Moving to Malawi from Ireland

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ireland to Malawi — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ireland to Malawi. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lilongwe averages 75°F vs 56°F in Dublin, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ireland to Malawi.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
MW
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IE
2.8
MW
20.2

Ireland 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

IE
$8,772
MW
$125
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
MW
0.5

Ireland 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

IE
13.0
MW
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
MW
0.2t

Ireland 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

IE
32.1
MW
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
MW
17.5%

Ireland 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

IE
4.3%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
MW
$1,700

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IE
81.7 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
MW
33.4

Ireland performs better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dublin Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Dublin Lilongwe
Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Malawi

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

Malawi passport holder visiting Ireland

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Malawi has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Malawi safe for expats?

Ireland performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malawi is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Ireland?

Ireland 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 40.6 in Ireland. Malawi scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.

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At a Glance

IE MW
Population 5,275,004 20,794,353
Currency Euro (€) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages English, Irish Chewa, English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +353 +265
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112