Moving to Germany from Malawi

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malawi to Germany, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Berlin averages 56°F vs 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Malawi to Germany, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
115 ↑ 34% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Germany?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

MW
1.8
DE
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MW
20.2
DE
3.3

Germany performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MW
$125
DE
$8,826
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MW
0.5
DE
45.2

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany 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
DE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MW
0.2t
DE
6.9t

Malawi generally does better on environment, though Germany 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
DE
45.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MW
17.5%
DE
35.4%

Germany 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%
DE
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MW
$1,700
DE
$61,900

Germany 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

MW
72.4 yrs
DE
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MW
33.4
DE
3.2

Germany 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

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lilongwe Berlin
Jan–Mar 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 64°/47°F (18°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) 72°/55°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) 47°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Lilongwe Berlin
Jan 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C)
Feb 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C)
Mar 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C)
Apr 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C)
Jun 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C)
Jul 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C)
Aug 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C)
Oct 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C)
Nov 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Germany

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

Germany passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Germany 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 Germany?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Germany has 45.0 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 Germany safe for expats?

Germany performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.

How is healthcare in Germany compared to Malawi?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.

What language do they speak in Germany?

The official language in Germany is German. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.

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At a Glance

MW DE
Population 20,794,353 84,316,622
Currency Malawian Kwacha (MWK) Euro (€)
Languages Chewa, English German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +265 +49
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112