Malawi - MW - MWI - MAW - Africa

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Amy W. DIAZ (since February 2024)

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/

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)

13 30 S, 34 00 E

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.)

flooding; droughts; earthquakes

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

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)

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.

deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations; negative effects of climate change (extreme high temperatures, 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

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2019 est.)

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

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

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

revenues: $1.688 billion (2020 est.)

expenditures: $1.941 billion (2020 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

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

0 km (landlocked)

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

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.)

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

elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 June 2020 (next to be held in June 2025) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results:
2020: Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.8%

2014: Peter MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Peter MUTHARIKA (DPP) 36.4%, Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 27.8%, Joyce BANDA (PP) 20.2%, Atupele MULUZI (UDF) 13.7%, other 1.9% 

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered on the black band; black represents the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for freedom, and green the color of nature; the rising sun represents the hope of freedom for the continent of Africa

total: 15,451 km

paved: 4,038 km

unpaved: 11,413 km (2022)

6 July 1964 (from the UK)

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

700 km (2010) (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River)

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

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.)

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal

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

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 67.3%

male: 71.2%

female: 63.7% (2021)

none (landlocked)

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

noun: Malawian(s)

adjective: Malawian

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

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

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

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 

total: 767 km (2014)

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

18 years of age; universal

general assessment: with few resources, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries; there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country’s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services; both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services; the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region; the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs; following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third; mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022; the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region; these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021 (2022)

domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 60 per 100 households (2021)

international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

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

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"

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

Africa

740 sq km (2012)

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

percent of population: 18% (2023 est.)

.mw

refugees (country of origin): 11,502 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 6,594 (Rwanda) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2023); 34,605 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers)

$12.712 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

17.28 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

total: 11 years

male: 11 years

female: 11 years (2011)

urban population: 18.3% of total population (2023)

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

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

improved:

urban: 96.7% of population

rural: 91% of population

total: 92% of population

unimproved:

urban: 3.3% of population

rural: 9% of population

total: 8% of population (2020 est.)

name: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)

lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

note: adopted 1964

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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

lion; national colors: black, red, green

19.1 years (2015/16 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

65.6% (2019/20)

household consumption: 84.3% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 16.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 15.3% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 27.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -43.8% (2017 est.)

total dependency ratio: 84.7

youth dependency ratio: 79.7

elderly dependency ratio: 5

potential support ratio: 20.1 (2021 est.)

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

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

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

electrification - urban areas: 54%

electrification - rural areas: 5.6%

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 10,545 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10,000 (2018) mt-km

7Q

improved:

urban: 59.9% of population

rural: 35.9% of population

total: 40% of population

unimproved:

urban: 40.1% of population

rural: 64.1% of population

total: 60% of population (2020 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

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

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

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

7.4% of GDP (2021)

estimated 10,000 active military personnel (2023)

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)

740 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO; note - as of early 2024, MONUSCO forces were drawing down towards a complete withdrawal by the end of 2024) (2024)

widespread lack of access: due to weather extremes and high food prices - the latest analysis indicates that about 3.8 million people (20 percent of the population) are estimated to have faced high levels of acute food insecurity between January and March 2023; this figure is more than double the number in the corresponding months of 2022; high food prices are the key reason for the deterioration in food insecurity, which, in the absence of a substantial increase in incomes, are severely constraining households’ economic access to food; production shortfalls in southern districts in 2022, areas that have the highest prevalence of food insecurity, are a further contributing factor; the impact of Cyclone Freddy (February-March 2023) on southern districts, including crop losses and destruction of infrastructure as well as high food prices, are expected to aggravate food insecurity conditions in 2023 (2023)

municipal: 140 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 1.17 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,297,844 tons (2013 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 18.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 1.3 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 11.12 megatons (2020 est.)

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

NA

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; it is generally considered to be a professional and effective service, although most of its equipment is aging and obsolescent; 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 (2023)

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

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

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.)

women married by age 15: 7.5%

women married by age 18: 37.7%

men married by age 18: 7% (2020 est.)

1.58 (2024 est.)

60.7% (2022 est.)

1.41% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.13% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.57% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

8.541 million (2023 est.)

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

total: 6.8% (2023 est.)

male: 6.4% (2023 est.)

female: 7.2% (2023 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

$2.551 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

381 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

$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

3.19 children born/woman (2024 est.)

5.04% (2023 est.)
5.05% (2022 est.)
5.59% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

male: 10,674,594

female: 11,088,715

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.)

total : 118,484 sq km

land: 94,080 sq km

water: 24,404 sq km

13.5% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$34.789 billion (2023 est.)
$34.143 billion (2022 est.)
$33.832 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

27 (2025)

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 subscriptions: 12.9 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2022 est.)

38.5 (2019 est.)

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

28.79% (2023 est.)
20.95% (2022 est.)
9.33% (2021 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 (2023 est.)
$1,700 (2022 est.)
$1,700 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 17,000 (2023 est.)

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

total: 10.8% (2020 est.)

male: 17.5% (2020 est.)

female: 4.1% (2020 est.)

5.8% (2016)

1.792 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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

26.6 births/1,000 population (2024 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.)

11.7% (2020)

$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

total subscriptions: 5,000 (2023 est.)

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

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

1.89% (2023 est.)
0.92% (2022 est.)
2.75% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

2.52% (2023 est.)

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

agriculture: 30.4% (2023 est.)

industry: 15.3% (2023 est.)

services: 47.5% (2023 est.)

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

6.19% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)

2.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

2.22% (2024 est.)