# Southern Region, Malawi – Districts, Population & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/

Region · Malawi 

# Southern Region

Southern Region is a region of Malawi. It had an estimated **8,743,362 people** in 2023 on 30,510 km² (about 287 per km²). Its main town is Blantyre. It is divided into 15 districts. 2,279 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,414 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 8,743,362people (2023)
- 30,510km²
- 15districts
- 1,414mapped services

## How many people live in Southern Region?

Southern Region had an estimated **8,743,362 people** in 2023 — 44.1% of Malawi, the most populous of 3 regions. There are 1,080 women for every 1,000 men (above the Malawi figure of 1,064). Spread over 30,510 km², that is about **287 people per km²**, the most densely populated of 3 regions.

42.3% of people are children under 15 and 3.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 18 years (it is 19 across Malawi). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 85 children and older people.

0–4 ****1,387,524**

5–9 ****1,241,182**

10–14 ****1,073,634**

15–19 ****982,306**

20–24 ****837,428**

25–29 ****687,004**

30–34 ****567,255**

35–39 ****454,478**

40–44 ****369,666**

45–49 ****293,303**

50–54 ****232,408**

55–59 ****172,284**

60–64 ****134,054**

65–69 ****105,135**

70–74 ****78,911**

75–79 ****57,845**

80–84 ****37,544**

85–89 ****20,281**

90–94 ****8,483**

95+ ****2,633**

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 Southern Region?

Southern Region lies in [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). It borders 1 other region: [Central Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/). By area it is the 2nd largest of 3 regions in Malawi. It covers 32.7% of [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). The centre of Southern Region is about 211 km in a straight line from Lilongwe, the capital. The centre point is at -15.3064° N, 35.1787° 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).

## Districts of Southern Region

District People per km² Area km² Traditional authorities Services 

[Mangochi District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/mangochi/) 1,346,740 211 6,382 17 406 

[Machinga District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/machinga/) 874,337 301 2,902 19 36 

[Blantyre District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/blantyre/) 871,776 491 1,775 8 40 

[Zomba City](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba-city/) 831,015 19,885 42 10 95 

[Thyolo District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/) 782,442 470 1,664 16 29 

[Mulanje District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/mulanje/) 765,623 382 2,002 10 78 

[Chikwawa District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/) 628,282 129 4,861 15 64 

[Blantyre City](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/blantyre-city/) 509,289 2,120 240 23 467 

[Balaka District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/) 504,349 237 2,125 12 44 

[Phalombe District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/phalombe/) 490,345 394 1,244 7 18 

[Chiradzulu District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chiradzulu/) 389,928 513 760 10 22 

[Nsanje District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/) 326,874 172 1,903 11 29 

[Neno District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/neno/) 153,132 99 1,554 5 24 

[Mwanza District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/mwanza/) 152,433 202 756 5 27 

[Zomba District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/) 116,797 52 2,249 11 35 

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

## Largest towns in Southern Region

- Blantyre902,588
- Zomba118,440
- Mangochi60,338
- Liwonde41,077
- Balaka40,950
- Nsanje30,276
- Mwanza20,345
- Monkey Bay16,867
- Mulanje16,672
- Luchenza14,211
- Thyolo8,845
- Ngabu7,931
- Phalombe7,040
- Chikwawa6,987
- Chiradzulu1,580

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

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Southern Region

Named natural and historic features inside Southern Region, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

590 rivers and streams; 4 waterfalls; 2 lakes.

- Aunde
- Barambalala Stream
- Bembembe
- Berenje
- Bilila
- Bimbili Stream
- Binini
- Bwaila
- Bwangu Stream
- Canyungu Stream
- Chandeta
- Chapansaru
- Chawani
- Cheguma River
- Chemave
- Chenachena Falls
- Chetedzi River
- Chia River
- Chianse
- Chibanzi
- Chibvura
- Chichere
- Chididi
- Chidima

…and 572 more.

### Coast and islands

5 islands.

- Domwe Island
- Mumbo Island
- Nsua Island
- Temba Island
- Tumbi Island West

### Hills and mountains

233 hills; 180 mountains; 27 peaks; 1 mountain pass.

- Sapitwa · 2,945 m
- Nakodzwe · 2,898 m
- Dzole · 2,732 m
- Namasile · 2,625 m
- Chinzama · 2,616 m
- Khuto · 2,551 m
- Manene · 2,534 m
- Tsunga Peak · 2,480 m
- Matambale · 2,461 m
- Chambe Peak · 2,452 m
- Naikoto Peak · 2,402 m
- Nadalanda · 2,348 m
- Chilemba · 2,324 m
- Mchese Mountain · 2,233 m
- Mt. Mulanje · 2,092 m
- Zomba · 2,053 m
- Nowimbe · 2,051 m
- Malosa Mountain · 1,979 m
- Chiradzulu Mountain · 1,724 m
- Chifundi · 1,719 m
- Mlunguzi · 1,710 m
- Malosa · 1,599 m
- Chikala Hill · 1,570 m
- Ndirande Hill · 1,547 m

…and 417 more.

### Forests and nature

27 forest reserves; 3 wildlife reserves; 1 nature reserve; 1 park.

- Chegwadja Forest Reserve
- Chigamula Forest Reserve
- Chiradzulu Forest Reserve
- Cholo Mountain Forest Reserve
- Cholomwani Forest Reserve
- Kalula Hills Forest Reserve
- Kanjedza Forest Reserve
- Lengwe Game Reserve
- Lengwe National Park
- Litchenya Forest Reserve
- Liwonde Forest Reserve
- Liwonde National Park
- Majete Game Reserve
- Malabvi Forest Reserve
- Malosa Forest Reserve
- Mangochi Forest Reserve
- Masenjere Forest Reserve
- Matandwe Forest Reserve
- Mchese Forest Reserve
- Mirale Forest Reserve
- Misiku Forest Reserve
- Mudi Forest Reserve
- Mulanje Forest Reserve
- Mwabvi Game Reserve

…and 8 more.

### History

3 ruins.

- Fort Maguire Ruins
- Fort Mangoche
- Old Livingstonia

### Estates

155 estates; 3 estates.

- Amika Estate
- Banga Estate
- Basale
- Chanda
- Chaoni
- Chigweje A
- Chigweje B
- Chikomwe
- Chikomwe
- Chikondi Estate
- Chikowa
- Chimawa
- Chimpeni Estate
- Chimvuo
- Chimwalira
- Chimwenya
- Chinguluwe
- Chintenje
- Chipolopolo
- Chipunga Estate
- Chirambwe
- Chirenje
- Chisombezi-Malowa
- Chisunga

…and 134 more.

### Getting around

10 airfields; 10 railway stations; 5 airports; 2 bridges.

- Bangula
- Bangula Halt
- Chileka International Airport
- Chinguni
- Club Makokola Airport
- Conforzi
- Khonjeni Station
- Lirangwe Siding
- Liwonde Mvuu Camp Airport
- Makande Railway Station
- Malabvi Siding
- Mangochi Airport
- Mimosa
- Mirale Siding
- Monkey Bay Airport
- Nankundu M10/S128 Bridge
- Nansadi Station
- Nchalo Sucoma Airport
- Nsanje
- Rivi-Rivi Bridge
- Satemwa
- Shire Bridge Siding
- Sucoma
- Tekerani Station

…and 3 more.

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 Southern Region and the best time to visit

In Southern Region, the warmest month is Nov (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C). About 1,178 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (313 mm) and the driest Aug (6 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 24 313 

Feb 24 225 

Mar 23 178 

Apr 22 52 

May 20 19 

Jun 19 15 

Jul 18 25 

Aug 21 6 

Sep 24 11 

Oct 27 17 

Nov 28 86 

Dec 26 232 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Southern Region

Places mapped inside Southern Region in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals139
- Banks76
- ATMs10
- Petrol pumps116
- Hotels214
- Shopping malls8
- Schools602
- Colleges and universities63
- Cinemas1
- Pharmacies13
- Restaurants132
- Police stations36
- Dental clinics4

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 Southern Region?In Malawi
- What is the population of Southern Region?8,743,362 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Southern Region?About 18 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Southern Region?About 287 people per km²
- What borders Southern Region?Central Region
- What is the largest town in Southern Region?Blantyre
- What is the highest point in Southern Region?Sapitwa (2,945 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Southern Region?April to November
- How many hospitals are in Southern Region?139 mapped
- How many banks are in Southern Region?76 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Southern Region?10 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Southern Region?116 mapped
- What is the P-code of Southern Region?MW3 (OCHA common operational dataset)