Moving to Latvia from Malawi
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Malawi to Latvia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Malawi to Latvia, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly cooler.
Get free moving quotes to Latvia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Malawi to Latvia, based on official data.
Who's moving to Latvia?
Top countries of origin for Latvia's foreign-born residents.
- 116,771
- 42,251
- 32,262
- 14,209
- 5,651
- 3,712
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malawi to Latvia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malawi generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Malawi generally does better on environment, though Latvia leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Latvia performs significantly better than Malawi across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Latvia 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lilongwe | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lilongwe | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi and Latvia. To live, work, or study long-term in Latvia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Latvia's immigration authority.
Malawi passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Required
Latvia passport holder visiting Malawi
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Latvia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Latvia has 26.4 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 Latvia safe for expats?
Malawi generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Malawi?
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Malawi?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.
