MigrantoMalawian Diaspora
427.6K Malawians live abroad — the #115 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 93% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 220437 |
| Zimbabwe | 111872 |
| Mozambique | 65284 |
| Zambia | 17796 |
| Tanzania | 6678 |
| Australia | 1853 |
| Botswana | 1560 |
| Eritrea | 604 |
| Portugal | 586 |
| Namibia | 409 |
| Norway | 125 |
| Finland | 121 |
| Denmark | 104 |
| Lesotho | 84 |
| Guinea | 15 |
| Luxembourg | 13 |
| Bolivia | 8 |
| Slovakia | 7 |
| Cyprus | 6 |
| Hungary | 4 |
| Bulgaria | 3 |
| Iceland | 2 |
| Slovenia | 2 |
| Estonia | 0 |
| Latvia | 0 |
| Lithuania | 0 |
By destination region
Africa is the leading destination region at 99%
424.7K
1.9K
967
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Malawi.
South Africa is the primary destination for emigrants
South Africa attracts 52% of all emigrants from Malawi, while the second-largest destination receives just 26%.
South Africa is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to South Africa has increased by 82% since 2015, rising from 121.3K to 220.4K in 9 years.
Emigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The emigrant population grew 15% from 372.9K to 427.6K, indicating an acceleration in emigration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 138206 |
| 1995 | 134253 |
| 2000 | 167695 |
| 2005 | 216125 |
| 2010 | 259343 |
| 2015 | 307175 |
| 2020 | 372914 |
| 2024 | 427573 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Mozambique | Zambia | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19462 | 69618 | 22975 | 17073 | 7218 |
| 1995 | 12658 | 67945 | 31600 | 12382 | 7121 |
| 2000 | 20543 | 92989 | 36755 | 6937 | 7098 |
| 2005 | 43126 | 102211 | 50465 | 9665 | 7048 |
| 2010 | 73730 | 103681 | 57509 | 13467 | 7011 |
| 2015 | 121300 | 104247 | 59620 | 10363 | 6907 |
| 2020 | 177019 | 108491 | 62643 | 13422 | 6153 |
| 2024 | 220437 | 111872 | 65284 | 17796 | 6678 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Malawi as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Malawi
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Malawians move to?
Most Malawians have moved to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique — these three countries account for about 93% of all Malawians living abroad.
How many Malawians live abroad?
Around 427.6K Malawians live abroad, making it the #115-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Malawi lives abroad?
About 2% of the population of Malawi lives abroad — that's 427.6K out of a total population of 21.7M.
How has emigration from Malawi changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Malawi has grown from 307.2K to 427.6K people, a growth of about 39%.
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