Malawi
Africa Β· Capital: Lilongwe
How it is run: Malawi is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Malawi is home to 22.2 million people in Eastern Africa, where people speak English, Chewa.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
22.2 million people
That is 0.3% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
118,484 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
About 188 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
21st most people in Africa
37th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
English, Chewa
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Malawian kwacha (MK)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
67.6 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$672
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
17.6% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
40.1% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+265
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.mw
π§ People here are called
Malawian
π·οΈ Name at home
Malawi Β· MalaΕ΅i
Also written: Republic of Malawi.
π Coast or inland
Landlocked β no coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Malawi is landlocked β it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Malawi
French
Malawi
Arabic
Ω Ψ§ΩΨ§ΩΩ
Chinese
马ζη»΄
Japanese
γγ©γ¦γ€
Russian
ΠΠ°Π»Π°Π²ΠΈ
Portuguese
Malawi
German
Malawi
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 10.7Γ as many people as Malawi.
- Malawi covers roughly 1,128 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Malawi lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 11,108 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Malawi lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Malawi
ποΈ Capital
Lilongwe
π Region
Africa Β· Eastern Africa
π€ Country code
MW
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Malawi π
π§ Where on the map
13.5Β° S, 34.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 β when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Lilongwe.
- Malawi is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- Malawi is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Malawi lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Malawi sits in Eastern Africa, in the southern and eastern half of the globe.
- Malawi is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Malawi has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Malawi?
- If Malawi spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Malawi?
Lilongwe
Which money do people spend in Malawi?
Malawian kwacha (MK)
How many countries share a land border with Malawi?
3 β Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia.
Roughly how many people live in Malawi?
22.2 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.