Moving to United Kingdom from Malawi

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Malawi to United Kingdom — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Malawi to United Kingdom. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Malawi to United Kingdom, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
19,035 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Malawi live in United Kingdom · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Malawi and United Kingdom stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

MW
1.8
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MW
20.2
GB
2.4

United Kingdom 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
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MW
0.5
GB
31.7

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MW
0.2t
GB
4.2t

Malawi generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom 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
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MW
17.5%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom 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%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MW
$1,700
GB
$54,100

United Kingdom 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
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MW
33.4
GB
3.8

United Kingdom 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

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lilongwe London
Jan–Mar 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Lilongwe London
Jan 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting United Kingdom

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

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom?

With 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United Kingdom can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Malawi and United Kingdom.

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Malawi?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Malawi?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.

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At a Glance

MW GB
Population 20,794,353 67,791,400
Currency Malawian Kwacha (MWK) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages Chewa, English English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +265 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 999