Filed under Africa and more precisely Eastern Africa, Malawi is a sovereign state. In formal use it is Republic of Malawi. Lilongwe is the capital.
By land area it covers 118,484 km², which ranks it 101st of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind North Korea and just ahead of Eritrea. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is a fraction smaller than Greece.
Around 21.7 million people live there, placing it 62nd of 250 by population — between Sri Lanka above it and Zambia below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 10th of 20 in size and 7th in population.
Where Malawi is and what surrounds it
Its reference point sits at 13.5° south and 34.0° east, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 1,503 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
Countries on the same parallel, far away in longitude, include French Polynesia, Samoa and American Samoa.
Its land neighbours number 3: Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. The largest of them by area is Tanzania, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 124.5 million people.
This is one of the world's landlocked countries. That is true of 45 of the 250 entries here, so all seaborne trade runs through a neighbour's ports. One of its neighbours, Zambia, is landlocked too. You can see the full picture on the landlocked countries page.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Spread across 118,484 km², that works out at about 183 people per square kilometre, which makes it more crowded than the typical entry on this list. The median across all 250 entries here is about 90 per square kilometre.
People from Malawi are called Malawians.
2 languages carry official status: Chewa and English. Chewa, the first listed, is shared with 1 other entry worldwide.
Inside Africa it places 21st of 59 by population, and it accounts for 4.4% of everyone living in Eastern Africa.
Currency, domain and dialling code
Money there is the Malawian kwacha (MK, MWK). No other entry in this dataset uses it, so the currency is specific to Malawi.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Malawi, the answer is Lilongwe.
Websites there use the .mw domain. The international dialling code is +265. Its ISO codes are mw and MWI, which is what most databases and flag files use.
As a sovereign state it is among the 193 UN members listed here. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Malawi shares borders with 3 countries:
Fun facts about Malawi
- In land area it is a fraction smaller than Greece.
- Chewa is official here and in 1 other entry worldwide.
- The Malawian kwacha is used here and nowhere else on this list.
- Websites based there use the .mw domain.
- It lies about 1,503 km from the equator, in tropical latitudes.
- Its capital city is Lilongwe.
- It shares land borders with 3 countries: Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.
- Population density works out at roughly 183 people per square kilometre.
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 about 21.7 million, which makes it the 62nd most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Sri Lanka sits just above it and Zambia just below.
- What currency does Malawi use?
- Malawi uses the Malawian kwacha, written MK (currency code MWK). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Is Malawi a country?
- Yes. Malawi is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- Where is Malawi located?
- Malawi is in Eastern Africa, part of Africa. Its reference coordinates are 13.5° south and 34.0° east, roughly 1,503 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
- Is Malawi landlocked?
- Yes. Malawi has no sea coast, which makes it one of 45 landlocked entries in this dataset. Everything it imports or exports by sea has to cross a neighbour's territory first, and that transit dependency is a well-documented drag on trade costs.
- How big is Malawi?
- Malawi covers 118,484 km², ranking 101st of 250 by land area. That makes it a fraction smaller than Greece.
- Which countries border Malawi?
- Malawi borders 3 countries: Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. Tanzania is the largest of them by area.
- What language is spoken in Malawi?
- Malawi lists 2 official languages: Chewa and English.
