Moving to Malawi from Cabo Verde

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Cabo Verde 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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Malawi compared to Cabo Verde.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

CV
6.2
MW
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CV
16.5
MW
20.2

Cabo Verde generally does better on safety, though Malawi leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CV
$616
MW
$125
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CV
44.6
MW
0.5

Cabo Verde generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malawi leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CV
59.0
MW
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CV
1.3t
MW
0.2t

Malawi performs significantly better than Cabo Verde across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CV
5.8
MW
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CV
57.2%
MW
17.5%

Cabo Verde 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

CV
12.0%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CV
$8,200
MW
$1,700

Cabo Verde 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

CV
73.8 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CV
23.5
MW
33.4

Cabo Verde performs better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Praia Rain: 2.8 in/yr (70 mm)
79° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Praia Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 76°/None°F (24°/None°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/None°F (25°/None°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/None°F (28°/None°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/None°F (27°/None°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Praia Lilongwe
Jan 75°/None°F (24.0°/None°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 75°/None°F (24.1°/None°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 78°/None°F (25.3°/None°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 79°/None°F (26.0°/None°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 81°/None°F (27.2°/None°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 84°/None°F (28.8°/None°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 85°/None°F (29.3°/None°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 83°/None°F (28.6°/None°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 81°/None°F (27.3°/None°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 77°/None°F (25.2°/None°C) 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cabo Verde 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.

Cabo Verde passport

Cabo Verde passport holder visiting Malawi

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

Malawi passport holder visiting Cabo Verde

Visa on Arrival
Malawi passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Cabo Verde.

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?

Cabo Verde generally does better on safety, though Malawi leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Malawi is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.2 in Cabo Verde.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Cabo Verde?

Cabo Verde generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malawi leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Malawi, compared to 44.6 in Cabo Verde. Malawi scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cabo Verde: 71).

What's the weather like in Malawi compared to Cabo Verde?

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 79°F in Praia. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Praia gets 2.8 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In Cabo Verde, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

CV MW
Population 596,707 20,794,353
Currency Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages Portuguese Chewa, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +238 +265
Time zones 1 1