Moving to Malawi from Guinea-Bissau

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Guinea-Bissau 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 90°F in Bissau, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Malawi compared to Guinea-Bissau.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2017

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

GW
30.5
MW
20.2

Guinea-Bissau generally does better on safety, though Malawi leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GW
$247
MW
$125
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GW
2.1
MW
0.5

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guinea-Bissau 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

GW
89.0
MW
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GW
0.2t
MW
0.2t

Guinea-Bissau generally does better on environment, though Malawi leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GW
0.2
MW
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GW
1.5%
MW
17.5%

Guinea-Bissau performs better than Malawi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GW
3.2%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GW
$2,400
MW
$1,700

Guinea-Bissau performs better than Malawi across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GW
63.7 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GW
49.0
MW
33.4

Malawi performs significantly better than Guinea-Bissau 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.

Bissau Rain: 69.1 in/yr (1756 mm)
90° / 67°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bissau Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 92°/67°F (33°/20°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/66°F (33°/19°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/68°F (30°/20°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 90°/69°F (32°/21°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Bissau Lilongwe
Jan 90°/67°F (32.0°/19.4°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 96°/72°F (35.4°/22.0°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 90°/63°F (32.1°/17.1°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 92°/64°F (33.4°/17.7°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 91°/67°F (33.0°/19.3°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 89°/68°F (31.4°/20.0°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 88°/68°F (30.9°/20.1°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 86°/68°F (30.2°/20.2°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 86°/67°F (30.0°/19.3°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 90°/69°F (32.2°/20.5°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 90°/69°F (32.2°/20.6°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia da Guiné-Bissau Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia da Guiné-Bissau, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guinea-Bissau 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.

Guinea-Bissau passport

Guinea-Bissau passport holder visiting Malawi

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

Malawi passport holder visiting Guinea-Bissau

Visa on Arrival
Malawi passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Guinea-Bissau.

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?

Guinea-Bissau generally does better on safety, though Malawi leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Malawi is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Guinea-Bissau.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Guinea-Bissau?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guinea-Bissau leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Malawi, compared to 2.1 in Guinea-Bissau. Malawi scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guinea-Bissau: 37).

What's the weather like in Malawi compared to Guinea-Bissau?

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 90°F in Bissau. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Bissau gets 69.1 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In Guinea-Bissau, the official languages are Portuguese and Upper Guinea Creole.

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At a Glance

GW MW
Population 2,026,778 20,794,353
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages Portuguese, Upper Guinea Creole Chewa, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +245 +265
Time zones 1 1