Full name: The Republic of Malawi
Population: 12.6 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Lilongwe
Major languages: English, Chichewa (both official)
Major religions: Christianity, Islam
Life expectancy: 40 years (men), 40 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Malawi kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
GNI per capita: US $160 (World Bank, 2006)
[Source: BBC News]
The Republic of Malawi is densely populated democratic country in southeast Africa.
More than half the population lives below the poverty line.
Most Malawians rely on subsistence farming, but the food supply situation is precarious and the country is prone to natural disasters of both extremes - from drought to heavy rainfalls - putting it in constant need of thousands of tonnes of food aid every year.
Its single major natural resource, agricultural land, is under severe pressure from rapid population growth.
There are many street food stalls at markets and bus stations, which serve tea with milk and a bread cake or deep fried cassava for breakfast.
At lunchtime meals, such as beans or meat are served with nsima. Fried potato is available all day.
