MigrantoImmigrants in Malawi
156.1K foreign-born residents — the #123 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 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
Africa is the leading region of origin at 98%
153.3K
1.7K
1.1K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Malawi.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 98% to 25%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
Malawi is a primary destination for emigrants from Zambia
Malawi attracts 25% of all emigrants from Zambia, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Mozambique is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Mozambique accounts for 25% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 20%.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1096822 |
| 1995 | 189007 |
| 2000 | 181962 |
| 2005 | 173576 |
| 2010 | 174806 |
| 2015 | 160359 |
| 2020 | 159940 |
| 2024 | 156059 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Mozambique | Zambia | DR Congo | Zimbabwe | Burundi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Malawi as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Malawi
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Malawi?
Around 156.1K foreign-born residents live in Malawi, making it the #123-largest immigrant population in the world.
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 foreign-born residents.
What share 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.
How has immigration to Malawi changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Malawi has changed from 160.4K to 156.1K people, a change of about 3%.
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