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Malawi: key facts and figures
Malawi has 21.7 million people, English as an official language, the Malawian Kwacha and 12 public holidays a year. It ranks 185th of 191 countries for output per person.
21.7 millionpeople
MWKcurrency
Englishofficial language
+265calling code
Leftdriving side
Every figure shows how Malawi differs
Population and Demographics
how many people live there, and how that is changing
21.7 millionPopulation
- Annual change+2.61%
- Fertility rate3.6 per woman#39
- Aged 65 and over2.59%#183
Economy
the size of the economy and how fast it is growing
$672Output per person
- Total economy$14.9 billion#145
- Real growth+1.9%#136
- Inflation28.4%#10
Human Development
health, schooling and income combined into one index
0.517Human Development Index
- Adjusted for inequality0.365#136
- Life expectancy67.4 years#144
- Mean schooling5.2 years#166
Currency
what money is used and its official code
Malawian KwachaCurrency
- ISO 4217 codeMWK
- SymbolMWK
- CapitalLilongwe
Languages
which languages hold official status
EnglishOfficial languages
- Text directionLeft to right
Practical Country Info
plugs, voltage, driving side and dialling
Type GPlug types
- Mains voltage230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Calling code+265
- Time zoneAfrica/Blantyre
Public Holidays
official days off through the year
12Public holidays in 2026
- Jan 1New Year's Day
- Jan 15John Chilembwe Day
- Mar 3Martyrs' Day
Digital Adoption
how many people are online and how digital the state is
19%Internet use
- E-government index0.375#163
- Global rank#163
- E-government groupMiddle
Geography and Environment
terrain, climate and physical setting
LandlockedPhysical setting
- Highest pointRift Valley, Lake Malawi and surrounding plateaus
- ClimateThe climate is subtropical with a pronounced summer rainy season, cooler conditions on uplands and warmer conditions in the lower rift valleys.
Education
how the school system is structured
139.0%Primary gross enrolment
- Youth literacy80.7%
- Tertiary gross enrolment2.7%
- Education spending share16.0%
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About this profile
Every figure on this page is a summary of a fuller page, and each links to it. Sources, data years and methodology notes sit on those pages rather than here. Where a subject carries no published figure for Malawi, it is left off this profile rather than shown as empty.