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)
Page last updated: Friday, September 26, 2025
