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Insights Centre
Country profile · compared with SADC

Malawi

SADCCOMESACurrency MWK

Malawi is home to 22.2m people (2025) and has an economy of $14.9bn (2025), the 12th largest in SADC. Output per person of $672 is below the regional median of $2,539. The economy grew 1.9% in 2025, and the IMF expects 2.6% in 2026. Inflation was 28.4% in 2025, above the regional median of 3.6%. 15.6% of people have electricity (2024).

Where Malawi stands out

  • Urban population growthFast urban growth drives demand for housing, power, water, transport and consumer goods, and signals where infrastructure is falling behind.3rd highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    3rd highest of 16 in SADC
  • Life expectancy at birthA broad measure of health and living standards, and of the healthcare market.4th highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    4th highest of 16 in SADC

What to watch

  • Access to electricityPower is a precondition for manufacturing, cold chains and digital services.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 16 in SADC
  • Doctors per 1,000 peopleThe scarcest input in healthcare.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 16 in SADC
  • GDP per person, adjusted for pricesA fairer comparison of living standards than market exchange rates, especially where currencies are weak or controlled.2nd lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    2nd lowest of 16 in SADC

Malawi scores best on unmet demand and weakest on stability

Scores from 0 to 100 by rank within SADC, against the SADC median. 100 means best in the region on that pillar.

MalawiSADC median
Market sizeGrowthStabilityInfrastructureDigital,financeGovernanceUnmetdemand33382029265566
Source: Investor Lens method·dotzedw Insights Centre

The IMF expects Malawi to grow 2.6% in 2026

Real GDP growth, per cent a year. Open bars are IMF forecasts.

ActualIMF forecast
0.0%0.5%1.0%1.5%2.0%2.5%3.0%1.9%20252.6%20262.3%20272.5%2028

Ten years of history are free with a Reader account.

Source: IMF·dotzedw Insights Centre

Farming employs 65% of workers but produces 30% of output

Share of jobs in each broad sector against its share of GDP, latest year. A sector with far more jobs than output has low productivity and room to grow.

Share of jobsShare of GDP
0%20%40%60%80%Agriculture65%30%35 pts apartIndustry7%14%7 pts apartServices28%49%21 pts apart
Source: World Bank, ILO·dotzedw Insights Centre

Key figures

The bar under each figure places it among the 16 countries of SADC, lowest on the left. Hover for context; select for the data card.

Malawi on the map

Its 3 regions and 28 districts, shaded by population, power, water, transport and more; circles sized by value; or power lines, roads and masts on a street map.

Open the full map
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How Malawi generates electricity

Share of electricity generation by source, latest year.

CoalGasOilWindNuclearBioenergy and otherHydroSolar

No electricity data for Malawi.

The history of the power mix is part of the Individual plan

US$19 a month or US$190 a year. Subscribe on dotzedw.com and you come straight back to this page with Individual access. Already a member? Sign in with your dotzedw.com account.

Source: Ember, Energy Institute· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Politics, parliament and elections

Compare all countries

The President is directly elected and is head of state and government. Power has changed hands through the ballot box in 1994, 2014, 2020 and 2025: the Constitutional Court annulled the 2019 presidential result, Lazarus Chakwera won the 2020 re-run, and in September 2025 former president Peter Mutharika defeated him with 57% amid high inflation and fuel and foreign-currency shortages. Independents won a third of Assembly seats in 2025.

President
Peter Mutharika (DPP), since 4 Oct 2025
How the executive is chosen
Directly elected; since the 2020 court ruling a candidate needs more than half of the valid votes, otherwise a run-off is held
Term and limits
Five years; a president may serve at most two terms
Governing
DPP
In power since
DPP, 2025 (1 years)
The DPP previously governed from 2005 to 2012 and 2014 to 2020.
Next national election
September 2030 (general)

DPP holds 78 of 229 seats, short of a majority

National Assembly, seats as of October 2025. FPTP; 5-year term

229seatsMajority 115 · Two thirds 153 (dashed lines)
  • DPP78
  • VAC5
  • IND73
  • MCP52
  • UTM8
  • UDF4
  • PP3
  • AFORD3
  • Other opposition parties3
How seats are filled
Elected in single-member constituencies by first past the post; constituencies rose from 193 to 229 for 2025.
Powers
Passes laws and the budget; it can impeach the President with two thirds of members.
Special majority
Two thirds of members are needed to amend most of the Constitution. The governing side does not have it.
Elections
Last 16 Sept 2025; next September 2030
Source: 2025 Malawian general election (Wikipedia)·dotzedw Insights Centre

What the record shows

  • Power has changed hands through the ballot box in 1994, 2014, 2020 and 2025; DPP has governed since 2025.
  • DPP's share of the parliamentary vote has fallen from 40% in 2009 to 25.7% in 2025.
  • The last presidential election, in 2025, was a comfortable win: the winner took 56.8%, 24 points ahead of the runner-up.
  • The governing side holds 78 of 229 seats in the National Assembly; it would need 153 to change the Constitution without opposition votes.
  • Turnout has stayed around 76% of registered voters.
  • V-Dem's clean elections score is 60 out of 100, up from 44 in 2015.

The largest party won 26% of the parliamentary vote in 2025, against 100% in 1992

Every lower-house election since 1990: the largest party's share of the vote and of the seats, and turnout of registered voters. Open circles mark a change of government.

Largest party: votesLargest party: seatsTurnout
0%20%40%60%80%100%1995200020052010201520202025HalfTwo thirds74.4%Turnout34.1%Largest party: seats25.7%Largest party: votes
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

The winner's lead over the runner-up was 24 points in 2025

First-round share of the valid vote for the winner and the runner-up in each presidential election since 1990.

WinnerRunner-up
0%20%40%60%80%100%1995200020052010201520202025Half56.8%Winner33.0%Runner-up
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

Every national election

DateElectionResultTurnoutNotes
16 Sept 2025National AssemblyNational Assembly, 2025DPP25.7%, 78 seatsIND41.5%, 73 seatsMCP20.8%, 52 seatsDPP 25.7%, 78 seats; IND 41.5%, 73 seatsn/aChange of power
16 Sept 2025PresidentialPresidential, 2025Peter Mutharika (DPP)56.8%Lazarus Chakwera (MCP)33.0%Dalitso Kabambe (UTM)4.0%Peter Mutharika (DPP) 56.8%; Lazarus Chakwera (MCP) 33.0%76.4%Change of power
23 Jun 2020PresidentialPresidential, 2020Lazarus Chakwera (MCP)59.3%Peter Mutharika (DPP)39.9%Peter Kuwani (MMD)0.7%Lazarus Chakwera (MCP) 59.3%; Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%64.8%Change of power
21 May 2019ParliamentDPP 62 seats; independent 55 seats74.4% V-Dem
21 May 2019PresidentialPresidential, 2019Peter Mutharika (DPP)38.6%Lazarus Chakwera (MCP)35.4%Saulos Chilima (UTM)20.2%Peter Mutharika (DPP) 38.6%; Lazarus Chakwera (MCP) 35.4%n/aAnnulledDisputed
20 May 2014ParliamentDPP 50 seats; MCP 48 seats70.8% V-Dem

Checked 30 Sept 2026. Not yet recorded: Turnout for the 2025 parliamentary ballot is not recorded separately; the presidential turnout was 76.39%.

Election calendar

All elections

Hover a vote for its result and what it means.

  • 2030
    General election
    Malawi: General electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
    Expected
  • 16 Sept 2025
    General electionWon by Peter Mutharika
    Malawi: General electionResult: Former president Peter Mutharika (DPP) won with 56.8%; incumbent Lazarus Chakwera took 33% and conceded.Voters punished high inflation and shortages of foreign currency and fuel. Watch the new government’s exchange-rate policy and its relationship with the IMF.Sources: Al Jazeera, Chatham House
    Held

Deals and projects

Every deal in Malawi

Individual Every deal record with its parties, value, stage and sources.

dotzedw analysis on Malawi

All analysis

Sources and method