Malawi

Overview

Official name

Republic of Malawi

Capital

Lilongwe

Region

Africa · Eastern Africa

Area

118,484 km² · landlocked

Coordinates

-13.50, 34.00

Languages

English, Chewa

Currency

Malawian kwacha (MWK MK)

Calling code · domain

+265 · .mw

ISO codes

MW / MWI

Borders

Mozambique Tanzania Zambia

Map

Demographics

Macroeconomy

Malawi ranks #149 in the world by nominal GDP (2025). Full ranking →

Business environment & logistics (micro)

The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and import clearance time are published by the World Bank per survey round; total tax rate comes from the discontinued Doing Business data (2020).

Provinces, states & regions (31)

Region: 3 · District: 28

• Central Region MW-C
• Northern Region MW-N
• Southern Region MW-S
• Dedza MW-DE
• Dowa MW-DO
• Kasungu MW-KS
• Lilongwe MW-LI
• Mchinji MW-MC
• Nkhotakota MW-NK
• Ntcheu MW-NU
• Ntchisi MW-NI
• Salima MW-SA
• Chitipa MW-CT
• Karonga MW-KR
• Likoma MW-LK
• Mzimba MW-MZ
• Nkhata Bay MW-NB
• Rumphi MW-RU
• Balaka MW-BA
• Blantyre MW-BL
• Chikwawa MW-CK
• Chiradzulu MW-CR
• Machinga MW-MH
• Mangochi MW-MG
• Mulanje MW-MU
• Mwanza MW-MW
• Neno MW-NE
• Nsanje MW-NS
• Phalombe MW-PH
• Thyolo MW-TH
• Zomba MW-ZO

Source: ISO 3166-2 (Debian iso-codes)

Seaports & logistics

Landlocked – cargo moves through neighbouring countries’ ports.

International shipping →

FTAs & trade blocs

Vietnam has no FTA with Malawi: MFN rates apply (if a WTO member).

Trade agreements in force (7)

Malawi is party to 7 regional/bilateral trade agreements in force (per the WTO). Agreements with a “Preferential rates” button are FTAs that Vietnam is also party to.

Agreement	Type / coverage	In force	Partners
COMESA - Accession of Tunisia	CU Goods	19 Jun 2019	+10
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)	FTA Goods	30 May 2019	+37
SADC - Accession of Seychelles	FTA Goods	25 May 2015	+2
COMESA - Accession of Seychelles	CU Goods	11 May 2009	+10
Southern African Development Community (SADC) In force for some parties	FTA & EIA Goods & Services	1 Sep 2000	+5
COMESA - Accession of Egypt	CU Goods	17 Feb 1999	+8
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)	CU Goods	8 Dec 1994	+9

Source: WTO Regional Trade Agreements Database (retrieved 14 Oct 2026) plus additional agreements maintained by the administrator. Lists agreements notified to the WTO and in force.

Import regulations

Global Trade Helpdesk ↗Market Access Map ↗WTO Tariff & Trade Data ↗

Sourcing from Vietnam

Buyers in Malawi can find Vietnamese suppliers by industry, in the factory directory and at international exhibitions in Vietnam:

Steel & steel structure manufacturing →International exhibitions in VietnamContact