# Dowa District, Central Region – Traditional authorities

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/

District · Central Region 

# Dowa District

Dowa District is a district of Malawi in Central Region. It had an estimated **879,386 people** in 2023 on 3,067 km² (about 287 per km²). Its main town is Dowa. It is divided into 9 traditional authorities. 548 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 47 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 879,386people (2023)
- 3,067km²
- 9traditional authorities
- 47mapped services

## How many people live in Dowa District?

Dowa District had an estimated **879,386 people** in 2023 — 10.3% of Central Region, 7th of 32 districts. There are 1,042 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Central Region figure of 1,046). Spread over 3,067 km², that is about **287 people per km²**, 12th of 32 districts.

39.4% of people are children under 15 and 3.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 20 years (it is 19 across Central Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 76 children and older people.

0–4 ****117,980**

5–9 ****114,808**

10–14 ****113,653**

15–19 ****99,972**

20–24 ****84,467**

25–29 ****71,400**

30–34 ****59,399**

35–39 ****46,669**

40–44 ****40,792**

45–49 ****33,718**

50–54 ****27,303**

55–59 ****20,323**

60–64 ****15,292**

65–69 ****11,409**

70–74 ****8,516**

75–79 ****6,172**

80–84 ****3,990**

85–89 ****2,242**

90–94 ****955**

95+ ****326**

Source: [Malawi National Statistics Office via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-mwi).

## Where is Dowa District?

Dowa District lies in [Central Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/), [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). It borders 5 other districts: [Kasungu District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/kasungu/), [Lilongwe District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/lilongwe/), [Lilongwe City](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/lilongwe-city/), [Ntchisi District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/ntchisi/) and [Salima District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/). By area it is the 14th largest of 32 districts in Malawi. It covers 8.6% of [Central Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/). The centre of Dowa District is about 50 km in a straight line from Lilongwe, the capital. The centre point is at -13.5226° N, 33.7413° E.

Source: [National Statistics Office of Malawi via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-mwi).

## Traditional authorities of Dowa District

Traditional authority Area km² Localities Services 

[Dowa Boma](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/dowa-boma/) 5.1 1 1 

[Mponela Urban](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/mponela-urban/) 10 1 12 

[TA Chakhaza](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/ta-chakhaza/) 734 150 11 

[TA Chiwere](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/ta-chiwere/) 522 58 4 

[TA Dzoole](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/ta-dzoole/) 358 82 0 

[TA Kayembe](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/ta-kayembe/) 445 116 0 

[TA Mkukula](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/ta-mkukula/) 397 79 13 

[TA Mponela](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/ta-mponela/) 165 17 3 

[TA Msakambewa](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/ta-msakambewa/) 431 65 3 

Source: [National Statistics Office of Malawi via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-mwi); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Villages and localities in Dowa District

Open gazetteers list **548 villages, towns and localities** in Dowa District. The largest with a recorded population: Mponela (27,681), Dowa (8,047) and Ntchisi (7,918). Settlements here lie between about 624 m and 1,545 m above sea level (median 1,192 m).

- Agamonje
- Benga
- Besera
- Bimpi
- Binda
- Bowe
- Bundu
- Buno
- Bvumo Kazoma
- Bweya
- Chadza
- Chaguza
- Chakale
- Chakasa
- Chakazika
- Chakhala
- Chakhaza
- Chakuma
- Chakwawa
- Chambwe
- Chamkakala
- Chamkoma
- Chamvu
- Chandiwu
- Chaola
- Chaowa
- Chapanza
- Chapuma
- Chapuwala
- Chatambalala
- Chatanga
- Chatewa
- Chauwa
- Chazama
- Chesen
- Chibvutwe
- Chibweza
- Chidakwende
- Chidambo
- Chidothi
- Chigamba
- Chiganda
- Chigawa
- Chigoma
- Chigwe
- Chikasauka
- Chikhadwe
- Chikobwi
- Chikomakuka
- Chikudzu
- Chikulu
- Chikungu
- Chikwawi
- Chilakalaka
- Chilando
- Chilawa
- Chilemba
- Chilembwa
- Chilima
- Chilimimba
- Chilindira
- Chilinkholi
- Chilolo
- Chilonga
- Chilusi
- Chimamba
- Chimambo
- Chimbalu
- Chimbete
- Chimbuli
- Chimhuli
- Chimkoka
- Chimkoko
- Chimombo
- Chimoto
- Chimpala
- Chimpeni
- Chimptsolo
- Chimukoko Thuphwi
- Chimveka
- Chimwala
- Chimwendo
- Chimwere
- Chinavinga
- Chindura
- Chingalande
- Chingali
- Chinganyama
- Chingoma
- Chingombe
- Chinguo
- Chinguwo
- Chinkhota
- Chinkota
- Chinkwangula
- Chinkwiri
- Chinsasa
- Chinvama
- Chinzili
- Chipaka
- Chipalawe
- Chipanza
- Chipapi
- Chipitite
- Chiponda
- Chipsiyoza
- Chipudo
- Chisani
- Chisenga
- Chisepo
- Chisoso
- Chisumba
- Chitanje
- Chitanta
- Chitawala
- Chitete
- Chitoru
- Chiula
- Chiwaula
- Chiwere
- Chiweza
- Chiwilira
- Chiwoko
- Chulu
- Chungwi
- Cikho
- Cimcira
- Cimkoko
- Cimkonbera
- Citoohi
- Ciziko
- Dambalika
- Dangalilo
- Dangalira
- Dembo
- Derale
- Dowa
- Dzoole
- Elisa
- Fondane
- Galangombe
- Galawi
- Gamadzi
- Gobedi
- Gogo
- Gomba
- Gulundu
- Guma
- Gumbo
- Gwazeni
- Gwede
- Gwileni
- Imfayatonse
- Isaac
- Jaasi
- Jasi
- Jemus
- Jesaya
- Jim
- Jojo
- Jonas
- Joseni
- Jowel
- Juma
- Jumpha
- Junche
- Kabagosa
- Kabanga
- Kabata
- Kabwela
- Kabwinja
- Kachara
- Kachimbwe
- Kachipande
- Kachira
- Kachisa
- Kachiza
- Kachuli
- Kadewere
- Kadula
- Kadwa
- Kadzanja
- Kafumphe
- Kafwafwa
- Kagutalambwe
- Kainja
- Kalekalele
- Kalengo
- Kalimbila
- Kalindangoma
- Kalinde
- Kalisha
- Kalonga
- Kalumbwi
- Kalumunyu
- Kamagwahkwa
- Kamanga
- Kambadza
- Kambalima
- Kamchira
- Kamiya
- Kamkambo
- Kamoto
- Kampenga
- Kamphasi
- Kamphata
- Kamphimba
- Kamsichili
- Kamtumbo
- Kamungwe
- Kamuona
- Kamwendo
- Kamzingen
- Kancele
- Kancence
- Kandzu
- Kankhumbwa
- Kantepa
- Kanyambo
- Kapalanga
- Kaphamtengo
- Kapichi
- Kapicila
- Kapida
- Kapokola
- Kapondasoka
- Kaponya
- Kapotapongwe
- Kapulanga
- Kapundo
- Kapundu
- Karonga
- Karusi
- Kasagula
- Kasaliga
- Kasama
- Kasamba
- Kaseleka
- Kasese
- Kasese I
- Kashangula
- Kashele
- Kasompe
- Kasuntha
- Katalima
- Katambo
- Katangara
- Katayene
- Katelera
- Katema
- Katembo
- Katengeza
- Kathontha
- Kathungwi
- Katiyi
- Katonda
- Katsika
- Katsuka
- Katsukunya
- Katumbi
- Kaufa
- Kauma
- Kawale
- Kawaza
- Kawere
- Kayembe
- Kayoza
- Khamakhama
- Khomani
- Khombe
- Khulumuniyu
- Kodikila
- Kombi
- Koti
- Kumela
- Kundwe
- Kuphela
- Kupiseni
- Kwis
- Lavu
- Lichapa
- Lichere
- Limunga
- Lipempe
- Lipenga
- Lodzani
- Longwe
- Lumwila
- Madisi
- Madziada
- Mafunthe
- Magodi
- Magumbe
- Majega
- Makalenye
- Makanga
- Makanjila
- Makombwa
- Makwani
- Makwasi
- Malanda
- Malangwasila
- Malili
- Malima
- Maliwa
- Maliyamu
- Mandala
- Mandate
- Mandindi
- Mangadz
- Mangaoma
- Mankhaka
- Manondo
- Manzi
- Maswana
- Matuwamba
- Mavwari
- Mawende
- Mayani
- Mayola
- Mazyake
- Mbachundu
- Mbalame
- Mbalira
- Mbangala
- Mbayo
- Mbelesheka
- Mbembe
- Mberekere
- Mbingwa
- Mbobo
- Mbua
- Mbuluma
- Mbuta
- Mchoka
- Mdambwe
- Mdembo
- Mdoala
- Mduka
- Mengwe
- Menuli
- Mgonela
- Mgubane
- Milimbu
- Misango
- Missi
- Mitembo
- Miwale
- Mizondo
- Mjakadziko
- Mjele
- Mjudzi
- Mkambokambo
- Mkande
- Mkanile
- Mkanile II
- Mkantaroa
- Mkanthama
- Mkatama
- Mkombe
- Mkotamo
- Mkotsano
- Mkubu
- Mkukula
- Mkulela
- Mkulumimba
- Mkuwila
- Mkwichi
- Mkwinda
- Mlangali
- Mlengwe
- Mndelemani
- Mnelo
- Mondwe
- Monemoa
- Moya
- Moyanpansi
- Moyomsani
- Mpalawe
- Mpamba
- Mpamfa
- Mpatsa
- Mpaya
- Mphambanya
- Mphepo
- Mphunju
- Mphwamphwa
- Mponela
- Mpozera
- Msakambewa
- Msala
- Msampha
- Msapha
- Msilisa
- Msochi
- Msoci
- Msokola
- Msungwi
- Mtalonji
- Mtande

…and 148 more.

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Dowa District

Named natural and historic features inside Dowa District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

63 rivers and streams.

- Bisa
- Chakwawa
- Chambidzi
- Chidzenji Stream
- Chifukula
- Chikoko
- Chikwatu
- Chinyimbo
- Chiphwidz
- Chiwudza
- Choma
- Cipwidzi
- Debiya Stream
- Dodolonga
- Gala
- Kakubwe
- Kala
- Kalawilo
- Kambizi
- Kampingu
- Kamthanta
- Kamwambazi
- Kanjobvu
- Kanyoto

…and 39 more.

### Hills and mountains

27 hills; 9 mountains.

- Kongwe Hill · 1,644 m
- Chiponde · 1,601 m
- Ntandazuga Hill · 1,593 m
- Mdolera Hill · 1,533 m
- Ngara Hill · 1,533 m
- Mlomba Hill · 1,531 m
- Chefu · 1,523 m
- Chungwe Hill · 1,439 m
- Mwanawakana Kasanje · 1,433 m
- Chiponde Hill · 1,427 m
- Kalelenga · 1,409 m
- Chilundu · 1,406 m
- Chiwebve · 1,401 m
- Namatonje Hill · 1,394 m
- Nanzalamba · 1,378 m
- Mpanda · 1,377 m
- Mpali Hill · 1,373 m
- Chiwungo · 1,363 m
- Chikonkholero · 1,353 m
- Kamphambe · 1,347 m
- Katundu · 1,294 m
- Bowe Hill · 1,278 m
- Kanthenga · 1,270 m
- Mpudzu Hill · 1,242 m

…and 12 more.

### Forests and nature

2 forest reserves.

- Kongwe Forest Reserve
- Ngara Forest Reserve

### Estates

5 estates.

- Kasese Estate
- Monjezi Estate
- Mpali Estate
- Nkonde
- Nyagra Estate

### Getting around

2 bridges.

- Bua Bridge
- Lisasadzi Bridge

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Dowa District and the best time to visit

In Dowa District, the warmest month is Nov (average 25 °C) and the coolest is Jul (16 °C). About 1,071 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (290 mm) and the driest Jun (2 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to November**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 22 290 

Feb 21 222 

Mar 21 168 

Apr 20 47 

May 18 8 

Jun 16 2 

Jul 16 2 

Aug 19 2 

Sep 22 4 

Oct 24 11 

Nov 25 68 

Dec 23 245 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Dowa District

Places mapped inside Dowa District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals8
- Banks5
- ATMs1
- Petrol pumps5
- Hotels6
- Schools12
- Colleges and universities7
- Restaurants1
- Police stations2

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Dowa District?In Central Region, Malawi
- What is the population of Dowa District?879,386 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Dowa District?About 20 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Dowa District?About 287 people per km²
- What borders Dowa District?Kasungu District, Lilongwe District, Lilongwe City, Ntchisi District and Salima District
- How many villages are in Dowa District?548 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Dowa District?Settlements lie between 624 m and 1,545 m
- What is the highest point in Dowa District?Kongwe Hill (1,644 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Dowa District?April to November
- How many hospitals are in Dowa District?8 mapped
- How many banks are in Dowa District?5 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Dowa District?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Dowa District?5 mapped
- What is the P-code of Dowa District?MW204 (OCHA common operational dataset)