Malawi

Is Malawi safe to visit?

Mostly, yes. Malawi has no armed conflict and no history of terrorism, and the UK advises against travel to no part of it. The US keeps it at Level 2, "exercise increased caution", because of crime and protests. The risks that actually hurt visitors are the roads, malaria and other diseases, floods in the rainy season, and robbery in the cities. We score Malawi 60, just below Zambia (61) and well above Mozambique (45), whose northern insurgency Malawi does not share.

The data are thin. UNODC's last national homicide figure for Malawi is from 2012, WHO's 2021 figure is a model, and the road death rate is a WHO model, so treat the numbers as a rough guide and our confidence as low.

Crime: low murder rate, real robbery risk

UNODC recorded 1.8 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people in 2012, a low rate for the region, but nothing official has been published since; WHO's model gives a similar 1.9 (WHO modelled estimate, 2021). The picture from the embassies is less reassuring. The US says theft, burglary, armed robbery and assault are common, and that the police struggle to investigate crimes or help victims.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary gives specifics. A group of British tourists was violently assaulted and robbed in their hotel in Mulanje in 2025. Break-ins have risen in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Limbe, some with violent attacks on residents. There are occasional kidnaps for ransom, aimed mostly at businesspeople and wealthy residents but in some cases British nationals.

Day to day, visitors are more likely to meet petty crime:

• Mugging and bag snatching, most often around the main bus stations in Lilongwe and Blantyre.
• Robbery after eating or drinking something a stranger offered, which was drugged.
• Over-friendly people who offer to guide you, sell you something or claim to know you and want a lift.

Do not walk in quiet areas after dark, keep cash and passports in the lodge safe, and choose lodges with a guard and a wall. If you plan to climb Mulanje Mountain, ask the Mountain Club of Malawi for security advice first.

Protests and the economy

Malawi's politics are peaceful by regional standards, and power has changed hands through elections; Peter Mutharika is president again after the 2025 vote. The economy is under strain. In April 2026 the opposition Malawi Congress Party accused the government of silence over shortages of fuel and foreign currency and rising prices. The US warns that protests become more frequent around elections and political events, that police often use tear gas and that roads can be blocked. The 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary ranks Malawi 83rd of 163, down 18 places from 2025. Avoid crowds and let your lodge know your plans.

Fuel shortages matter for travellers too. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says long queues are common and fuel may not be available on your route, so fill up whenever you can.

The roads are the biggest risk

WHO estimatedWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 20.2 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, about eight times the UK rate in the same series; its older model put Malawi at 33.4 for 2019. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says driving is hazardous: potholes, animals, broken-down vehicles left on the road, cyclists and cars without lights at night. Public minibuses and pick-ups are often in poor condition and overloaded, while the larger coaches between the main towns are more reliable.

Police run breathalyser checks and speed cameras, often on stretches without speed limit signs, and can take your licence and car on the spot. Wear a seatbelt, never drive after dark and plan the day so you arrive before sunset.

Malaria, cholera and the lake

Malaria is present across the country all year, and CDC recommends preventive tablets for every traveller. Malaria in a visitor is a medical emergency, so see a doctor at once for any fever during the trip or in the weeks after it. Malawi had the largest cholera outbreak in its history in 2022 and 2023, and CDC still reports widespread transmission; drink bottled or treated water and eat food that is freshly cooked.

Lake Malawi is the main draw, and its fresh water can carry schistosomiasis. Rabid dogs are common, so ask about rabies vaccination before you go, especially for long trips or rural travel. Health care outside Lilongwe and Blantyre is basic, facilities usually want payment up front, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary warns that emergency numbers are unreliable. Insurance that covers evacuation to South Africa is essential.

Floods and cyclones

The rainy season runs from November to April, and floods, landslides and road closures are common. In March 2023 Cyclone Freddy brought days of rain to the south; OCHA counted 676 dead, at least 537 missing and 659,278 people displaced. Visiting in the dry season, May to October, avoids most of this risk. Earthquakes also occur, especially in the north along the Rift Valley.

How we scored it

Conflict (80) is Malawi's strongest factor, and violent crime (72) sits below the 1–3 band of the homicide figures because the robbery and assault reports are so frequent. Health (40) and road safety (40) are the weakest, followed by natural hazards (55). Confidence is low because there is no recent homicide data and the two WHO road estimates disagree widely.