Malawi

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.

13 30 S, 34 00 E

flooding; droughts; earthquakes

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

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

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

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

0 km (landlocked)

Total: 2,857 km

Border countries (3): Mozambique 1,498 km; Tanzania 512 km; Zambia 847 km

Agricultural land: 64.2% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 42.4% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 2.1% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 19.6% (2022 est.)

Forest: 22.9% (2022 est.)

Other: 12.9% (2022 est.)

none (landlocked)

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

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

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

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

Africa

740 sq km (2012)

17.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

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

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 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

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

Total : 118,484 sq km

Land: 94,080 sq km

Water: 24,404 sq km

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)

At birth: 1.01 male(s)/female

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

Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total population: 70.2% (2020 est.)

Male: 78.6% (2020 est.)

Female: 62.7% (2020 est.)

Noun: Malawian(s)

Adjective: Malawian

Total: 10 years (2021 est.)

Male: 10 years (2021 est.)

Female: 10 years (2021 est.)

Urban population: 18.3% of total population (2023)

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

Improved:

Urban: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 68.8% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 71.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 31.2% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 28.1% of population (2022 est.)

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

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

19.1 years (2015/16 est.)

Note: Data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Total dependency ratio: 71.3 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 64.6 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 15 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 87.1% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 73.4% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 75.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 12.9% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 26.6% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 24.2% of population (2022 est.)

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.)

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.)

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

Note: Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects; Nkhonde and Nyakyusa are mutually intelligible dialects

7.4% of GDP (2021)

3.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Women married by age 15: 7.5% (2020)

Women married by age 18: 37.7% (2020)

Men married by age 18: 7% (2020)

1.58 (2024 est.)

60.7% (2022 est.)

Total: 6.8% (2024 est.)

Male: 6.4% (2024 est.)

Female: 7.1% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 20.3 years (2024 est.)

Male: 20 years

Female: 20.6 years

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

3.19 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 21,763,309 (2024 est.)

Male: 10,674,594

Female: 11,088,715

Total: 31.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 36.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 27.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 6.3% (2025 est.)

Male: 11.7% (2025 est.)

Female: 1.4% (2025 est.)

5.8% (2016)

4.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

26.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

11.7% (2020)

Total: 2.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 73 years (2024 est.)

Male: 69.9 years

Female: 76.1 years

3.3% of GDP (2018 est.)

1.2% national budget (2024 est.)

2.22% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 143.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 47.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 1.166 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.298 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.6% (2022 est.)

18.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

2.265 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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.)

1.792 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jonathan FISCHER (since 8 August 2025)

Embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3

Mailing address: 2280 Lilongwe Place, Washington DC  20521-2280

Telephone: [265] (0) 177-3166

FAX: [265] (0) 177-0471

Email address and website:
LilongweConsular@state.gov

https://mw.usembassy.gov/

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

Name: Lilongwe

Geographic coordinates: 13 58 S, 33 47 E

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

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

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

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

Chief of state: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020)

Head of government: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020)

Cabinet: Cabinet named by the president

Election/appointment process: President directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

Most recent election date: September 2030

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%

Expected date of next election: September 2025

Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

6 July 1964 (from the UK)

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

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

Legislature name: National Assembly

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 193 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Plurality/majority

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 5/21/2019

Parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (62); Malawi Congress Party (MCP) (55); United Democratic Front (UDF) (10); Independents (55); Other (10)

Percentage of women in chamber: 20.7%

Expected date of next election: September 2025

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

Independence Day, 6 July (1964)

Note: also called Republic Day since 6 July 1966

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 

18 years of age; universal

presidential republic

Conventional long form: Republic of Malawi

Conventional short form: Malawi

Local long form: Dziko la Malawi

Local short form: Malawi

Former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

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

Chief of mission: Ambassador Esme Jynet CHOMBO (since 19 April 2022)

Chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 451- 0409

Email address and website:
malawidc@aol.com

Home | Malawi Embassy USA

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

Lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

History: Adopted 1964

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

lion

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

Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Malawi National Park (n); Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c)

black, red, green

50.7% (2019 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 2.9% (2019 est.)

Highest 10%: 31% (2019 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $2.208 billion (2022 est.)

Expenditures: $3.523 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
1,161.094 (2023 est.)
949.039 (2022 est.)
805.9 (2021 est.)
749.527 (2020 est.)
745.541 (2019 est.)

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

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

$11.009 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

8.602 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$2.269 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$594.498 million (2020 est.)
$846.84 million (2019 est.)
$766.155 million (2018 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

55.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

5.1% (2024 est.)
5.1% (2023 est.)
5.1% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

13.5% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$35.425 billion (2024 est.)
$34.789 billion (2023 est.)
$34.143 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

32.2% (2024 est.)
28.8% (2023 est.)
21% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$2.276 billion (2023 est.)
-$2.218 billion (2022 est.)
-$1.918 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$1,600 (2024 est.)
$1,600 (2023 est.)
$1,700 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$3.995 billion (2023 est.)
$3.834 billion (2022 est.)
$3.768 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$1.526 billion (2023 est.)
$1.487 billion (2022 est.)
$1.587 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

1.8% (2024 est.)
1.9% (2023 est.)
0.9% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

2.1% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 32.4% (2024 est.)

Industry: 16% (2024 est.)

Services: 44.9% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 14% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 54%

Electrification - rural areas: 5.6%

Production: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 801.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 92.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Biomass and waste: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 731,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 1.585 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Exports: 19.938 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 231.785 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 18% (2023 est.)

.mw

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)

Total subscriptions: 12.9 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2022 est.)

Total: 17,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions: 5,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Total: 767 km (2014)

Narrow gauge: 767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

7Q

27 (2025)

18-30years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; high school equivalent required for enlisted recruits and college equivalent for officer recruits; initial engagement is 7 years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers (2023)

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

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)

Note: The MDF reports directly to the president as commander in chief

estimated 10,000 active Malawi Defense Forces (2025)

the MDF's inventory is a mix of mostly older or secondhand equipment originating from such countries as France, South Africa, and the UK  (2024)

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

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)

Refugees: 56,659 (2024 est.)

IDPs: 135,728 (2024 est.)

38.5 (2019 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality