Malawi is small, landlocked country in southeast Africa, with an estimated population of a little over fourteen
million people. The predominant language is Chichewa, and almost 80 percent of the population practices Christianity.
Known as the "warm heart of Africa", the people are friendly and kind. Malawi remains one of the world’s poorest
countries. Bad weather conditions leading to bad harvest, chronic poverty and a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and
cholera have kept the people of Malawi in a dire humanitarian situation. Approximately half of Malawi’s population
struggles to survive on less than $1.00 per day. The continuing food insecurity in this country also amplifies
risks for developing diseases such as AIDS and cholera. Malawi’s infant and under-five mortality rates, which are
110 and 175 per 1,000 live births, respectively, remain the world’s highest. Worldwide, hunger and malnutrition
kill more people that AIDS, malaria, and TB combined.
- HIV/AIDS affects nearly one million people in Malawi, including 83,000 children
- A third of all HIV infected mothers pass the virus onto their babies
- Half of Malawi’s one million orphans have lost one or both parents to AIDS
- Child abuse, sexual exploitation and child labor are serious problems among girls and orphans
- Approximately 48 percent of children under the age of five in Malawi are stunted, due to malnutrition
- 22 percent of the country’s children are underweight
- 5 percent of children are wasted or severely malnourished
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