Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964 and the first president was Kamuzu Banda. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution, which took full effect the following year. Bakili Muluzi became president after Kamuzu Banda. National multiparty elections were held again in 1999.

Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Capital: Lilongwe

Head of State: President Lazarus Chakwera

Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK)

Population  (million): 16,777,547 (July 2013 est.)

Population growth rate 2.74% (2013 est.)

Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European

Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally

Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 3%, other 2%

Currency: Kwacha