Malawi 🇲🇼 is a fascinating landlocked country located in Eastern Africa, part of the Africa region. Officially known as Republic of Malawi, it is home to roughly 21.7 million people and covers an area of about 118,484 square kilometres.
On this page you will find a complete profile of Malawi — its capital Lilongwe, its people and languages, the money used there, where it sits on the world map, and plenty of facts worth remembering the next time the country comes up in a quiz.
Malawi on the map
Geographically, Malawi belongs to Eastern Africa within Africa. Its territory spans approximately 118,484 km², which makes it the 101st largest country or territory on Earth.
As a landlocked country, Malawi has no direct access to the open ocean, which has shaped its trade routes, cuisine and history in distinctive ways. It shares land borders with Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.
The capital city is Lilongwe, the political and cultural heart of the country and usually the first stop for visitors who want to understand how malawian life really works.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population and languages of Malawi
Around 21.7 million people live in Malawi, making it the 62nd most populous country or territory in the world. A person from Malawi is called a Malawian.
Malawi is multilingual: the languages spoken include Chewa and English. This linguistic variety reflects the country's layered history and the many communities that shaped it.
Beyond the numbers, everyday culture in Malawi — from markets and music to family traditions — is what makes discovering it through a random spin so rewarding.
Practical information about Malawi
The official currency is the Malawian kwacha (MWK, symbol MK). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Malawi is +265. Websites from the country typically use the .mw internet domain.
Quiz tip: the three facts most worth memorising about Malawi are its flag, its capital Lilongwe, and its approximate population of 21.7 million.
Neighbouring countries
Malawi shares borders with 3 countries:
Fun facts about Malawi
- Malawi's flag emoji is 🇲🇼 — its two-letter country code is MW and its three-letter code is MWI.
- Malawi covers 118,484 km², ranking 101st in the world by area.
- With about 21.7 million people, Malawi holds the 62nd spot in the world population ranking.
- Malawi is a member state of the United Nations.
- Malawi is one of the world's landlocked countries — it has no sea coastline.
Malawi — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Malawi?
- The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe.
- What is the population of Malawi?
- Malawi has a population of approximately 21,655,286 people, ranking 62nd in the world.
- Where is Malawi located?
- Malawi is located in Eastern Africa, part of the Africa region. It is a landlocked country.
- What language is spoken in Malawi?
- The languages spoken in Malawi include Chewa and English.
- What currency is used in Malawi?
- Malawi uses the Malawian kwacha (MWK).
