MigrantoImmigrants in Malawi
156.1K foreigners live in Malawi — 1% of the country's population
Immigrants in Malawi by country
The 3 largest groups make up 62% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Mozambique | 39156 |
| Zambia | 30614 |
| DR Congo | 27099 |
| Zimbabwe | 26561 |
| Burundi | 9834 |
| Tanzania | 6870 |
| Rwanda | 6128 |
| South Africa | 5907 |
| India | 1727 |
| United Kingdom | 1055 |
| Republic of Congo | 1008 |
| Somalia | 100 |
By region of origin
98% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Malawi in numbers
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 98% to 25%.
25% of all emigrants from Zambia live in Malawi
No other country has more people born in Zambia.
Mozambicans are the largest group by a wide margin
25% of all immigrants were born in Mozambique, while the next group accounts for just 20%.
Immigrant population in Malawi over time
Foreigners living in Malawi, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1096822 |
| 1995 | 189007 |
| 2000 | 181962 |
| 2005 | 173576 |
| 2010 | 174806 |
| 2015 | 160359 |
| 2020 | 159940 |
| 2024 | 156059 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Malawi, by year
| Year | Mozambicans | Zambians | Congolese | Zimbabweans | Burundians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1075410 | 5637 | 1338 | 3851 | 705 |
| 1995 | 60845 | 47571 | 2481 | 41271 | 5896 |
| 2000 | 58576 | 45797 | 2389 | 39732 | 5677 |
| 2005 | 55817 | 43640 | 2368 | 37861 | 5410 |
| 2010 | 54826 | 42865 | 4841 | 37189 | 5314 |
| 2015 | 47220 | 36918 | 11896 | 32030 | 6659 |
| 2020 | 40131 | 31375 | 27773 | 27221 | 10079 |
| 2024 | 39156 | 30614 | 27099 | 26561 | 9834 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Malawi
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Malawi
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Malawi?
Around 156.1K immigrants live in Malawi — the world's #123 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Malawi are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of Malawi — that's 156.1K out of a total population of 21.7M.
Where do most immigrants in Malawi come from?
Most immigrants in Malawi come from Mozambique, Zambia and DR Congo — these three countries account for about 62% of all immigrants.
How many Mozambicans live in Malawi?
Around 39.2K Mozambicans live in Malawi — about 25% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Malawi growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Malawi has changed from 160.4K to 156.1K, about 3%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Malawi come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Malawi. Their children born in Malawi are not included.
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Living in Malawi
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