UNFPA Press Release Malawi’s Population and Housing Census 2008 preliminary reports released, population up 13.1 million
Download the Reports	2008 malawi Population and housing Census Statsflash 2008 Malawi Population and Housing Census Preliminary Report

Hon. Dr. Ken Lipenga and Ms. Esperance Fundira, UNFPA Representative at the launch of the Preliminary Release of Malawi’s 2008 Population and Housing Census.

LILONGWE, 10 November, 2008 – Malawi’s population is now 13.1 million, according to the preliminary results of the 2008 Malawi Population and Housing Census today.

The new figure represents an annual population growth rate of 2.8% for the period 1998 to 2008, or a 32% increase of population. Of the total number of people enumerated 45 percent are found in the Southern Region, 42 percent in the Central Region and 13 percent in the Northern Region, according to Minister of Economic Planning and Development Dr. Ken Lipenga.

Speaking at the launch of the results, the minister said the census results will provide policy makers, programme managers and other planners, whether in the public or private sectors, with an updated and solid denominator for their decisions.

“There will be no excuse for using either outdated or own estimates that have no scientific basis when the required information which has been objectively obtained is now available,” said Dr. Lipenga.

The Census is being supported by United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA), the Department for International Development of the British Government (DFID) and Irish Aid.  The development partners are providing both financial and technical support.

Speaking on behalf of the census donors, UNFPA representative (Malawi) Esperance Fundira said all development partners including the United Nations, strongly believe in the importance of reliable gender disaggregated data for effective decision-making and for the monitoring of development policies and programmes for overall development.

“The availability of updated gender disaggregated data and reliable statistics is crucial if Malawi is to enhance its efforts towards more evidence-based policy making,” said Ms. Fundira.

She said census gender disaggregated data plays a key role in many aspects of the country’s democracy and economy.

Ms. Fundira said reliable gender disaggregated data obtained through the census is vital for monitoring how the country is doing in its efforts to reduce poverty through sustained economic growth and development as enshrined in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) and in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“Decisions on where we build our schools, hospitals and roads, private investment decisions, such as where retail outlets and other services are located, will be reached at with information from the Census.  The data from the Census is an authoritative source of information about the nation's most important resource; its people,” said Ms. Fundira.

With the release of the preliminary results, government, through the National Statistical Office (NSO) will embark on the finalization of the census results with such activities as the production of the final detailed results and the subsequent analysis and production of population projections.

For more information, contact:
Pilirani Semu-Banda on + 265 (0) 1 771 444, cell +265 5 424 765 or email semu-banda@unfpa.org