Moving to Belgium from Malawi

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malawi to Belgium, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brussels averages 57°F vs 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Malawi to Belgium.

Moved in 2023
7 ↓ 30% vs 2022

people moved from Malawi to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Belgium?

Top countries of origin for Belgium's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Malawi.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

MW
20.2
BE
4.6

Belgium performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MW
$125
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MW
0.5
BE
63.9

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium 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

MW
43.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MW
0.2t
BE
7.3t

Malawi generally does better on environment, though Belgium 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

MW
0.1
BE
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MW
17.5%
BE
51.9%

Belgium 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

MW
5.0%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MW
$1,700
BE
$63,600

Malawi generally does better on employment & economy, though Belgium leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MW
72.4 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MW
33.4
BE
3.2

Belgium performs significantly better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: Malawi Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lilongwe Brussels
Jan–Mar 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Lilongwe Brussels
Jan 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi and Belgium. To live, work, or study long-term in Belgium, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belgium's immigration authority.

Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Belgium

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

Belgium passport holder visiting Malawi

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Belgium?

Connectivity is usually fine (Belgium: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belgium offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Belgium safe for expats?

Belgium performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Malawi?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.

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At a Glance

MW BE
Population 20,794,353 11,847,338
Currency Malawian Kwacha (MWK) Euro (€)
Languages Chewa, English Dutch, French, German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +265 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112