Malawi
Lilongwe · Africa · Eastern Africa
Population
20.7M
World Bank, 2025
Area
118,484 km²
GDP
$11.3B
World Bank, 2025
GDP Per Capita
$522.57
World Bank, 2025
Life Expectancy
67.4 yrs
World Bank, 2025
Capital
Lilongwe
Malawi is a country located in Eastern Africa, with its capital in Lilongwe. As of 2025, it has a population of 20.7M and covers an area of 118,484 km². The economy of Malawi has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $11.3B (World Bank, 2025), translating to a per-capita income of $522.57 with annual economic growth of 1.7%. Life expectancy in Malawi stands at 67.4 years (World Bank, 2025), below the global average of 72 years. The official languages include English, Chewa, and the currency is the Malawian kwacha (MK). Malawi shares land borders with 3 countries.
How to Call Malawi
The international calling code for Malawi is +265. When calling from abroad, first dial your country's exit code (for example, 00 in Europe), then 265, then the local number. When dialing internationally, drop the leading trunk prefix "0" from the local number.
Country Code
+265
Exit Code
00
Trunk Prefix
0
Format
+265 X XXXX XXXX
Mobile Prefixes
88, 99
Example: To call a number in Malawi from abroad, dial +265 5 5555 5555
How Large Is Malawi's Economy?
Malawi's GDP of $11.3B makes it a low-income economy by World Bank classification. GDP per capita of $523 is 76% below the regional average of 2,200 (World Bank, 2025). The most recent annual growth rate of 1.7% is below the global median of 3.1% (World Bank, 2025). The unemployment rate of 5.1% is 35% below the regional average of 7.8 (World Bank, 2025). Inflation of 32.2% is severely elevated at 32.2%, a rate that erodes household purchasing power. Malawi's official currency is the Malawian kwacha (MK). As a UN member, Malawi participates in multilateral trade frameworks.
GDP
$11.3B
World Bank, 2025
GDP Per Capita
$522.57
World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth
1.7%
Unemployment
5.1%
Inflation
32.2%
Currencies
MWK
What Are Malawi's Demographics?
With 20.7M people, Malawi is a nation of 20.7M people. At 175 people per km², the country is moderately populated. Life expectancy stands at 67.4 years, 4.6 years below the global average of 72 years. Infant mortality of 29.4 per 1,000 live births is 33% below the regional average of 44 (World Bank, 2025). The country recognizes 2 official languages, including English and Chewa.
Population
20.7M
World Bank, 2025
Life Expectancy
67.4 yrs
World Bank, 2025
Infant Mortality
29.4 per 1k
Literacy Rate
—
Languages
English, Chewa
CO₂ Per Capita
—
Where Is Malawi Located?
Malawi covers 118,484 km² (46,000 sq miles) and shares land borders with 3 countries. The country sits within the Africa region, Eastern Africa subregion, spanning Africa. Lilongwe serves as the seat of government and administrative capital of Malawi. The country spans 1 time zone. Recognized internationally by ISO codes MW and MWI, Malawi is an independent sovereign state and a full UN member. Its 1 currency (MWK) reflects its participation in multilateral trade and monetary frameworks.
Area
118,484 km²
Region
Africa
Subregion
Eastern Africa
Capital
Lilongwe
Timezones
UTC+02:00
Continents
Africa
Border Countries
Data sourced from World Bank Open Data. Last updated: April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about Malawi
What is the population of Malawi?
Malawi has a population of 20.7M as of 2025, according to World Bank data. Life expectancy is 67.4 years.
What is the capital of Malawi?
The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe. It serves as the country's administrative and political center.
What is the GDP of Malawi?
Malawi's GDP is $11.3B as of 2025 (World Bank). GDP per capita is $522.57. The economy grew at 1.7% in 2025.
What is the life expectancy in Malawi?
The average life expectancy in Malawi is 67.4 years (World Bank, 2025), below the global average of 72 years. The infant mortality rate is 29.4 per 1,000 live births.
What region is Malawi in?
Malawi is located in Africa, specifically in Eastern Africa. It is part of the continent of Africa.
What is the size of Malawi?
Malawi covers an area of 118,484 km² (45,747 square miles). The population density is approximately 175.0 people per km².
What currency does Malawi use?
Malawi uses the Malawian kwacha (MK) with currency code MWK.
What language is spoken in Malawi?
The official languages of Malawi are English, Chewa.
Is Malawi a member of the United Nations?
Yes, Malawi is a member of the United Nations.
What is Malawi's GDP?
Malawi's GDP is $11.3B (World Bank, 2025). This places it among Africa's economies by total output.
What is Malawi's GDP per capita?
Malawi's GDP per capita is $523, which is 76% below the regional average of 2,200 (World Bank, 2025).
What is Malawi's inflation rate?
Malawi's inflation rate is 32.2%, severely elevated at 32.2%, a rate that erodes household purchasing power (World Bank, 2025).
What is the population density of Malawi?
Malawi has a population density of 175 people per km², making it moderately populated.
What is the life expectancy in Malawi?
Life expectancy in Malawi is 67.4 years, 4.6 years below the global average of 72 years (World Bank, 2025).
What is the total area of Malawi?
Malawi has a total land area of 118,484 km² (46,000 sq miles). This measurement covers the country's total sovereign territory as recorded by international geographic databases.
How many countries does Malawi border?
Malawi shares land borders with 3 countries (identified by the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes: MOZ, TZA, ZMB). These borders define the country's overland connections to the wider region.
What is the calling code for Malawi?
The international calling code for Malawi is +265. To call Malawi from abroad, dial your country's exit code (00), then 265, followed by the local number (drop the leading 0).
How do I call Malawi from the US?
To call Malawi from the United States, dial 011 + 265 + the local phone number (without the leading 0). For example: 011-265-5 5555 5555.
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