About Malawi

“The Warm Heart of Africa”

  • Government: Malawi gained independence on the 6th of July 1964 and was previously known as Nyasaland
  • Capital: Lilongwe
  • Major languages: English and Chichewa (both official)
  • Major religions: Christianity (80%) and Islam (20%)
  • Currency: Malawi kwacha (MWK)
  • Media: Radio is the medium of choice. A state TV station opened in 1999
  • Area: 46,000 square miles (118,480 km²), approximately the size of Pennsylvania 
  • Climate: Subtropical: rainy season, December to May; dry season, May to December
  • Lake: 364 miles long by 50 miles wide
    Population: 21.1 million (2023 World Bank), growing at 3% per year
    – 0 – 14 years old = 42%
    – 15 – 64 years old = 55%
    – 65+ years old = 3%
  • Average life expectancy at birth: 63 years (2022 World Bank)
  • Fertility Rate: 3.8 children born per woman (2022 World Bank)
  • Infant mortality: 30 deaths per 1,000 live births (2022 World Bank)
  • Number of people living with HIV: 980,000 (2023 UNAIDS)
  • Orphans due to AIDS: aged 1-17 440,000 (2023 UNAIDS)
  • Percentage of population below the poverty line: Exceeding 70% (2024 World Bank)
  • Average annual income: US$480 per year (2024 International Monetary Fund)
  • Main exports: Malawi’s main export is tobacco, which accounts for 36.6 of total exports. Others include: gold (19%), tea (7.1%), ground nuts (6.85%), dried legumes (4.84%), and sugar (2.57%). (Source OEC 2022)

Area split: 82% live in the rural areas; 18% in the towns (Malawi Census 2021)

With a population of over 21 million, Malawi is largely an agricultural country and is making efforts to overcome decades of underdevelopment and the more recent impact of a growing HIV/AIDS problem. In 2023, almost 1,000,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS. More than half the population lives below the poverty line.

Malawi has not been a premier African tourist destination, but it is a real jewel for those who do visit. It is known as the Warm Heart of Africa for a very good reason. The Malawians are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

The country is about the size of Pennsylvania, and one-fifth is covered by Lake Malawi, which is home to more species of fish than any other lake in the world, including about 1,000 species of cichlids. It is bordered by Tanzania to the north, Zambia to the west, and Mozambique to the east and south. One of Malawi’s great attractions is its diversity of natural landscapes. The Rift Valley floor stretches the length of the country, and Lake Malawi occupies most of it, being 364 miles (585 km) long and 50 miles (80 km) across at its widest point, which makes it the third largest freshwater lake in Africa.