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■Bio-mathematics, Statistics and Nano-Technologies: Mosquito Control Strategies

one of the contributing factors leading to the prevalence of tropical diseases like malaria

and schistosomiasis [9]. Flood and drought cycles are also common in the country occur-

ring almost on yearly basis, with the low-lying areas being the most affected.

The country is divided into three regions: the northern region, which is mostly moun-

tainous, the upland central plateau region and the low-lying southern region. There are a

total of 28 districts in the country. The Northern Region consists of six districts, The Cen-

tral Region has nine districts while the Southern Region has thirteen districts. The three

regions have also three different capitals. Mzuzu is the capital for the Northern Region,

Lilongwe is the capital for the Central Region and also the capital city for the country,

while Blantyre is the capital for the Southern Region and also the commercial city for the

country. Administratively, the districts in Malawi are further subdivided into traditional

authorities (TAs), headed by chiefs and each TA is comprised of villages, which are the

smallest administrative units, and these are overseen by village headmen.

According to the sixth Population and Housing Census (PHC) that was carried out in

2018, Malawi registered a total of approximately 17.5 million people. Males make up 49%

of this population while females make up 51%. This population size is almost 4 times that

which was registered in Malawi’s first census of 1966. There has also been a 35% increase

in population size from the previous census, which was carried out in 2008, representing

a growth rate of 2.9% annually. If such a growth rate remains constant, the country is ex-

pected to double its current population by 2042 [10].

Malawi’s population density is regarded as one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The 2018 PHC indicated that Malawi’s population density rose to 186 persons per km²

compared with 138 in the 2008 census. Of the three regions of the country, the southern

region remains the region registering the highest population density, or 244 persons per

km². This is followed by the central region at 211 per km² and then the northern region

at 84. Fertility rate is also regarded as one of the highest in the Sub-Saharan African re-

gion, which partly explains the country’s high population density. The latest Demographic

Health Survey of 2015/16, however, registered some significant declines in the fertility rate

[11].

The country’s population is regarded as youthful, with about 46% of the population

under the age of 15. This results in a heavy burden on the working-age population, that

need to provide basic needs and services like education and health to this young popu-

lation [12]. Furthermore, it poses challenges for poverty reduction [13]. Malawi is also

predominantly rural with 84% of the population living in rural areas and 16% in urban

areas. While females make up the biggest percentage in the rural areas, it is almost equal,

males and females in the urban areas.

According to the World Bank, Malawi falls in the category of the world’s least devel-

oped countries, with a significant portion of its population living below the poverty line

[13]. The country’s economy is greatly dependent on agriculture (>80%). The country’s

high population density, however, has subsequently resulted into reduced landholdings.