# Chikwawa District, Southern Region – Traditional authorities

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

District · Southern Region 

# Chikwawa District

Chikwawa District is a district of Malawi in Southern Region. It had an estimated **628,282 people** in 2023 on 4,861 km² (about 129 per km²). Its main town is Chikwawa. It is divided into 15 traditional authorities. 204 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 64 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 628,282people (2023)
- 4,861km²
- 15traditional authorities
- 64mapped services

## How many people live in Chikwawa District?

Chikwawa District had an estimated **628,282 people** in 2023 — 7.2% of Southern Region, 15th of 32 districts. There are 1,050 women for every 1,000 men (below the Southern Region figure of 1,080). Spread over 4,861 km², that is about **129 people per km²**, 23rd of 32 districts.

42.6% of people are children under 15 and 3.5% 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 85 children and older people.

0–4 ****103,322**

5–9 ****89,848**

10–14 ****74,234**

15–19 ****69,213**

20–24 ****59,731**

25–29 ****49,916**

30–34 ****39,574**

35–39 ****32,512**

40–44 ****26,667**

45–49 ****22,398**

50–54 ****17,105**

55–59 ****12,404**

60–64 ****9,234**

65–69 ****7,058**

70–74 ****5,579**

75–79 ****4,381**

80–84 ****2,642**

85–89 ****1,574**

90–94 ****654**

95+ ****237**

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 Chikwawa District?

Chikwawa District lies in [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/), [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). It borders 4 other districts: [Blantyre District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/blantyre/), [Mwanza District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/mwanza/), [Nsanje District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/) and [Thyolo District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/). By area it is the 5th largest of 32 districts in Malawi. It covers 15.9% of [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/). The centre of Chikwawa District is about 268 km in a straight line from Lilongwe, the capital. It is about 60 km from Blantyre, the main town of Southern Region. The centre point is at -16.2167° N, 34.6737° 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 Chikwawa District

Traditional authority Area km² Localities Services 

[Chikwawa Boma](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/chikwawa-boma/) 7.7 3 5 

[Lengwe National Park](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/lengwe-national-park/) 919 4 0 

[Majete Game Reserve - Chikwawa](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/majete-game-reserve-chikwawa/) 646 0 2 

[Ngabu Urban](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ngabu-urban/) 7.6 1 2 

[STA Masache](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/sta-masache/) 150 6 1 

[STA Ndakwela](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/sta-ndakwela/) 131 19 0 

[TA Chapananga](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-chapananga/) 705 26 4 

[TA Kasisi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-kasisi/) 333 21 2 

[TA Katunga](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-katunga/) 149 16 6 

[TA Lundu](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-lundu/) 199 7 28 

[TA Makhwira](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-makhwira/) 464 36 11 

[TA Maseya](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-maseya/) 139 8 0 

[TA Mlilima](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-mlilima/) 75 4 1 

[TA Ngabu](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-ngabu/) 871 42 0 

[TA Ngowe](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/ta-ngowe/) 67 14 2 

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 Chikwawa District

Open gazetteers list **204 villages, towns and localities** in Chikwawa District. The largest with a recorded population: Ngabu (7,931) and Chikwawa (6,987). Settlements here lie between about 54 m and 584 m above sea level (median 111 m).

- Alimenda
- Alufasi
- Alumenda
- Arigundiya
- Azyuda
- Balala
- Balandawo
- Bereu
- Bile
- Bwemba
- Cabwedzeka
- Chabvala
- Chafudzika
- Chagambatuka
- Chakanza
- Chakhumbira
- Chaletuwa
- Chamanga
- Chamara
- Chambuluka
- Chaonanjiwa
- Chapananga
- Chavara
- Chawuwa
- Chigwata
- Chikungu
- Chikuse
- Chikwawa
- Chileka
- Chilumpha
- Chimatiro
- Chimbembe
- Chimpambana
- Chingamuka
- Chipendo
- Chipolopolo
- Chipwaila
- Chitsa
- Chitsumba
- Chizenga
- Chobo
- Chokwe
- Cinyanga
- Cogaka
- Crowndi
- Daniel
- Dyeratu
- Dzikolatha
- Dzimphutsi
- Fodya
- Fombe
- Goma
- Gonyo
- Imbwa
- James
- Jana
- Jimu Ng'anga
- John
- John Malindeni
- Jombo
- Kakoma
- Kalaundi
- Kalulu
- Kampani
- Kampomo
- Kandeu
- Kandielo
- Kanyenze
- Kanyimbiri
- Kanzele
- Kanzimbi
- Kaphilijonjo
- Kapichira
- Kasinthula
- Kasisi
- Katunga
- Kavalho
- Kavalo
- Khukhumba
- Kinchi
- Kunyinda
- Kwadyamba
- Kwawa
- Lameki
- Layisoni
- Lazalo
- Lombe
- Lundu
- M'modzi
- Machilika
- Macikika
- Mafunga
- Maganga
- Malemia
- Malikopo
- Mandalade
- Mandele
- Mapalera
- Maperera
- Masache
- Masamba
- Masanduko
- Masenjere
- Maseya
- Masseah
- Mayilosi
- Mazongoza
- Mbenje
- Mbewe
- Mbonda
- Mboza
- Mbuzi
- Mchacha
- Mdzace
- Mfera
- Mikolongo
- Miseu Folo
- Misomali
- Mitawi
- Mitondo
- Mkumaniza
- Mlangeni
- Mologeni
- Moses
- Mozace
- Mpasu
- Mpelekwa
- Mphatiku
- Mpheza
- Mphonde
- Mphuka
- Mpimbi
- Mpinganjira
- Mposa
- Msamvi
- Mulilima
- Mwaebwa
- Mwalija
- Mwana Na Njovu
- Mwanaakakula
- Mwanakakula
- Mwananjobvu
- Mwanena
- Mwiza
- Myaya
- Namanya
- Namiserera
- Nchalo
- Nchimika
- Ndeule
- Ndombo
- Ngabu
- Ngilazi
- Nkate
- Nkhalmba
- Nkhangwa
- Nkhate
- Nkhwangwa
- Nkuzi
- Nsangwe
- Nsiyampanje
- Nsomo
- Nthenda
- Nthumba
- Padzua
- Padzuwa
- Pende
- Pende 1
- Pende 2
- Phwadzi
- Rodreck
- Salabeni
- Saliva
- Salujeni
- Sande
- Sanjama
- Saopa
- Savala
- Sekela
- Sekeni 1
- Seseo
- Sheketeni
- Simbi
- Singano
- Spooni
- Tchigaga
- Tendo
- Thabwa
- Thanki
- Thedzi
- Therere
- Thimba
- Thimu
- Thomas
- Thudzu
- Timbenao
- Tizola
- Tomali
- Tombondera
- Topoloni
- Two Boy
- Ubale
- Zimponje
- Zironzo

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 Chikwawa District

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

### Water

104 rivers and streams; 2 waterfalls.

- Bimbili Stream
- Chandeta
- Chianse
- Chichere
- Chidimba
- Chilambangombe
- Chilika
- Chimbamira River
- Chimbwile
- Chinengo River
- Chingalumba
- Chinthu
- Chipudzi Stream
- Chisa
- Chitabulo
- Chizimbe
- Chombwa
- Chuwa
- Cidyamanga
- Diwa
- Gugu
- Hamilton Falls
- Kadumba
- Kakoma Stream

…and 82 more.

### Coast and islands

1 island.

- Nsua Island

### Hills and mountains

20 hills; 12 mountains.

- Kapirimbewe Hill · 871 m
- Mamine · 796 m
- Mwakupukupu · 775 m
- Majete · 742 m
- Mpemba Hill · 662 m
- Semanyege · 580 m
- Pfumbi · 558 m
- Fulancoma · 417 m
- Changata Hill · 352 m
- Diwa · 318 m
- Mphemba · 318 m
- Mijeti · 313 m
- Ngoliko · 303 m
- Ngoliro Hill · 303 m
- Miyone · 301 m
- Dungwi · 299 m
- Kamodzi · 272 m
- Mphuno · 271 m
- Phanga · 265 m
- Mkwechesi · 256 m
- Murukanyama Hill · 250 m
- Mwalawakundwe · 244 m
- Tapasa Hill · 232 m
- Phadzi · 226 m

…and 8 more.

### Forests and nature

2 wildlife reserves; 1 forest reserve; 1 park.

- Lengwe Game Reserve
- Lengwe National Park
- Majete Game Reserve
- Thombani Forest Reserve

### Getting around

2 airfields.

- Nchalo Sucoma Airport
- Sucoma

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 Chikwawa District and the best time to visit

In Chikwawa District, the warmest month is Nov (average 30 °C) and the coolest is Jul (21 °C). About 886 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (241 mm) and the driest Aug (4 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **March to September**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 26 241 

Feb 26 179 

Mar 25 116 

Apr 24 31 

May 23 12 

Jun 21 10 

Jul 21 16 

Aug 23 4 

Sep 27 8 

Oct 29 11 

Nov 30 73 

Dec 28 185 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Chikwawa District

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

- Hospitals5
- Banks6
- Petrol pumps5
- Hotels12
- Schools25
- Colleges and universities3
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants6
- 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 Chikwawa District?In Southern Region, Malawi
- What is the population of Chikwawa District?628,282 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Chikwawa District?About 18 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Chikwawa District?About 129 people per km²
- What borders Chikwawa District?Blantyre District, Mwanza District, Nsanje District and Thyolo District
- How many villages are in Chikwawa District?204 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Chikwawa District?Settlements lie between 54 m and 584 m
- What is the highest point in Chikwawa District?Kapirimbewe Hill (871 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Chikwawa District?March to September
- How many hospitals are in Chikwawa District?5 mapped
- How many banks are in Chikwawa District?6 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Chikwawa District?5 mapped
- What is the P-code of Chikwawa District?MW310 (OCHA common operational dataset)