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Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. Malawi spans over 118,484 km² (45,747 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 22,224,282 (as of July 2025). Lilongwe is its capital and largest city, while the next three largest cities are Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Zomba, the former capital.

The part of Africa known as Malawi was settled around the 10th century by the Akafula, also known as the Abathwa. Later, the Bantu groups came and drove out the Akafula and formed various kingdoms such as the Maravi and Nkhamanga kingdoms, that flourished from the 16th century. In 1891, the area was colonised by the British as the British Central African Protectorate, being renamed Nyasaland in 1907. In 1964, Nyasaland became independent under Prime Minister Hastings Banda, and was renamed Malawi. Two years later, Banda became president by converting the country into a one-party presidential republic. Banda was declared president for life in 1971. Malawi's first few decades of independence was characterized by Banda's highly repressive dictatorship. After the introduction of a multiparty system in 1993, Banda lost the 1994 general election and the country has continued to experience peaceful transitions of power. Malawi has a democratic, multi-party republic headed by an elected president. According to the 2024 V-Dem Democracy indices, Malawi is ranked 74th electoral democracy worldwide and 11th electoral democracy in Africa. The country maintains diplomatic relations with most countries, and participates in several international organisations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the African Union (AU).

Malawi is one of the world's least developed countries. The economy is heavily based on agriculture, and it has a largely rural and growing population. The country has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. HIV/AIDS is highly prevalent. The country has a diverse population that includes native peoples, Asians, and Europeans. The population is predominantly Christian and the majority are Protestant. (Full article...)

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Busy road in Blantyre City

Blantyre is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, and its second largest city, with a population of 800,264 as of 2018^[update]. It is sometimes referred to as the commercial and industrial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe. It is the capital of the country's Southern Region as well as the Blantyre District. (Full article...)

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... that the wildlife of Malawi includes so many species of cichlid that Lake Malawi National Park has been inscribed as a World Heritage Site?

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The following are images from various Malawi-related articles on Wikipedia.

👁 Image 1National Assembly building in Lilongwe (from Malawi)

Image 1National Assembly building in Lilongwe (from Malawi)
👁 Image 2Malawi health passport showing 3 major languages most used in Malawi: English (red dot), Chewa (blue dot), and Tumbuka (green dot). (from Malawi)

Image 2Malawi health passport showing 3 major languages most used in Malawi: English (red dot), Chewa (blue dot), and Tumbuka (green dot). (from Malawi)
👁 Scientific research output in terms of publications in Southern Africa, cumulative totals by field, 2008–2014.

Image 3Scientific research output in terms of publications in Southern Africa, cumulative totals by field, 2008–2014 (from Malawi)
👁 Scientific publications per million inhabitants in SADC countries in 2014.

Image 4Scientific publications per million inhabitants in SADC countries in 2014 (from Malawi)
👁 Image 5Harvesting groundnuts at an agricultural research station in Malawi (from Malawi)

Image 5Harvesting groundnuts at an agricultural research station in Malawi (from Malawi)
👁 Image 6Chongoni Rock Art Area (from Malawi)

Image 6Chongoni Rock Art Area (from Malawi)
👁 Image 7Locations of Malawian diplomatic embassies or high commissions as of 2012[update] (from Malawi)

Image 7Locations of Malawian diplomatic embassies or high commissions as of 2012^[update] (from Malawi)
👁 Image 81897 British Central Africa stamp issued by the United Kingdom (from Malawi)

Image 81897 British Central Africa stamp issued by the United Kingdom (from Malawi)
👁 Image 9Elephant in Majete Wildlife Reserve (from Malawi)

Image 9Elephant in Majete Wildlife Reserve (from Malawi)
👁 Image 10GDP in Southern African Development Community countries by economic sector, 2013 or closest year (from Malawi)

Image 10GDP in Southern African Development Community countries by economic sector, 2013 or closest year (from Malawi)
👁 Image 11Scientific publication trends in the most productive SADC countries, 2005–2014 (from Malawi)

Image 11Scientific publication trends in the most productive SADC countries, 2005–2014 (from Malawi)
👁 Image 12Mission Church in Livingstonia (from Malawi)

Image 12Mission Church in Livingstonia (from Malawi)
👁 Image 13Malawian female soldier (from Malawi)

Image 13Malawian female soldier (from Malawi)
👁 Image 14Musical instruments of Malawi (from Malawi)

Image 14Musical instruments of Malawi (from Malawi)
👁 Image 15Mbawemi Women's group in Malawi learning how to make beeswax into candles (from Malawi)

Image 15Mbawemi Women's group in Malawi learning how to make beeswax into candles (from Malawi)
👁 Image 16Malawi's first Prime Minister and later the first President, Hastings Banda (left), with Tanzania's President Julius Nyerere (right) (from Malawi)

Image 16Malawi's first Prime Minister and later the first President, Hastings Banda (left), with Tanzania's President Julius Nyerere (right) (from Malawi)
👁 Image 17Researchers (HC) in Southern Africa per million inhabitants, 2013 or closest year (from Malawi)

Image 17Researchers (HC) in Southern Africa per million inhabitants, 2013 or closest year (from Malawi)
👁 Image 18Children attending a farmer meeting in Nalifu village, Mulanje (from Malawi)

Image 18Children attending a farmer meeting in Nalifu village, Mulanje (from Malawi)
👁 Image 19The M1 road between Blantyre and Lilongwe (from Malawi)

Image 19The M1 road between Blantyre and Lilongwe (from Malawi)
👁 Two small dugout canoes on the shore of a lake

Image 20Lake Malawi (from Malawi)
👁 Image 21Domestic expenditure on research in Southern Africa as a percentage of GDP, 2012 or closest year (from Malawi)

Image 21Domestic expenditure on research in Southern Africa as a percentage of GDP, 2012 or closest year (from Malawi)
👁 Image 22Crafts market in Lilongwe (from Malawi)

Image 22Crafts market in Lilongwe (from Malawi)
👁 Image 23Mountains in Northern Malawi during the rainy season (from Malawi)

Image 23Mountains in Northern Malawi during the rainy season (from Malawi)
👁 Image 24Public expenditure on education in Southern Africa as a share of GDP, 2012 or closest year (from Malawi)

Image 24Public expenditure on education in Southern Africa as a share of GDP, 2012 or closest year (from Malawi)

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In the news

Wikinews Malawi portal

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4 October 2025 – 2025 Malawian general election: Peter Mutharika is sworn in for his second non-consecutive term as President of Malawi following his victory in last month's national election. (Reuters)

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