official)
Major religions: Christianity, Islam
Literacy rate: 64%
Life expectancy at birth: male – 41 years; female – 42 years
The country
Capital: Lilongwe
Area: 118,484 sq km (45,747 sq miles)
Main exports: Tobacco, tea, sugar, cotton
GNI per capita: US$620 compared to $33,630 in the UK (World Bank, 2005)
HIV/AIDS situation
>> Adults and children living with HIV: 940,000
>> Women living with HIV: 500,000
>> AIDS-related deaths: 78,000
>> Number of orphans (0-17 years) due to AIDS: 550,000
>> Estimated HIV prevalence rate: 14%
>> HIV-infected Malawians on antiretrovirals: 20%
Overall, HIV infection levels in Malawi seem to have stabilised since the turn of the century. Behaviour change appears to have contributed to this trend.
As in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence among young women (15–24 years) in Malawi is much higher than among men of similar age: 9% compared with 2% overall, and 13% compared with less than 1% in urban areas (National Statistical Office and ORC Macro, 2005).
Availability of HIV testing for young people has improved in recent years and there has also been a major increase in antiretroviral therapy with 85,000 HIV-infected people receiving it by the end of 2006. However, when faced with this epidemic, Malawi still faces capacity issues and a shortage of human resources in key areas such as health.
More than half of the population live below the national poverty line on around $0.44 per day. Poverty levels have remained unchanged since the early 1990s. The government embarked on a new strategy at the end of 2006 – the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy – and one of the key focus areas is HIV and AIDS. Nevertheless, there continues to be limited engagement of high-level political leaders and lack of clear accountability of who is responsible for HIV prevention activities.
Source: UNAIDS