Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries, ranking 160th out of 182 countries on the Human Development Index. Progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goal of eradicating extreme poverty has been limited. According to the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report for 2009, about 74 per cent of the population still lives below the income poverty line of US$1.25 a day and 90 per cent below the US$2 a day threshold. The proportion of poor and ultra-poor is highest in rural areas of the southern and northern parts of the country.Country indicatorsGDP per capita average annual growth rate (%), 1990-2012 1.2 Underweight (%) 2008-2012*, moderate & severe 12.8 Secondary school participation, Net attendance ratio (%) 2008-2012*, male 9.7 Secondary school participation, Net attendance ratio (%) 2008-2012*, female 10.4 GNI per capita 2012, US$ 320 Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) 74.77 Infant mortality rate 71HDI( human development index) 0.
