Malawi population up by 2.8%

The population of Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, has shot up by 2.8 per cent, a senior government minister announced here Monday. Economic Planning and Development Minister Ken Lipenga said here while unveiling the results of the census held in May this year, that Malawi’s population now stood at 13.1 million.

"The preliminary results from the census indicate that the population of Malawi is now 13.1 million," Lipenga said.

According to him, this represented a 2.8 per cent increase from the last census held in 1998, adding that 45 per cent of Malawians live in the populous southern region, while 42 per cent are in the central region while the northern region represents 13 per cent of the population.

"The results will provide policy makers with an updated and solid denominator for their decisions," he said.

Esperance Fundira, resident representative for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Malawi, said the UN believes in the importance of reliable data for effective decision-making and for the monitoring of development policies.

“Clear data on the demographic distribution will ensure proper planning,” Fundir a said.

About US$ 18.4 million was used in the census which was funded by the UNFPA and the governments of Britain, Germany and Ireland.

This is Malawi’s fifth census since the first one in 1966 when the population was four million.

Women represent 51 per cent of the country's population.

Malawi, like most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is worst hit by the AIDS pandemic with about 14 per cent of the population infected.

Life expectancy has been cut to 36 years due to the pandemic.

Over half of the population live below the UN prescribed poverty line of US$ 1 a day and a per capita domestic product is about US$ 210 (155 euros) per year.