Africa · Eastern Africa
Capital: Lilongwe
Malawi
Explore the facts and rankings that shape Malawi in Country Blitz, from its population and economy to its military, innovation, manufacturing, and neighboring countries.
Country Blitz power profile
Overall rank #129
Malawi's Country Blitz power profile compares population, GDP, military expenditure, research-and-development spending, and manufacturing output across every playable country. A lower numerical rank represents a stronger position in that category.
Population
22.2M
#60 of 196
70th percentile
2025 · World Bank WDI / UN population sources
View data source ↗GDP (Nominal)
$14.92B
#146 of 196
26th percentile
2025 · World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Military Expenditure
$117.6M
#140 of 196
29th percentile
2024 · SIPRI via World Bank WDI
View data source ↗R&D Spending
$19.6M
#121 of 196
38th percentile
2019 · UNESCO UIS and World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Manufacturing Output
$1.24B
#141 of 196
28th percentile
2024 · World Bank WDI
View data source ↗Quick facts
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Region
- Africa
- Subregion
- Eastern Africa
- Country code
- MWI
- Neighbors
- MozambiqueTanzaniaZambia
Three interesting facts
Malawi shares land borders with 3 countries: Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Malawi spans roughly 118,484 square kilometers, placing it around 98th by area in this factbook.
Malawi’s position in Eastern Africa places it within a distinctive network of regional trade routes and migration paths.
Geography
Malawi on the map
Malawi is located in Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique. Its terrain is narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains. The climate is sub-tropical, rainy season (November to May), dry season (May to November). In area, the country is slightly smaller than Pennsylvania.
Economy
Economic profile
Malawi's economy is characterized by 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. Major industries include tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods. Important agricultural products include sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, sugarcane, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, pumpkins/squash, plantains (2023). Notable exports include tobacco, tea, dried legumes, soybean meal, raw sugar (2023).
Demographics
People and population
Malawi has an estimated population of 20,734,262. Languages spoken include English (official), Chewa (dominant), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao. The population includes 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.). The urban population represents 18.3% of total population (2023).
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