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
Total: 118,484 km²
Land: 94,080 km²
Water: 24,404 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
Total: 2,857 km
Border countries (3): (3) Mozambique 1,498 km; Tanzania 512 km; Zambia 847 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

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

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 64.2% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 22.4% (2023 est.)
Other: 13.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 740 km² (2012)

Major rivers: 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

Natural hazards: flooding; droughts; earthquakes

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

Population
Total: 21,763,309 (2024 est.)
Male: 10,674,594
Female: 11,088,715
Distribution: population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution map
Growth rate: 2.22% (2024 est.)

Languages: 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

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.)

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)

Dependency ratios
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.)

Median age
Total: 20.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 20 years
Female: 20.6 years

Population growth rate: 2.22% (2024 est.)

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

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

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 18.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.276 million LILONGWE (capital), 1.031 million Blantyre-Limbe (2023)

Sex ratio
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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 225 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73 years (2024 est.)
Male: 69.9 years
Female: 76.1 years

Total fertility rate: 3.19 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 31.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 28.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 12.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 26.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 24.2% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.6% (2020 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.1% (2024 est.); 5.1% (2023 est.); 5.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
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

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

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

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October)
Head of government: Vice President Jane ANSAH (since 4 October)
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 2,030
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 2,030
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 229 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 9/16/2025
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%
Expected date of next election: September 2025

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green, with a rising red sun centered on the black band

National anthem
Title: 'Mulungu dalitsa Malawi' (O God, Bless Our Land of Malawi)
Lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA
History: adopted 1964

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 1.8% (2024 est.); 1.9% (2023 est.); 0.9% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1.8% (2024 est.); 1.9% (2023 est.); 0.9% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by sector of origin
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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 8.602 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.1% (2024 est.); 5.1% (2023 est.); 5.1% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.1% (2024 est.); 5.1% (2023 est.); 5.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
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

Taxes and other revenues: 13.5% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $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
Commodities: tobacco, tea, dried legumes, soybean meal, raw sugar (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $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
Commodities: refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, garments, postage stamps/documents (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
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.)
Access electrification - total population: 14% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 54%
Access electrification - rural areas: 5.6%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 92.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
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.)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.265 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 65,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.2 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 1.792 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 5,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 12.9 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 18% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 17,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Military expenditures: 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.)

Airports: 27 (2025)

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