Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
17,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.mw
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
18.96% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
5,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
69 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
15 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, sugarcane, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, pumpkins/squash, plantains (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$3.523 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$2.208 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$1.236 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.129 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$1.064 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$1.006 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$1.558 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.705 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.321 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$1.639 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.918 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$2.218 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$2.276 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$2.125 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$3.340 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$2.269 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
1161.094 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
364.406 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
424.897 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
499.606 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
718.005 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
730.273 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
732.333 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
745.541 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
749.527 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
805.900 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
949.039 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1161.094 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
tobacco, tea, dried legumes, soybean meal, raw sugar (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$1.134 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$1.153 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$1.436 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$1.295 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$1.587 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.487 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$1.526 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
32.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
16% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
44.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,858 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$11.009 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$40.227 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
44.7 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
38.5 (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
31% (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.9% (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, garments, postage stamps/documents (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$2.918 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$3.152 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$3.449 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$3.534 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$3.768 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$3.834 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$3.995 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
2.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
21.87% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
21.71% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
11.54% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
12.42% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
9.37% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
8.63% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
9.33% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
20.95% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
28.79% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
32.18% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
8.602 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
50.70% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
24.91% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
27.92% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
37.89% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
34.29% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
41.70% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
44.79% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
55.60% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$25.025 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$23.973 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$24.756 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$24.899 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$27.588 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$29.564 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$33.832 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$34.143 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$34.789 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$35.425 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.80% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
2.50% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.00% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.35% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
5.72% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
0.79% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.56% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.92% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.95% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.67% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$1,506 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$1,403 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$1,410 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$1,380 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$1,450 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$1,513 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$1,688 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$1,778 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$1,830 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$34.1 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$38.5 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$41.5 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$231.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$186.8 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$681.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$610.8 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$768.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$766.155 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$846.84 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$594.498 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
13.5% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.96% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.72% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.65% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.02% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.01% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
5.05% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
7.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
6.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
6.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
801.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
5.6%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
14% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
54%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
92.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
1.585 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
19.938 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
731,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
231.785 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
1.792 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
65,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
2.2 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
2.265 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of fish spawning grounds; high temperatures and changing precipitation patterns
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
64.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
22.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
13.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
18.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
17.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.166 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
47.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
143.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
17.27% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.298 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
9.6% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Geography: Area: land
94,080 sq km
Geography: Area: water
24,404 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
779 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
13 30 S, 34 00 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
740 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Mozambique 1,498 km; Tanzania 512 km; Zambia 847 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,857 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
64.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
22.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
13.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km
Geography: 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
flooding; droughts; earthquakes
Geography: Population distribution
population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city; the origin of the river's name is unclear
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
13 58 S, 33 47 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1953 (pre-independence), 1964, 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Malawi
Government: Country name: etymology
named for the Maravi people who inhabited the area since the 14th century; the word maravi means "flames"
Government: Country name: former
British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government: Country name: local long form
Dziko la Malawi
Government: Country name: local short form
Malawi
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jonathan FISCHER (since 8 August 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
LilongweConsular@state.gov https://mw.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[265] (0) 177-0471
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2280 Lilongwe Place, Washington DC 20521-2280
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[265] (0) 177-3166
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Esme Jynet CHOMBO (since 19 April 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
malawidc@aol.com Home | Malawi Embassy USA
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 451- 0409
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet named by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October 2025)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
September 2030
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
September 2030
Government: 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: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
High Court; magistrate courts; Industrial Relations Court; district and city traditional or local courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law; Supreme Court of Appeal reviews legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
September 2025
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
9/16/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
229 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (78); Malawi Congress Party (MCP) (52); Independents (73); Other (21)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
21.4%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1964
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA
Government: National color(s)
black, red, green
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Lake Malawi National Park (n); Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c); Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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: 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: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 10,000 active Malawi Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.45% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.45% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.53% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.59% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.76% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.83% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.73% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.93% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.17% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.02% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-24 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
37.7% (male 4,080,567/female 4,132,710)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
58.4% (male 6,217,761/female 6,487,273)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.9% (2024 est.) (male 376,266/female 468,732)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
2.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
28.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
7% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
7.5% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
37.7% (2020)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.6% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
6.53% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62.1% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
3.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
15 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
71.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
64.6 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 68.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 71.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 31.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 28.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
16% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.75% (2022 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.65 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
3.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
6.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
27.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
36.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
28.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
70.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
64.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
62.7% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
78.6% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
70.15% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.276 million LILONGWE (capital), 1.031 million Blantyre-Limbe (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
225 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
20.6 years
People and Society: Median age: male
20 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.1 years (2015/16 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Malawian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.8% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
21,655,286 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.58% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
11,088,715
People and Society: Population: male
10,674,594
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 73.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 75.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 87.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 26.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 24.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 12.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
10 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
10 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
10 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.8 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
11.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
6.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.59 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
17.27% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
135,728 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
56,659 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
27 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
7Q
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
767 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.