Demographics of Malawi
Encyclopedia
This article is about the demographic
features of the population
of Malawi
, including population density
, ethnicity
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Malawi
derives its name from the Maravi
, a Bantu people who came from the southern Congo
about 600 years ago. On reaching the area north of Lake Malawi
, the Maravi divided. One branch, the ancestors of the present-day Chewas, moved south to the west bank of the lake. The other, the ancestors of the Nyanjas, moved down the east bank to the southern part of the country.
By AD 1500, the two divisions of the tribe had established a kingdom stretching from north of the present-day city of Nkhotakota
to the Zambezi River in the south, and from Lake Malawi
in the east, to the Luangwa River
in Zambia
in the west.
Migrations and tribal conflicts precluded the formation of a cohesive Malawian society until the turn of the 20th century. In more recent years, ethnic and tribal distinctions have diminished. Regional distinctions and rivalries, however, persist. Despite some clear differences, no significant friction currently exists between tribal groups, and the concept of a Malawian nationality has begun to take hold. Predominantly a rural people, Malawians are generally conservative and traditionally nonviolent.
The Chewas constitute 90% of the population of the central region; the Nyanja tribe predominates in the south and the Tumbuka
in the north. In addition, significant numbers of the Tongas live in the north; Ngoni
s--an offshoot of the Zulus who came from South Africa
in the early 19th century—live in the lower northern and lower central regions; and the Yao, who are mostly Muslim
, predominate in the Southern Region of the country and live in a wide band from Blantyre
and Zomba north to Lake Malawi and east to the border with Mozambique
. Bantus of other tribes came from Mozambique
as refugees.
Male: 85.11 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
(official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
features of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, including population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
, ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
derives its name from the Maravi
Maravi
Maravi was a state established by the Bantu Chewa people, descendants of the Amaravi, in the area of Lake Malawi, in present-day Malawi, in the 16th century...
, a Bantu people who came from the southern Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
about 600 years ago. On reaching the area north of Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
, the Maravi divided. One branch, the ancestors of the present-day Chewas, moved south to the west bank of the lake. The other, the ancestors of the Nyanjas, moved down the east bank to the southern part of the country.
By AD 1500, the two divisions of the tribe had established a kingdom stretching from north of the present-day city of Nkhotakota
Nkhotakota
Nkhotakota is a town and one of the districts in the Central Region of Malawi. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. As of 2008, Nkhotakota had a population estimated at 33,150...
to the Zambezi River in the south, and from Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
in the east, to the Luangwa River
Luangwa River
The Luangwa River is one of the major tributaries of the Zambezi River, and one of the four biggest rivers of Zambia. The river generally floods in the rainy season and then falls considerably in the dry season...
in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
in the west.
Migrations and tribal conflicts precluded the formation of a cohesive Malawian society until the turn of the 20th century. In more recent years, ethnic and tribal distinctions have diminished. Regional distinctions and rivalries, however, persist. Despite some clear differences, no significant friction currently exists between tribal groups, and the concept of a Malawian nationality has begun to take hold. Predominantly a rural people, Malawians are generally conservative and traditionally nonviolent.
The Chewas constitute 90% of the population of the central region; the Nyanja tribe predominates in the south and the Tumbuka
Tumbuka
The Tumbuka are a Bantu ethnic group living in Northern Malawi, Eastern Zambia and Southern Tanzania. Their chief god is called Chiuta, who is all-powerful, omniscient and self-created, just like the God of the Abrahamic religions...
in the north. In addition, significant numbers of the Tongas live in the north; Ngoni
Ngoni people
The Ngoni people are an ethnic group living in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, in east-central Africa. The Ngoni trace their origins to the Zulu people of kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa...
s--an offshoot of the Zulus who came from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the early 19th century—live in the lower northern and lower central regions; and the Yao, who are mostly Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, predominate in the Southern Region of the country and live in a wide band from Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
and Zomba north to Lake Malawi and east to the border with Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Bantus of other tribes came from Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
as refugees.
CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.Age structure
- 0-14 years: 45% (male 2,335,440; female 2,324,012)
- 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,671,580; female 2,766,560)
- 65 years and over: 3% (male 117,932; female 170,325) (2000 est.)
- 0-14 years: 45.4% (male 3,419,711/female 3,404,726)
- 15-64 years: 51.9% (male 3,889,065/female 3,915,309)
- 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 172,679/female 227,267) (2009 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
- total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate
81.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsMale: 85.11 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 51.70 years
- male: 50.93 years
- female: 52.48 years (2011 est.)
Ethnic groups
- Chewa people
- Nyanja
- Tumbuka
- Yao
- Lomwe
- SenaSena peopleThe Sena are major people of Mozambique.Historically the autocephalous Sena groups were situated between the two major centralised kingdoms of Monomotapa and of Maravi or between the two cultures of Shona and Nyanja-Chewa...
- Tonga
- NgoniNgoni peopleThe Ngoni people are an ethnic group living in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, in east-central Africa. The Ngoni trace their origins to the Zulu people of kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa...
- Ngonde
Languages
EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally
Literacy
- definition: age 15 and over can read and write
- total population: 62.7%
- male: 76.1%
- female: 49.8% (2003 est.)