MigrantoMigration trends in Malawi
Africa
Malawi loses more people than it takes in: 427.6K emigrants against 156.1K immigrants. Net balance −271.5K — 1% of the country's population
21.7M
Population
156.1K
Immigrants
427.6K
Emigrants
−271.5K
Outflow
1 in 139 residents of Malawi was born abroad — and 1 in 52 people born in Malawi lives abroad
#115 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows 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 emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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