People and Society of Malawi

Nationality

Malawian(s)

Ethnic Groups

Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European

Population

20,931,751

Population in Major Urban Areas

LILONGWE (capital) 772,000

Medical facilities in Malawi are rudimentary and do not meet U.S. standards of medical care. While all health workers have some degree of English proficiency, communication can still be difficult. Medications are not consistently available and many U.S. medications are not available at all. Travelers should bring adequate quantities of medications to last the duration of their stay. For any major medical problems you should consider obtaining medical treatment in South Africa, where advanced medical care is available. Diarrhea and other food borne illnesses are a common problem among travelers. We urge you to avoid tap water, ice cubes, and raw fruits and vegetables. Bottled water is recommended for drinking and food preparation. Only food that is well-cooked and served hot should be consumed. Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disorder that is endemic to Malawi. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly advised and should be initiated prior to arriving in Malawi. Consult your doctor to learn which prophylaxis is best for you, and review possible side effects. In addition, other measures such as the use of insect repellents and mosquito nets help to reduce the risk of malaria. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, or up to one-year after returning home, you should seek prompt medical attention and tell your doctor your travel history and what anti-malarial medications you have been taking. Schistosomiasis (also known as Bilharzia) is present in most lakes and rivers in Malawi, including Lake Malawi. We recommends against swimming, wading or bathing in fresh water. HIV infection is endemic in the Malawian population. Please take appropriate precautions to limit the risk of transmission through blood or sexual contact.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Malawi has improved considerably over the past two decades, though it remains below the global average. As of the most recent available data, the average life expectancy at birth in Malawi stands at approximately 63 to 64 years, with women generally living several years longer than men. This figure represents a remarkable turnaround from the late 1990s and early 2000s, when life expectancy had fallen to around 44 to 47 years at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The dramatic improvement in life expectancy is largely attributed to significant progress in combating HIV/AIDS. Malawi launched an ambitious antiretroviral therapy (ART) program that expanded access to treatment across the country, helping to reduce AIDS-related mortality substantially. Adult HIV prevalence, while still a serious public health concern at roughly 8 to 9% of the adult population, has declined from its peak levels. Despite these gains, Malawi continues to face significant health challenges that suppress life expectancy. Malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death, particularly among children under five. Maternal and infant mortality rates are also elevated, reflecting limited access to skilled healthcare providers during childbirth, especially in rural areas. Malnutrition is widespread and compounds vulnerability to infectious diseases, while access to clean water and sanitation remains inconsistent outside urban centers. The healthcare infrastructure faces chronic underfunding, with a persistent shortage of trained medical personnel and essential supplies across much of the country. The government and international partners have invested in community health worker programs and rural health clinics to extend basic care to more of the population. The introduction of the RTS,S malaria vaccine, which Malawi was among the first countries to roll out through a pilot program, represents a meaningful step toward reducing one of the country's most significant disease burdens. Progress on life expectancy is closely tied to broader development goals, including improvements in education, food security, and poverty reduction. Malawi remains one of the least developed countries in the world, and economic constraints continue to limit the pace of health sector advancement. Recurrent climate-related shocks, including droughts and flooding, have also strained food systems and health outcomes in recent years. Nevertheless, the overall trend is positive, and continued investment in public health is expected to support further gains in life expectancy in the years ahead.

Infant Mortality Rate

Malawi continues to face one of the higher infant mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa, though the country has made meaningful progress in reducing child deaths over recent decades. The infant mortality rate stands at approximately 34 to 37 deaths per 1,000 live births, reflecting improvements from figures that once exceeded 100 deaths per 1,000 live births in the early 1990s. The primary causes of infant death in Malawi include neonatal complications, malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and malnutrition. Preterm birth complications and infections during the neonatal period — the first 28 days of life — account for a significant portion of these deaths. Limited access to skilled birth attendants and quality healthcare facilities in rural areas remains a major contributing factor, as the majority of Malawi's population lives outside urban centers where medical infrastructure is more developed. Malawi's health system faces ongoing challenges including shortages of trained healthcare workers, insufficient medical supplies, and inadequate sanitation infrastructure. These systemic issues disproportionately affect newborns and infants in rural and remote communities. Additionally, high rates of maternal malnutrition and HIV prevalence contribute to elevated risks for newborns, as infants born to HIV-positive mothers face a heightened vulnerability to illness and death. The government of Malawi, in partnership with international organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization, has implemented programs targeting maternal and child health, including expanded vaccination campaigns, promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, community-based health worker programs, and improved antenatal care services. These interventions have contributed to a notable downward trend in infant mortality over the past three decades. Despite this progress, Malawi's infant mortality rate remains significantly higher than the global average of approximately 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, and well above rates seen in higher-income countries. Achieving further reductions will require sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, poverty reduction, clean water access, and nutritional support programs across the country.

Major Infectious Diseases

very high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Protestant55.0%
• Roman Catholic20.0%
• Muslim20.0%
• indigenous beliefs3.0%
• other2.0%

English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally

• Chichewa
• English

Crime Information

Even though Malawi is known as "the Warm Heart of Africa," crime is common. Most crimes against Americans involve property. Residential break-ins are prevalent throughout Malawi and perpetrators of these crimes are usually well-armed and may resort to violence with little provocation. Petty street crime (robbery and pick-pocketing) is common, and break-ins have also occurred in hotels/lodges throughout the country. We urge you to avoid traveling on foot at night, especially in urban areas, as armed muggings and assaults have increased. Specifically, non-Malawians have been targeted in Lilongwe, and several U.S. citizens have been injured. Even when walking in a large group, city streets should be considered unsafe after dark. Pedestrians should be cautious even during daylight hours. Visitors in need of transportation should request that hotel or restaurant management call a taxi or car service. We recommend you use caution when visiting and/or staying in isolated areas such as Mount Mulanje where the availability of public security forces is limited. You should take appropriate action to ensure your safety if traveling to remote areas, and never travel alone or at night. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Malawi, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Malawi, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go. Arrest notifications in host country While some countries will automatically notify the U.S. embassy if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. embassy as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.