Malawi

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
From the late 15th to the 18th centuries, a prosperous Kingdom of Maravi -- from which the name Malawi derives -- extended its reach into what are now areas of Zambia and Mozambique. In 1889, a British Central African Protectorate was established, which was renamed Nyasaland in 1907 and became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964.

Geography

Area
total : 118,484 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,404 sq km

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

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

People and Society

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

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.)

Languages
English (official), Chewa (dominant), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao

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.)

Population growth rate
2.22% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Lilongwe

Executive branch
chief of state: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020)
head of government: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Esme Jynet CHOMBO (since 19 April 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jonathan FISCHER (since 8 August 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$35.425 billion (2024 est.)
$34.789 billion (2023 est.)
$34.143 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$1,600 (2024 est.)
$1,600 (2023 est.)
$1,700 (2022 est.)

Exports
$1.526 billion (2023 est.)
$1.487 billion (2022 est.)
$1.587 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Germany 11%, India 7%, Zimbabwe 6%, South Africa 5%, USA 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities
tobacco, tea, dried legumes, soybean meal, raw sugar (2023)

Imports
$3.995 billion (2023 est.)
$3.834 billion (2022 est.)
$3.768 billion (2021 est.)

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

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

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.517, ranking it 172th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 152nd out of 158 countries tested with a score of 3.383. (more information)