Moving to Somalia from Malawi

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malawi to Somalia, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Somali. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Mogadishu averages 86°F vs 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MW
20.2
SO
20.2

Malawi performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MW
$125
SO
$52
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MW
0.5
SO
0.2

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia 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

MW
43.0
SO
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MW
0.2t
SO
0.0t

Malawi generally does better on environment, though Somalia 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

MW
0.1
SO
0.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MW
17.5%
SO
24.5%

Malawi generally does better on infrastructure, though Somalia leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MW
5.0%
SO
19.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MW
$1,700
SO
$1,500

Malawi performs better than Somalia 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
SO
55.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MW
33.4
SO
86.5

Malawi performs better than Somalia across all family life metrics.

Data: 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

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lilongwe Mogadishu
Jan–Mar 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) 86°/74°F (30°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 88°/76°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) 84°/73°F (29°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) 87°/75°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Lilongwe Mogadishu
Jan 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C)
Feb 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Mar 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C)
Apr 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C)
Jun 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C)
Jul 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Aug 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C)
Oct 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C)
Nov 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Somalia

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

Somalia passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Somalia 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 Somalia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Somalia has 0.7 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 Somalia safe for expats?

Malawi performs better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Somalia compared to Malawi?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Somalia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 0.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Somalia, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Somalia scores 27 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Mogadishu is 86°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Mogadishu receives around 18.7 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.

What language do they speak in Somalia?

The official languages in Somalia are Arabic and Somali. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.

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At a Glance

MW SO
Population 20,794,353 12,386,248
Currency Malawian Kwacha (MWK) Somali Shilling (SOS)
Languages Chewa, English Arabic, Somali
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +265 +252
Time zones 1 1