Location Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Geographic coordinates 13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references Africa

Area
total: 118,480 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Coastline 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims none (landlocked)

Climate sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Terrain narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Elevation extremes
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

Natural resources limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Land use
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 79% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 280 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards NA

Environment - current issues deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature

NOTE: The information regarding Malawi on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Malawi Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Malawi Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.