MigrantoMalawian Diaspora
427.6K Malawians live abroad — 2% of the population of Malawi
Malawian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 93% of the diaspora
| 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 region
99% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Malawian diaspora in numbers
Most Malawians abroad live in South Africa
52% of the diaspora lives in South Africa, while the next country accounts for just 26%.
The community in South Africa is growing fastest
The number of Malawians living in South Africa has grown 82% since 2015, from 121.3K to 220.4K.
The diaspora has grown 15% since 2020
The number of Malawians living abroad rose from 372.9K to 427.6K in four years.
Malawian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 138206 |
| 1995 | 134253 |
| 2000 | 167695 |
| 2005 | 216125 |
| 2010 | 259343 |
| 2015 | 307175 |
| 2020 | 372914 |
| 2024 | 427573 |
Largest communities over time
Malawians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Malawians in each country has changed since the selected year
Malawians among immigrants in other countries
Where Malawians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Malawians live outside Malawi?
Around 427.6K Malawians live abroad, the world's #115 largest diaspora.
Where do most Malawians abroad live?
Most Malawians live in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique — these three countries account for about 93% of all Malawians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Malawian population outside Malawi?
South Africa is home to the largest Malawian community abroad — 220.4K people, about 52% of all Malawians living abroad.
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.
Is the Malawian diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Malawians living abroad has grown from 307.2K to 427.6K, about 39%.
Where does the data on the Malawian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Malawi who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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