Malawi

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

fresh water lake(s):

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

salt water lake(s):

Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km

Atlantic Ocean drainage:

Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage:

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

• flooding;
• droughts;
• earthquakes

• 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

noun:

Malawian(s)

adjective:

Malawian

total:

19.4 years (2025 est.)

male:

20 years

female:

20.6 years

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:

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

male:

36.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

27.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

73 years (2024 est.)

male:

69.9 years

female:

76.1 years

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:

6.3% (2025 est.)

male:

11.7% (2025 est.)

female:

1.4% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

7.5% (2020)

women married by age 18:

37.7% (2020)

men married by age 18:

7% (2020)

• 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)

urban population:

18.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

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

municipal solid waste generated annually:

1.298 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

9.6% (2022 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.)

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"

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

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

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

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

• 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

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:

[email protected]; Home; Malawi Embassy USA

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:

[email protected]; https://mw.usembassy.gov/

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

title:

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

lyrics/music:

Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA

history:

adopted 1964

total World Heritage Sites:

3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

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

• 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

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

total:

6.8% (2024 est.)

male:

6.4% (2024 est.)

female:

7.1% (2024 est.)

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

lowest 10%:

2.9% (2019 est.)

highest 10%:

31% (2019 est.)

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

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.)

total subscriptions:

5,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2023 est.) less than 1

• 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:

17,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2023 est.) less than 1

total:

767 km (2014)

narrow gauge:

767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

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

refugees:

56,659 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

135,728 (2024 est.)