Moving to Russia from Malawi

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malawi to Russia, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°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 Russia.

Living there in 2020
27 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Malawi live in Russia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Russia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Russia compared to Malawi.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MW
1.8
RU
6.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MW
20.2
RU
10.6

Malawi generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MW
$125
RU
$3,204
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MW
0.5
RU
38.3

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia 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
RU
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MW
0.2t
RU
14.0t

Malawi generally does better on environment, though Russia 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
RU
24.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MW
17.5%
RU
4.1%

Russia performs significantly better than Malawi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MW
5.0%
RU
3.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MW
$1,700
RU
$39,800

Russia performs significantly better than Malawi across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MW
72.4 yrs
RU
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MW
33.4
RU
6.4

Russia generally does better on family life, though Malawi leads in life expectancy.

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

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lilongwe Moscow
Jan–Mar 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) 68°/52°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Lilongwe Moscow
Jan 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C)
Feb 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C)
Mar 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C)
Apr 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C)
Jun 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C)
Jul 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C)
Aug 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C)
Oct 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C)
Nov 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Russia

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

Russia passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Russia 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 Russia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Russia: 24.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Russia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Russia safe for expats?

Malawi generally does better on safety, though Russia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.

How is healthcare in Russia compared to Malawi?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 38.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.

What language do they speak in Russia?

The official language in Russia is Russian. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.

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At a Glance

MW RU
Population 20,794,353 142,021,981
Currency Malawian Kwacha (MWK) Russian Ruble (RUB)
Languages Chewa, English Russian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +265 +7
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 112