Moving to Spain from Malawi

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malawi to Spain, and you’d need to navigate life in Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Spain

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?

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

Moved in 2019
16 ↑ 433% vs 2018

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

Who's moving to Spain?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Spain compared to Malawi.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

MW
1.8
ES
0.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MW
20.2
ES
3.5

Spain 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
ES
$4,935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MW
0.5
ES
44.8

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Spain 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
ES
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MW
0.2t
ES
4.5t

Malawi generally does better on environment, though Spain 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
ES
36.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MW
17.5%
ES
43.2%

Spain 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%
ES
12.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MW
$1,700
ES
$46,400

Malawi generally does better on employment & economy, though Spain 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
ES
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MW
33.4
ES
2.5

Spain 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

Madrid Rain: 16.6 in/yr (421 mm)
68° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lilongwe Madrid
Jan–Mar 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) 55°/40°F (13°/4°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 73°/53°F (23°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) 86°/64°F (30°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) 58°/44°F (14°/7°C)
View all months
Month Lilongwe Madrid
Jan 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C)
Feb 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C)
Mar 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C)
Apr 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C)
Jun 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C)
Jul 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C)
Aug 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C)
Oct 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C)
Nov 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología Agencia Estatal de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Spain

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

Spain passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Spain 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 Spain?

Connectivity is usually fine (Spain: 36.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Spain offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Spain safe for expats?

Spain performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Spain is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.

How is healthcare in Spain compared to Malawi?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Spain leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Spain, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Spain scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Madrid is 68°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Madrid receives around 16.6 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.

What language do they speak in Spain?

The official languages in Spain are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.

Share this

At a Glance

MW ES
Population 20,794,353 47,163,418
Currency Malawian Kwacha (MWK) Euro (€)
Languages Chewa, English Basque, Catalan, Galician, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +265 +34
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 112