Moving to Malawi from Vanuatu

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vanuatu to Malawi. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

VU
0.3
MW
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VU
12.5
MW
20.2

Vanuatu performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

VU
$141
MW
$125
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

VU
1.6
MW
0.5

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu 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

VU
57.0
MW
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VU
0.9t
MW
0.2t

Malawi performs significantly better than Vanuatu across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VU
1.1
MW
0.1
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

VU
66.0%
MW
24.0%

Vanuatu performs 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

VU
5.1%
MW
5.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VU
$3,000
MW
$1,700

Vanuatu generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

VU
75.1 yrs
MW
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VU
14.3
MW
33.4

Vanuatu generally does better on family life, though Malawi leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Port Vila Rain: 87.5 in/yr (2222 mm)
83° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lilongwe Rain: 50.7 in/yr (1289 mm)
75° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Port Vila Lilongwe
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) 78°/61°F (25°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) 72°/53°F (22°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 72°/45°F (22°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/71°F (29°/22°C) 80°/57°F (27°/14°C)
View all months
Month Port Vila Lilongwe
Jan 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C) 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C) 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C)
Mar 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C)
Apr 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C) 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C)
May 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jun 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C) 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C)
Jul 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C)
Aug 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C) 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C)
Sep 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C) 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C)
Oct 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C) 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C)
Nov 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C) 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C)
Dec 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C) 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C)

Data: Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Malawi

Visa Free
Vanuatu passport holders can enter Malawi without a visa.
Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Free
Malawi passport holders can enter Vanuatu without a 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 Malawi?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Malawi has 0.1 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 Malawi safe for expats?

Vanuatu performs better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malawi is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.3 in Vanuatu.

How is healthcare in Malawi compared to Vanuatu?

Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Malawi, compared to 1.6 in Vanuatu. Malawi scores 48 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vanuatu: 47).

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

The average high temperature in Lilongwe is 75°F, compared to 83°F in Port Vila. Lilongwe receives around 50.7 in of rainfall per year, while Port Vila gets 87.5 in.

What language do they speak in Malawi?

The official languages in Malawi are Chewa and English. In Vanuatu, the official languages are Bislama, English and French.

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At a Glance

VU MW
Population 308,043 20,794,353
Currency Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Languages Bislama, English, French Chewa, English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +678 +265
Time zones 1 1