# Salima District, Central Region – Traditional authorities

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

District · Central Region 

# Salima District

Salima District is a district of Malawi in Central Region. It had an estimated **551,022 people** in 2023 on 2,129 km² (about 259 per km²). Its main town is Salima. It is divided into 13 traditional authorities. 181 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 81 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 551,022people (2023)
- 2,129km²
- 13traditional authorities
- 81mapped services

## How many people live in Salima District?

Salima District had an estimated **551,022 people** in 2023 — 6.5% of Central Region, 16th of 32 districts. There are 1,063 women for every 1,000 men (above the Central Region figure of 1,046). Spread over 2,129 km², that is about **259 people per km²**, 13th of 32 districts.

43.2% of people are children under 15 and 3.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 18 years (it is 19 across Central Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 88 children and older people.

0–4 ****88,025**

5–9 ****78,599**

10–14 ****71,367**

15–19 ****62,336**

20–24 ****49,997**

25–29 ****42,268**

30–34 ****35,385**

35–39 ****28,883**

40–44 ****22,889**

45–49 ****19,180**

50–54 ****13,902**

55–59 ****10,509**

60–64 ****8,026**

65–69 ****6,691**

70–74 ****4,776**

75–79 ****3,668**

80–84 ****2,413**

85–89 ****1,334**

90–94 ****519**

95+ ****258**

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 Salima District?

Salima District lies in [Central Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/), [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). It borders 5 other districts: [Dedza District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dedza/), [Dowa District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/dowa/), [Lilongwe District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/lilongwe/), [Nkhotakota District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/nkhotakota/) and [Ntchisi District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/ntchisi/). By area it is the 17th largest of 32 districts in Malawi. It covers 6.0% of [Central Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/). The centre of Salima District is about 75 km in a straight line from Lilongwe, the capital. The centre point is at -13.7673° N, 34.4540° 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 Salima District

Traditional authority Area km² Localities Services 

[Chipoka Urban](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/chipoka-urban/) 11 1 9 

[Lake Malawi National Park](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/lake-malawi-national-park/) 1.6 0 1 

[Salima Town](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/salima-town/) 18 5 24 

[TA Kambalame](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-kambalame/) 58 1 1 

[TA Kambwiri](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-kambwiri/) 261 26 0 

[TA Karonga](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-karonga/) 447 55 5 

[TA Khombedza](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-khombedza/) 487 24 1 

[TA Kuluunda](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-kuluunda/) 164 9 6 

[TA Maganga](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-maganga/) 187 21 29 

[TA Msosa](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-msosa/) 28 16 0 

[TA Mwanza](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-mwanza/) 171 0 0 

[TA Ndindi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-ndindi/) 201 12 4 

[TA Pemba](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/salima/ta-pemba/) 94 20 1 

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 Salima District

Open gazetteers list **181 villages, towns and localities** in Salima District. The largest with a recorded population: Salima (41,492) and Chipoka (7,212). Settlements here lie between about 471 m and 738 m above sea level (median 506 m).

- Abisai
- Bandawe
- Bibi
- Bingo
- Casamwalala
- Cesalino
- Chalunda
- Chamkoma
- Chana
- Chaseta
- Chataika
- Chemlima
- Chikanda
- Chikaola
- Chikhu
- Chikuni
- Chimbala
- Chimbalanga
- Chimphanga
- Chimubve
- Chimutu
- Chindungwa
- Chinombo
- Chinyamanyamo
- Chionjeza
- Chipalapata village
- Chipoka
- Chisamba
- Chisani
- Chiselema
- Chitala
- Chiunjiza
- Dowh
- Funsani
- GVH Kandulu
- GVH Mphunga
- GVH Ntika
- Guwende
- Gwilre
- Kababwa
- Kabumba
- Kabumbu
- Kabvala
- Kachele
- Kachule
- Kachulu
- Kacitja
- Kadeka
- Kakhomwa
- Kalibe
- Kalilangwe
- Kalombola
- Kaluunda
- Kaluzu
- Kambwili
- Kambwiri
- Kamfumu
- Kamphido
- Kampido
- Kamvona Guiani
- Kandusiwa
- Kankomwa
- Kansile
- Kanyama
- Kapanda
- Kaphathenga
- Kapicila
- Kapicilati
- Kaponda
- Karonga
- Kasache
- Kasache GVH
- Katambo
- Katawa
- Katelera
- Katumba
- Kawanga
- Kazimbe
- Kombedza
- Kudana
- Kunchakama
- Kuthenje
- Languo
- Levi
- Lifidzi
- Liganga
- Longwe
- Lowe
- Luwagala
- Maganga
- Magonga
- Mainza
- Makanjila
- Makho
- Makho GVH
- Makho Village
- Malapa
- Mambo
- Mangila
- Mangira
- Manguwale
- Mangwe
- Maonga
- Matumba
- Mazenjele
- Mbilimtenglenji
- Mboko
- Mgada
- Mguwacifu
- Mikute
- Milala
- Mkangawi
- Mkanje
- Mkhomo
- Mkokoma
- Mkwatile
- Mlimagwengwe
- Mlonga
- Mlungu
- Mncenga
- Mndola
- Mnewa
- Mnjeza
- Moses
- Mphere
- Mphinzi
- Mphunga
- Mpilingidzo GVH
- Mpondezi
- Mpondu
- Mpuwa
- Msuta
- Mtalimanja
- Mtambo
- Mthende
- Mtimasonjo
- Mtonga
- Mtonga Village
- Mwakundi
- Mwambe
- Mwanjowa
- Mwanjowa Village
- Mwankundi
- Mwanzawala
- Mwengelele
- Mzembela
- Mzikamanda
- Mzikamla
- Nachidzi
- Naliwomba
- Namacete
- Nawanga
- Ndalankwanda
- Ndindi
- Ngodzi
- Ngolomi
- Ngwindo
- Nkangayawala
- Nkhumpha
- Nkuki
- Nsadzu
- Nyambalo
- Nyambalo GVH
- Nyangulu
- Nyongole
- Pale
- Pemba
- Pisawene
- Salima
- Sandu
- Sani
- Selemani
- Simewa
- Simnawi
- Suzi
- Tembwe
- Tsoyo
- Waya
- Yonam
- mkwaila village
- mzunza village

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 Salima District

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

### Water

20 rivers and streams.

- Chapita Stream
- Kalambe
- Kaninga Stream
- Kanjoka Stream
- Kavunguti Stream
- Kiringuzi
- Kundwe Stream
- Lifisi River
- Lilongwe River
- Limpimbi River
- Lingadzi River
- Lufe
- Luwadzi River
- Luwadzi Stream
- Malingedzi River
- Matalala Stream
- Namanda
- Nyungwi
- Tovite Stream
- Zambwe

### Coast and islands

5 islands; 2 headlands; 1 beach.

- Grand Beach
- Kambiri Point
- Maleri Island
- Mamkoma Island
- Mbenji Island
- Nakantenga Island
- Namalenje Island
- Namikombe Point

### Hills and mountains

6 mountains; 2 hills.

- Kasumbi Hill · 1,014 m
- Chinsewa · 939 m
- Ntuntama Hill · 795 m
- Nkanga Hill · 761 m
- Rifu Hill · 715 m
- Nyungwe · 513 m
- Kambiri Hill · 501 m
- Senga Hill · 476 m

### Forests and nature

1 forest reserve.

- Senga Hills Forest Reserve

### Estates

4 estates.

- Chikombe Estate
- Chikyara Estate
- Nakondwa Estate
- Tsekwere Estate

### Getting around

1 bridge.

- Linthipe River M5 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 Salima District and the best time to visit

In Salima District, the warmest month is Nov (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C). About 1,069 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (311 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 23 311 

Feb 23 220 

Mar 22 161 

Apr 21 41 

May 20 7 

Jun 18 2 

Jul 18 2 

Aug 20 2 

Sep 23 3 

Oct 26 12 

Nov 27 63 

Dec 24 245 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Salima District

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

- Hospitals7
- Banks5
- Petrol pumps11
- Hotels38
- Schools10
- Colleges and universities2
- Restaurants7
- Police stations1

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 Salima District?In Central Region, Malawi
- What is the population of Salima District?551,022 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Salima District?About 18 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Salima District?About 259 people per km²
- What borders Salima District?Dedza District, Dowa District, Lilongwe District, Nkhotakota District and Ntchisi District
- How many villages are in Salima District?181 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Salima District?Settlements lie between 471 m and 738 m
- What is the highest point in Salima District?Kasumbi Hill (1,014 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Salima District?April to November
- How many hospitals are in Salima District?7 mapped
- How many banks are in Salima District?5 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Salima District?11 mapped
- What is the P-code of Salima District?MW205 (OCHA common operational dataset)