2020 Edition

Background

Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400, during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. A powerful Maravi kingdom established around 1500 reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi and portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia. The kingdom eventually declined because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Malawi and further undermined the Maravi. Members of the Yao ethnic group -- which had long traded with Malawi from Mozambique -- introduced Islam and began to settle in Malawi in significant numbers in the mid-1800s, followed by members of the Lomwe ethnic group. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Nyasa in the mid-1800s, and in 1891, Britain declared a protectorate called British Central Africa over what is now Malawi. The British renamed the territory Nyasaland in 1907, and it was part of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland -- including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe -- from 1953 to 1963 before gaining independence as Malawi in 1964. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA served as prime minister at independence and then as president when the country became a republic in 1966. He later instituted one-party rule under his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and was declared president for life. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Bakili MULUZI of the United Democratic Front party became the first freely elected president of Malawi when he defeated BANDA at the polls in 1994; he won reelection in 1999. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA was elected in 2004 and reelected to a second term in 2009. He died abruptly in 2012 and was succeeded by Vice President Joyce BANDA. MUTHARIKA's brother, Peter MUTHARIKA, defeated BANDA in the election in 2014. Peter MUTHARIKA was reelected in a disputed election in 2019 that resulted in countrywide protests. The courts ordered a new election, and in 2020, Lazarus CHAKWERA of the MCP was elected president. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

Area

land

94,080 sq km

total

118,484 sq km

water

24,404 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate

sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

lowest point

junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m

mean elevation

779 m

Geographic coordinates

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; Lake Nyasa, about 580 km (360 mi) long, is the country's most prominent physical feature; it contains more fish species than any other lake on earth

Irrigated land

740 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Mozambique 1,498 km; Tanzania 512 km; Zambia 847 km

total

2,857 km

Land use

agricultural land

64.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 42.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 19.6% (2023 est.)

forest

22.4% (2023 est.)

other

13.4% (2023 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490

salt water lake(s)

Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

flooding; droughts; earthquakes

Natural resources

limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Population distribution

population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Age structure

0-14 years

37.7% (male 4,080,567/female 4,132,710)

15-64 years

58.4% (male 6,217,761/female 6,487,273)

65 years and over

3.9% (2024 est.) (male 376,266/female 468,732)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

2.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

28.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

7% (2020)

women married by age 15

7.5% (2020)

women married by age 18

37.7% (2020)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.6% (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62.1% (2020 est.)

Death rate

3.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.7 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

15 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

71.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

64.6 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 68.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 71.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 31.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 28.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

16% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign 0.3% (2018 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.65 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

3.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

27.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

36.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

28.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

English (official), Chewa (dominant), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.1 years

male

69.9 years

total population

73 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

62.7% (2020 est.)

male

78.6% (2020 est.)

total population

70.2% (2020 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.276 million LILONGWE (capital), 1.031 million Blantyre-Limbe (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

225 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

20.6 years

male

20 years

total

19.4 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.1 years (2015/16 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Malawian

noun

Malawian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.8% (2016)

Physician density

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

11,088,715

male

10,674,594

total

21,763,309 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

2.16% (2025 est.)

Religions

Protestant 33.5% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 14.2%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 9.4%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 2.3%), Roman Catholic 17.2%, other Christian 26.6%, Muslim 13.8%, traditionalist 1.1%, other 5.6%, none 2.1% (2018 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 73.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 75.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 87.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 26.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 24.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 12.9% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2021 est.)

male

10 years (2021 est.)

total

10 years (2021 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

0.99 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.01 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.4% (2025 est.)

male

11.7% (2025 est.)

total

6.3% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.33 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

18.3% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba

Capital

etymology

named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city; the origin of the river's name is unclear

geographic coordinates

13 58 S, 33 47 E

name

Lilongwe

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty and territory of the state, fundamental constitutional principles, human rights, voting rights, and the judiciary, requires majority approval in a referendum and majority approval by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly

history

previous 1953 (pre-independence), 1964, 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Malawi

conventional short form

Malawi

etymology

named for the Maravi people who inhabited the area since the 14th century; the word maravi means "flames"

former

British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

local long form

Dziko la Malawi

local short form

Malawi

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jonathan FISCHER (since 8 August 2025)

email address and website

LilongweConsular@state.gov https://mw.usembassy.gov/

embassy

16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3

FAX

[265] (0) 177-0471

mailing address

2280 Lilongwe Place, Washington DC 20521-2280

telephone

[265] (0) 177-3166

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Esme Jynet CHOMBO (since 19 April 2022)

email address and website

malawidc@aol.com Home | Malawi Embassy USA

telephone

[1] (202) 451- 0409

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet named by the president

chief of state

President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October 2025)

election results

2025: Peter MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote- Peter MUTHARIKA (DPP) 56.8%, Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 33.0%, Dalitso KABAMBE (UTM) 3.95, Atupele MULUZI (UDF) 1.92%, Joyce BANDA (PP) 1.61%, other 2.72% 2020: Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.8%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

expected date of next election

September 2030

head of government

President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October 2025)

most recent election date

September 2030

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green, with a rising red sun centered on the black band meaning: black stands for ethnic groups, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, and green for nature; the sun represents the hope of freedom for the continent of Africa

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

6 July 1964 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; other judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, which regulates judicial officers; judges serve until age 65

subordinate courts

High Court; magistrate courts; Industrial Relations Court; district and city traditional or local courts

Legal system

mixed system of English common law and customary law; Supreme Court of Appeal reviews legislative acts

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

September 2025

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

National Assembly

most recent election date

9/16/2025

number of seats

229 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (78); Malawi Congress Party (MCP) (52); Independents (73); Other (21)

percentage of women in chamber

21.4%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1964

lyrics/music

Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

title

"Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (O God, Bless Our Land of Malawi)

National color(s)

black, red, green

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Lake Malawi National Park (n); Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c); Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (c)

total World Heritage Sites

3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 July (1964)

National symbol(s)

lion

Political parties

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP  Malawi Congress Party or MCP  People's Party or PP  United Democratic Front or UDF United Transformation Movement or UTM 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, sugarcane, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, pumpkins/squash, plantains (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$3.523 billion (2022 est.)

revenues

$2.208 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$1.918 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$2.218 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$2.276 billion (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$2.269 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

low-income East African economy; primarily agrarian; investing in human capital; urban poverty increasing due to COVID-19; high public debt; endemic corruption and poor property rights; poor hydroelectric grid; localized pharmaceutical industry

Exchange rates

Currency

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

745.541 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

749.527 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

805.9 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

949.039 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1,161.094 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$1.587 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$1.487 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$1.526 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

tobacco, tea, dried legumes, soybean meal, raw sugar (2023)

Exports - partners

Germany 11%, India 7%, Zimbabwe 6%, South Africa 5%, USA 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

32.4% (2024 est.)

industry

16% (2024 est.)

services

44.9% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.009 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

38.5 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31% (2019 est.)

lowest 10%

2.9% (2019 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$3.768 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$3.834 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$3.995 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, garments, postage stamps/documents (2023)

Imports - partners

China 17%, South Africa 16%, UAE 12%, India 7%, Tanzania 7% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

2.1% (2024 est.)

Industries

tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

21% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

28.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

32.2% (2024 est.)

Labor force

8.602 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

50.7% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2022

55.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$34.143 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$34.789 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$35.425 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$1,600 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018

$766.155 million (2018 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019

$846.84 million (2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$594.498 million (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.5% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

5.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

7.1% (2024 est.)

male

6.4% (2024 est.)

total

6.8% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

production

3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

801.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

1.585 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

19.938 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

731,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

231.785 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

5.6%

electrification - total population

14% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

54%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

92.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

1.792 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total

17,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

radio is the main broadcast medium; privately owned Zodiak radio has the widest national reach, followed by state-run radio; numerous private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns; the largest TV network is state-owned, but at least 4 private TV networks broadcast in urban areas; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet country code

.mw

Internet users

percent of population

18% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

5,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

69 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

15 million (2024 est.)

Airports

27 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

7Q

Railways

narrow gauge

767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

total

767 km (2014)

Military - note

the MDF’s primary responsibility is external security; it is also tasked as necessary with providing support to civilian authorities during emergencies, supporting the Police Service, protecting national forest reserves, and participating in regional peacekeeping missions, as well as assisting with infrastructure development; key areas of concern include border security, regional conflict, and international terrorism; the MDF participates in exercises with foreign partners and contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations; Malawi contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations the MDF was established in 1964 from elements of the Kings African Rifles (KAR), a British colonial regiment raised from Great Britain's various possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s; the KAR conducted both military and internal security functions within the colonial territories, and served outside the territories during the World Wars (2025)

Military and security forces

Malawi Defense Force (MDF): Malawi Army (Land Forces), Malawi Maritime Force (MMF), Malawi Air Force (MAF), Malawi National Service (MNS) Ministry of Homeland Security: Malawi Police Service (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 10,000 active Malawi Defense Forces (2025)

Military deployments

750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the MDF's inventory is comprised of mostly older or secondhand armaments originating from such countries as China, France, Israel, South Africa, and the UK (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

135,728 (2024 est.)

refugees

56,659 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

65,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

2.2 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

2.265 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of fish spawning grounds; high temperatures and changing precipitation patterns

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

18.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

17.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.166 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

47.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

143.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1.298 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

9.6% (2022 est.)