# Balaka District, Southern Region – Traditional authorities

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

District · Southern Region 

# Balaka District

Balaka District is a district of Malawi in Southern Region. It had an estimated **504,349 people** in 2023 on 2,125 km² (about 237 per km²). Its main town is Balaka. It is divided into 12 traditional authorities. 65 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 44 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 504,349people (2023)
- 2,125km²
- 12traditional authorities
- 44mapped services

## How many people live in Balaka District?

Balaka District had an estimated **504,349 people** in 2023 — 5.8% of Southern Region, 18th of 32 districts. There are 1,095 women for every 1,000 men (above the Southern Region figure of 1,080). Spread over 2,125 km², that is about **237 people per km²**, 15th of 32 districts.

43.9% of people are children under 15 and 3.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 18 years (it is 18 across Southern Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 92 children and older people.

0–4 ****81,958**

5–9 ****74,505**

10–14 ****64,830**

15–19 ****57,695**

20–24 ****45,719**

25–29 ****36,249**

30–34 ****30,076**

35–39 ****24,690**

40–44 ****20,286**

45–49 ****16,178**

50–54 ****13,601**

55–59 ****10,327**

60–64 ****8,463**

65–69 ****6,773**

70–74 ****5,018**

75–79 ****3,505**

80–84 ****2,503**

85–89 ****1,263**

90–94 ****533**

95+ ****178**

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 Balaka District?

Balaka District lies in [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/), [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). It borders 5 other districts: [Machinga District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/machinga/), [Mangochi District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/mangochi/), [Neno District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/neno/), [Ntcheu District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/central/ntcheu/) and [Zomba District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/). By area it is the 18th largest of 32 districts in Malawi. It covers 7.0% of [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/). The centre of Balaka District is about 181 km in a straight line from Lilongwe, the capital. It is about 84 km from Blantyre, the main town of Southern Region. The centre point is at -15.0340° N, 35.0606° 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 Balaka District

Traditional authority Area km² Localities Services 

[Balaka Town](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/balaka-town/) 12 2 16 

[Liwonde Town](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/liwonde-town/) 6.2 0 8 

[STA Kachenga](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/sta-kachenga/) 220 8 2 

[STA Matola](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/sta-matola/) 72 7 0 

[STA Phalula](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/sta-phalula/) 226 4 0 

[STA Toleza](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/sta-toleza/) 36 3 0 

[TA Amidu](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/ta-amidu/) 200 5 3 

[TA Chanthunya](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/ta-chanthunya/) 230 6 0 

[TA Kalembo](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/ta-kalembo/) 305 12 2 

[TA Msamala](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/ta-msamala/) 385 10 13 

[TA Nkaya](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/ta-nkaya/) 336 7 0 

[TA Sawali](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/ta-sawali/) 97 2 0 

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 Balaka District

Open gazetteers list **65 villages, towns and localities** in Balaka District. The largest with a recorded population: Balaka (40,950). Settlements here lie between about 480 m and 723 m above sea level (median 629 m).

- Balaka
- Bazale
- Bimoni
- Bonongwe
- Celemu
- Chantunya
- Chibwana
- Chiendausiku
- Chiladzulo
- Chindigiti
- Chingeni
- Chulu
- Dambolankhanga
- Dunkan
- James
- Kajawa
- Kalembo
- Kalowe
- Kamowatimwa
- Kankao
- Kanyumbaka
- Kapalamula
- Kapire
- Kuntiya
- Kutamba
- Kutambo
- Kwalala
- Kwisa
- Ligwangwa
- Liwonde
- MTONYA VILLAGE
- Malula
- Mangombo
- Mapando
- Matola
- Mbela
- Mkonde
- Mkweta
- Mlandula
- Mpale
- Mpata
- Mpilisi
- Mpimbe
- Mpunde
- Mululu
- Mvela
- Mziza
- Namalomba
- Namputu
- Nandumbo
- Ndenga
- Nianiala
- Njale
- Njerenje
- Nkaya
- Nsunguliza
- Phalula
- Pinga
- Pombeya
- Rivirivi
- Sawali
- Sosola
- Toleza
- Ulongwe
- Utale

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 Balaka District

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

### Water

19 rivers and streams.

- Chikangati
- Chilanga
- Chilanga Stream
- Chimwalira Stream
- Fisi
- Kalambo
- Liwawadzi River
- Mfuleniwansenjere
- Mlunguzi River
- Mtowa Stream
- Nambinda River
- Namingalala Stream
- Namitani
- Ncenga
- Ndungundi
- Ngonde
- Nkasi Stream
- Nkhwinimba
- Rivi Rivi River

### Hills and mountains

2 mountains; 2 hills.

- Kangankunde · 793 m
- Chenkumbi Hill · 711 m
- Msimbwi Achilembwe · 668 m
- Nsechelo · 553 m

### Estates

1 estate.

- Basale

### Getting around

1 railway station; 1 bridge.

- Rivi-Rivi Bridge
- Shire Bridge Siding

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 Balaka District and the best time to visit

In Balaka District, the warmest month is Nov (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C). About 1,158 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (330 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 24 330 

Feb 23 223 

Mar 23 173 

Apr 21 52 

May 20 13 

Jun 18 9 

Jul 18 16 

Aug 21 6 

Sep 24 8 

Oct 27 17 

Nov 27 74 

Dec 25 237 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Balaka District

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

- Hospitals9
- Banks1
- Petrol pumps6
- Hotels9
- Schools9
- Colleges and universities1
- Restaurants5
- Police stations3
- Dental clinics1

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 Balaka District?In Southern Region, Malawi
- What is the population of Balaka District?504,349 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Balaka District?About 18 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Balaka District?About 237 people per km²
- What borders Balaka District?Machinga District, Mangochi District, Neno District, Ntcheu District and Zomba District
- How many villages are in Balaka District?65 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Balaka District?Settlements lie between 480 m and 723 m
- What is the highest point in Balaka District?Kangankunde (793 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Balaka District?April to November
- How many hospitals are in Balaka District?9 mapped
- How many banks are in Balaka District?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Balaka District?6 mapped
- What is the P-code of Balaka District?MW312 (OCHA common operational dataset)