Moving to Malawi from Japan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Japan to Malawi, and you’d need to navigate life in Chewa and English.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
MW
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
MW
20.2

Japan 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

JP
$5,365
MW
$125
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
MW
0.5

Japan 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

JP
12.0
MW
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
MW
0.2t

Japan 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

JP
37.2
MW
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JP
36.0%
MW
17.5%

Japan 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

JP
2.6%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
MW
$1,700

Japan 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

JP
84.8 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
MW
33.4

Japan performs better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Lilongwe
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Malawi

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

Malawi passport holder visiting Japan

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

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?

Japan performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malawi is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Japan?

Japan 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 26.1 in Japan. Malawi scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP MW
Population 124,214,766 20,794,353
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages Japanese Chewa, English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +81 +265
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110