# Nsanje District, Southern Region – Traditional authorities

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

District · Southern Region 

# Nsanje District

Nsanje District is a district of Malawi in Southern Region. It had an estimated **326,874 people** in 2023 on 1,903 km² (about 172 per km²). Its main town is Nsanje. It is divided into 11 traditional authorities. 171 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 29 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 326,874people (2023)
- 1,903km²
- 11traditional authorities
- 29mapped services

## How many people live in Nsanje District?

Nsanje District had an estimated **326,874 people** in 2023 — 3.7% of Southern Region, 24th of 32 districts. There are 1,103 women for every 1,000 men (above the Southern Region figure of 1,080). Spread over 1,903 km², that is about **172 people per km²**, 22nd of 32 districts.

44.0% of people are children under 15 and 4.1% 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 93 children and older people.

0–4 ****55,043**

5–9 ****49,159**

10–14 ****39,594**

15–19 ****36,800**

20–24 ****29,560**

25–29 ****24,897**

30–34 ****18,246**

35–39 ****15,441**

40–44 ****12,980**

45–49 ****11,316**

50–54 ****8,495**

55–59 ****6,445**

60–64 ****5,355**

65–69 ****4,058**

70–74 ****3,440**

75–79 ****2,821**

80–84 ****1,658**

85–89 ****1,061**

90–94 ****370**

95+ ****134**

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 Nsanje District?

Nsanje District lies in [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/), [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). It borders 2 other districts: [Chikwawa District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/) and [Thyolo District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/). By area it is the 20th largest of 32 districts in Malawi. It covers 6.2% of [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/). The centre of Nsanje District is about 345 km in a straight line from Lilongwe, the capital. It is about 112 km from Blantyre, the main town of Southern Region. The centre point is at -16.7855° N, 35.1392° 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 Nsanje District

Traditional authority Area km² Localities Services 

[Mwabvi Game Reserve](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/mwabvi-game-reserve/) 349 3 0 

[Nsanje Boma](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/nsanje-boma/) 15 3 1 

[TA Chimombo](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-chimombo/) 32 4 0 

[TA Makoko](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-makoko/) 66 3 0 

[TA Malemia](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-malemia/) 141 13 0 

[TA Mbenje](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-mbenje/) 283 38 9 

[TA Mlolo](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-mlolo/) 319 66 18 

[TA Ndamera](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-ndamera/) 193 12 0 

[TA Ngabu](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-ngabu/) 61 2 0 

[TA Nyachikadza](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-nyachikadza/) 79 8 0 

[TA Tengani](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/ta-tengani/) 347 23 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 Nsanje District

Open gazetteers list **171 villages, towns and localities** in Nsanje District. The largest with a recorded population: Nsanje (30,276). Settlements here lie between about 34 m and 623 m above sea level (median 51 m).

- Adam
- Alifandaka
- Angayanjane
- Atosowa
- Bangula
- Beka
- Bisenti
- Chabe
- Chamaka
- Chambuluka
- Chapasuka
- Chapomoka
- Chapu
- Chataika
- Chazuka
- Chibuli
- Chidikha
- Chikhawo
- Chikwawa
- Chimombo
- Chimtedza
- Chimwala
- Chinekwe
- Chiombedza
- Chipembere
- Chiphwembwe
- Chipolopolo
- Chipondeni
- Chiromo
- Chisamba 1
- Chisomba
- Chitomeni
- Chitsa
- Chitseko
- Chizola
- Chlimadzi
- Cholomali
- Chomboto
- Cinsomba
- Dande
- Dumba
- Edwin
- Faniza
- Fransiku
- Fulutana
- Gerald
- Gulumba
- Gundani
- Gwechengwe
- Jakunja
- James
- Jasi
- Jese
- Jiwa
- Jokoniya
- Jonasi
- Jonex
- Juwaki
- Kacere
- Kadakola
- Kalonga
- Kalumbi
- Kalupsa
- Kampata
- Kanyimbi
- Kapilinjuchi
- Karonga
- Katunga
- Khasu
- Khavala
- Kolimbo
- Likweli
- Lukwa
- Lundu
- Lupiya
- M'chaha James
- Machado
- Maere
- Magasu
- Magonyo
- Mailosi
- Makhapa
- Makoko
- Makwalo
- Malekeza
- Malema
- Malothi
- Manjolo
- Manyowa
- Marka
- Masamba
- Mayere
- Mbangombe
- Mbangu
- Mbenje
- Mbeta
- Mbisa
- Mbobo
- Mbodi
- Mchacha
- Mibwazi
- Mkhucke
- Mlembwe 2
- Mleno
- Mlolo
- Moloseni
- Monyo
- Mpandeni
- Mphamba
- Mphetomwanyama
- Mpisamanja
- Mpomba
- Msamba
- Msampatongwe
- Msilanga
- Msusa
- Mtalika
- Mtema
- Mtengampiri
- Muona
- Mwanabvumbwe
- Mwazaungu
- Mwendomthengo
- M’nembe
- Nanthana
- Napasha
- Naphaba
- Ncaca
- Nchenyela
- Ncherenje
- Ndamera
- Ndiuzayani
- Nduna
- Nembe
- Ngabu
- Nguluwe
- Ngwanji
- Nkupila
- Npasha
- Nsamba Kulira
- Nsambo
- Nsanje
- Nthumba
- Ntondo
- Ntuwana
- Nyachikadza
- Nyaikha
- Nyamula
- Nyang'a
- Nyanthumbi
- Nyapambere
- Nyathando
- Panyathwa
- Ranchi
- Sambani
- Sande
- Sankulani
- Semu
- Sitole
- Sorgin
- Sorjin
- Sted
- Tambo
- Tawa
- Tengani
- Thamison
- Tizola
- Twaya
- Ulaya
- Vizharona
- Zirona

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 Nsanje District

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

### Water

61 rivers and streams; 1 lake.

- Bwangu Stream
- Chididi
- Chidima
- Chinolo
- Chinyanje
- Cikowa Stream
- Cimbwimbwi
- Dande
- Dwale
- Dzikulowa
- Gandale
- Kada
- Kalulu
- Kasuku River
- Kasuku Stream
- Kudzula
- Maere
- Malindi
- Mankwana
- Masinje
- Mbvingite River
- Mchengamalembo
- Milole Mwana
- Milole River

…and 38 more.

### Coast and islands

1 island.

- Temba Island

### Hills and mountains

10 mountains; 10 hills.

- Mabungwa Hill · 792 m
- Mwanambwili · 695 m
- Lulwe Hill · 667 m
- Nyakhungu · 621 m
- Chafuta · 588 m
- Malawi · 569 m
- Mbale · 499 m
- Kaola · 447 m
- Kaphirikadonte Hill · 437 m
- Nyambilo · 372 m
- Dande · 287 m
- Nyantoko · 214 m
- Maonekera · 209 m
- Chigoti Hill · 171 m
- Mwima · 141 m
- Ciloti Hill · 137 m
- Chiradzulu Wacitsa Hill · 95 m
- Nyachipere · 88 m
- Chiradzulu Wamtondo Hill · 83 m
- Nyamalambo Hill · 71 m

### Forests and nature

2 forest reserves; 1 wildlife reserve.

- Masenjere Forest Reserve
- Matandwe Forest Reserve
- Mwabvi Game Reserve

### Estates

3 estates.

- Chipolopolo
- Chirenje
- Misanje

### Getting around

2 railway stations; 1 airfield.

- Bangula
- Bangula Halt
- Tengani Station

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 Nsanje District and the best time to visit

In Nsanje District, the warmest month is Nov (average 30 °C) and the coolest is Jul (22 °C). About 900 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (233 mm) and the driest Aug (5 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to September**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 27 233 

Feb 26 166 

Mar 26 125 

Apr 25 36 

May 24 13 

Jun 22 12 

Jul 22 21 

Aug 24 5 

Sep 27 7 

Oct 30 14 

Nov 30 76 

Dec 28 192 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Nsanje District

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

- Hospitals2
- Hotels6
- Schools20
- 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 Nsanje District?In Southern Region, Malawi
- What is the population of Nsanje District?326,874 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Nsanje District?About 18 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Nsanje District?About 172 people per km²
- What borders Nsanje District?Chikwawa District and Thyolo District
- How many villages are in Nsanje District?171 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Nsanje District?Settlements lie between 34 m and 623 m
- What is the highest point in Nsanje District?Mabungwa Hill (792 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Nsanje District?April to September
- How many hospitals are in Nsanje District?2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Nsanje District?MW311 (OCHA common operational dataset)