MigrantoMigration trends in Malawi
Africa
427.6K people from Malawi have built lives abroad. That's 2.0% of the country population, spread across 26 different countries
21.7M
Population
156.1K
Immigrants
427.6K
Emigrants
−271.5K
Outflow
1.9% of people born in Malawi now live abroad
The #115 largest source of emigrants worldwide
Top corridors
The largest migration routes in Malawi
Where people move to
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
1.1M immigrants · 138.2K emigrants
1995
- Immigration contracted — the foreign-born population fell 83%
- Slipped out of the 3 biggest immigrant destinations in Africa
- Immigration from Mozambique declined sharply — 1M fewer migrants from there
- The gap between arrivals and departures was cut in half
2005
- The country became a place of departure — more people leaving than arriving
2015
- South Africa replaced Zimbabwe as the main destination for those leaving
Today
- Since 1990: 940.8K fewer foreign-born residents and 289.4K more citizens living abroad
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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