Moving to Malawi from France

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from France 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 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Malawi compared to France.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
MW
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
MW
20.2

France performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
MW
$125
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
MW
0.5

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France 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

FR
10.0
MW
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
MW
0.2t

France 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

FR
49.4
MW
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
MW
17.5%

France 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

FR
7.3%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
MW
$1,700

France 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

FR
82.6 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
MW
33.4

France performs better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Paris Lilongwe
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Malawi

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

Malawi passport holder visiting France

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

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?

France performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malawi is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to France?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Malawi, compared to 33.4 in France. Malawi scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR MW
Population 68,305,148 20,794,353
Currency Euro (€) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages French Chewa, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +33 +265
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112