The Republic of Malawi, formerly known as Nyasaland, is a landlocked country 
in southeast Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. Lake Nyasa, the country’s most prominent physical feature, makes up over three-quarters of Malawi’s eastern boundary.
The centrally located city of Lilongwe became Malawi’s capital in 1974. Blantyre, the largest city, is the country’s commercial capital. Most Malawians are Christian (80%), with Muslims accounting for another 13%. English and Chichewa are the country’s official languages.
Malawi ranks among the world’s most densely populated and least developed countries. The economy is predominantly agricultural, with most Malawians living in rural areas. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS present significant challenges. Malawi was the first country in southern Africa to receive peace-keeping training under the African Crisis Response Force Initiative.
Sources: The World Factbook, World Bank, and Wikipedia.