Malawi
Republic of Malawi
Eastern Africa · MWI
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Malawi
Malawi is a good fit for travelers who want a softer, lake-and-landscape southern Africa trip rather than a trophy-sighting safari checklist. It works best as a combination of Lake Malawi and one or two parks or highland areas, not as a complicated cross-country route.
Popular For
Things To See
- Lake Malawi
- Liwonde National Park
- Lake Malawi National Park
- Nyika National Park
- Zomba Plateau
- Cape Maclear
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- The country is strongest when lake time is treated as a core part of the trip rather than as an afterthought to safari stops.
- A few carefully chosen bases usually work better than trying to connect every park and lakeshore highlight.
- Malawi suits travelers who want a lower-pressure pace more than those chasing maximum wildlife density.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Malawi.
Guidebooks
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Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Malawi.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Population
- 20,734,262
- Area
- 118,484 km²
- Region
- Eastern Africa
Languages
- English
- Chewa
Currency
Malawian kwacha (MK)
MWK
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
28.1
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Lilongwe (13.97°S, 33.78°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 48/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.517
Low human development
- 5-year change
- +0.007
- 10-year change
- +0.023
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.925
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.581
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.507
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🏛️
Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape
Inscribed 2025
- 🏛️
Chongoni Rock-Art Area
Inscribed 2006
- 🌿
Lake Malawi National Park
Inscribed 1984
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 23.1%
- Forest cover
- 22.4%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 10
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 20
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
23/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
69/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There was no change to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise increased caution to Malawi due to crime and unrest. Advisory summary Crime Violent crime such as theft, burglary, armed robbery, and assault is common. The capabilities of the Malawi Police Service are growing, but its resources and ability to deter and investigate crimes are limited. They also struggle to assist victims and apprehend criminals. Unrest Demonstrations may occur more often because of political issues and events like elections. Tear gas is often used at these protests, and roads might be blocked. If you decide to travel to Malawi: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Malawi. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Malawi. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage. Review our information on Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Check local media for breaking events. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data