Moving to Malawi from Belgium

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Belgium to Malawi? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Belgium to Malawi, and you’d need to navigate life in Chewa and English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lilongwe averages 75°F vs 57°F in Brussels, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Malawi compared to Belgium.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
1.1
MW
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BE
4.6
MW
20.2

Belgium performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BE
$7,489
MW
$125
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BE
63.9
MW
0.5

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BE
15.0
MW
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BE
7.3t
MW
0.2t

Belgium generally does better on environment, though Malawi leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BE
43.5
MW
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BE
51.9%
MW
17.5%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Malawi leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BE
5.5%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BE
$63,600
MW
$1,700

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BE
81.9 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BE
3.2
MW
33.4

Belgium performs better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lilongwe Rain: 50.7 in/yr (1289 mm)
75° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brussels Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Brussels Lilongwe
Jan 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium and Malawi. To live, work, or study long-term in Malawi, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Malawi's immigration authority.

Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Belgium passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Malawi.
Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Required
Malawi passport holders need a visa to enter Belgium.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Malawi?

Connectivity is usually fine (Malawi: 0.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Malawi offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Malawi safe for expats?

Belgium performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malawi is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Belgium?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Malawi, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. Malawi scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).

What's the weather like in Malawi compared to Belgium?

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.

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At a Glance

BE MW
Population 11,847,338 20,794,353
Currency Euro (€) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages Dutch, French, German Chewa, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +32 +265
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112