GEOGRAPHY

Malawi is one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most densely populated countries. The population of Lilongwe–Malawi’s capital since 1971–of 670,000 makes it the largest city in the country (preliminary results from the 2008 Malawi population and housing census). All government ministries and the parliament are located in Lilongwe. Blantyre remains Malawi’s major commercial center with a population of 660,000. Malawi’s President resides in Lilongwe. The Supreme Court is seated in Blantyre.

Malawi’s climate is generally subtropical. A rainy season runs from November through April. There is little to no rainfall throughout most of the country from May to October. It is hot and humid from October to April along the lake and in the Lower Shire Valley.

Lilongwe is also hot and humid during these months, albeit far less than in the south. The rest of the country is warm during those months. From June through August, the lake areas and far south are comfortably warm, but the rest of Malawi can be chilly at night, with temperatures ranging from 5^o-14^oC (41^o-57^oF).

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