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East Africa · Africa

Malawi

Malawi
Capital
Lilongwe
Population
20.4M
Area
118,484 km²
Language
English / Chichewa

Malawi is a country in East Africa, Africa. Its capital is Lilongwe, with a population of approximately 20.4M and a total area of 118,484 km². The official languages are English / Chichewa and the currency is the Malawian Kwacha (MWK).

📊 Quick Facts about Malawi

👥
Population
20.4M
total residents
📐
Total Area
118,484 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
172/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$12.6B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$618
per person
💱
Currency
Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
English / Chichewa
official
🌊
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+2
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1964
established
🕐
Local Time in Lilongwe

Malawi covers an area of 118,484 km² with a population density of 172/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $12.6B ($618 per capita) and gained independence in 1964. It is a landlocked country with no coastline.

Did You Know?

Lake Malawi contains more fish species than any other lake in the world, over 1,000 species of cichlid fish, 90% of which are found nowhere else. The lake is so large it covers 20% of Malawi's total territory.

See all 14+ facts about Malawi

✈️ Travel Information for Malawi

📅
Best Time to Visit
May–October
Tropical, dry season May–October
💸
Cost of Travel
Budget
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa-free for many nationalities
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Malawi travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Malawi on the Map

Street-level photo from Lilongwe
📍 Lilongwe · 1/1
via Mapillary

Google Street View not available here. Showing community photos via Mapillary (CC BY-SA).

🏆 Malawi World Rankings

1st
Fish Species
Lake Malawi has more fish species than any other lake on Earth
1st
Warm Heart
Called the Warm Heart of Africa for its exceptionally friendly people
1st
Lake Size
Lake Malawi covers 20% of the country's total area
1st
Cichlids
Over 1,000 cichlid fish species, 30% of world's known cichlid species

🏛 Must-See Places in Malawi

🗺️ Countries Bordering Malawi

Tanzania
Tanzania
Dodoma
Mozambique
Mozambique
Maputo
Zambia
Zambia
Lusaka

⚖️ Compare Malawi with another country

See how Malawi stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

MalawivsTanzania
Malawi vs Tanzania
MalawivsMozambique
Malawi vs Mozambique
MalawivsZambia
Malawi vs Zambia
MalawivsKenya
Malawi vs Kenya
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Malawi

What is the capital of Malawi?

The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe.

What continent is Malawi in?

Malawi is located in Africa, in the East Africa region.

What currency does Malawi use?

Malawi uses the Malawian Kwacha (MWK). The international calling code is +265.

What is the GDP of Malawi?

Malawi has a GDP of $12.6B, with a GDP per capita of $618.

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