# Thyolo District, Southern Region – Traditional authorities > Source: https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ District · Southern Region # Thyolo District Thyolo District is a district of Malawi in Southern Region. It had an estimated **782,442 people** in 2023 on 1,664 km² (about 470 per km²). Its main town is Thyolo. It is divided into 16 traditional authorities. 42 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 29 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 782,442people (2023) - 1,664km² - 16traditional authorities - 29mapped services ## How many people live in Thyolo District? Thyolo District had an estimated **782,442 people** in 2023 — 8.9% of Southern Region, 11th of 32 districts. There are 1,120 women for every 1,000 men (above the Southern Region figure of 1,080). Spread over 1,664 km², that is about **470 people per km²**, 8th of 32 districts. 40.7% of people are children under 15 and 4.1% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 18 across Southern Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 81 children and older people. 0–4 ****109,445** 5–9 ****107,390** 10–14 ****101,774** 15–19 ****91,302** 20–24 ****72,669** 25–29 ****56,949** 30–34 ****49,755** 35–39 ****41,079** 40–44 ****36,166** 45–49 ****28,938** 50–54 ****23,890** 55–59 ****17,371** 60–64 ****13,465** 65–69 ****10,660** 70–74 ****8,253** 75–79 ****5,732** 80–84 ****3,994** 85–89 ****2,202** 90–94 ****1,098** 95+ ****310** 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 Thyolo District? Thyolo District lies in [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/), [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). It borders 6 other districts: [Blantyre District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/blantyre/), [Blantyre City](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/blantyre-city/), [Chikwawa District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chikwawa/), [Chiradzulu District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chiradzulu/), [Mulanje District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/mulanje/) and [Nsanje District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/nsanje/). By area it is the 23rd largest of 32 districts in Malawi. It covers 5.5% of [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/). The centre of Thyolo District is about 281 km in a straight line from Lilongwe, the capital. It is about 41 km from Blantyre, the main town of Southern Region. The centre point is at -16.1318° N, 35.1451° 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 Thyolo District Traditional authority Area km² Localities Services [Luchenza Town](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/luchenza-town/) 10 3 3 [STA Boyidi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/sta-boyidi/) 52 0 2 [STA Mbawela](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/sta-mbawela/) 131 5 0 [STA Thukuta](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/sta-thukuta/) 62 0 0 [TA Bvumbwe](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-bvumbwe/) 208 3 6 [TA Changata](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-changata/) 122 1 0 [TA Chimaliro](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-chimaliro/) 95 3 6 [TA Kapichi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-kapichi/) 134 2 1 [TA Kwethemule](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-kwethemule/) 149 7 2 [TA Mphuka](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-mphuka/) 155 1 2 [TA Nanseta](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-nanseta/) 53 2 1 [TA Nchilamwela](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-nchilamwela/) 181 3 2 [TA Ngolongoliwa](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-ngolongoliwa/) 78 1 1 [TA Nsabwe](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-nsabwe/) 117 7 0 [TA Thomas](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/ta-thomas/) 112 2 0 [Thyolo Boma](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/thyolo/thyolo-boma/) 3.7 2 3 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 Thyolo District Open gazetteers list **42 villages, towns and localities** in Thyolo District. The largest with a recorded population: Luchenza (14,211) and Thyolo (8,845). Settlements here lie between about 413 m and 1,146 m above sea level (median 834 m). - Blair - Bonongwe - Bvumbwe - Chigumula - Chikhabado - Chingazi - Chinzama - Chipwanje - Chonde - Didi - Folati - Kabombe - Kadzuwa - Kasembereka - Khonjeni - Kochiwe - Luchenza - Makande - Makwasa - Mangunda - Mangwalala - Manjolo - Mbowera - Mikolongwe - Molete - Mphande - Mtayambizi - Muonekera - Mwalaphanda - Namireno - Nansadi - Ndalama - Nsabwe - Ntambanyama - Ntayambizi - Ntchacha - Pumula - Sandama - Thekerani - Thunga - Thyolo - Zoa 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 Thyolo District Named natural and historic features inside Thyolo District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 101 rivers and streams; 1 waterfall. - Binini - Chapansaru - Chawani - Chemave - Chenachena Falls - Chidiniba - Chikokoto - Chikomba - Chilangala - Chimbwi - Chimilamba - Chimpaya - Chimvuu River - Chimwabvi - Chimwenya - Chinguluwe - Chinyenyedi - Chinyenyedi River - Chipanje - Chipeta - Chisiyo - Chisoka - Chisowanu - Chizambala …and 78 more. ### Hills and mountains 15 hills; 6 mountains. - Cholo Mountain · 1,217 m - Mikolongwe Hill · 1,165 m - Chingasi Hill · 1,148 m - Khomoni · 987 m - Nanjoti · 929 m - Cholomwani · 898 m - Namatuni · 870 m - Mikulungu · 862 m - Chisoka · 830 m - Chinzama · 814 m - Ndata · 798 m - Makandi · 773 m - Chingazi Hill · 763 m - Mabuwa · 756 m - Chikumba Hill · 649 m - Nankhongole · 624 m - Minkwe · 557 m - Namvula · 541 m - Chambiri · 422 m - Nsanje · 324 m - Namikango · 276 m ### Forests and nature 3 forest reserves. - Cholo Mountain Forest Reserve - Cholomwani Forest Reserve - Kalula Hills Forest Reserve ### Estates 45 estates. - Chaoni - Chimvuo - Chimwenya - Chinguluwe - Chirambwe - Chisunga - Chiwale - Gaymead - Kakuti - Kambiri - Kamponji - Kwenengwe - Makandi - Mandimwe - Manikuya - Mbawa - Mikolongwe - Mikombe - Mindali - Mountainview - Mpezo - Msiwika - Namadzi - Naminkweya …and 21 more. ### Getting around 4 railway stations; 3 airfields. - Conforzi - Khonjeni Station - Makande Railway Station - Nansadi Station - Satemwa - Tekerani Station - Thuaga 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 Thyolo District and the best time to visit In Thyolo District, the warmest month is Nov (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jul (19 °C). About 1,176 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (309 mm) and the driest Aug (8 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to October**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 25 309 Feb 24 223 Mar 24 171 Apr 22 52 May 21 20 Jun 20 19 Jul 19 33 Aug 22 8 Sep 25 10 Oct 28 16 Nov 28 84 Dec 26 230 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Thyolo District Places mapped inside Thyolo District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals10 - Banks1 - Petrol pumps4 - Hotels6 - Schools3 - Colleges and universities4 - Restaurants1 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 Thyolo District?In Southern Region, Malawi - What is the population of Thyolo District?782,442 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Thyolo District?About 19 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Thyolo District?About 470 people per km² - What borders Thyolo District?Blantyre District, Blantyre City, Chikwawa District, Chiradzulu District, Mulanje District and Nsanje District - How many villages are in Thyolo District?42 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Thyolo District?Settlements lie between 413 m and 1,146 m - What is the highest point in Thyolo District?Cholo Mountain (1,217 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Thyolo District?April to October - How many hospitals are in Thyolo District?10 mapped - How many banks are in Thyolo District?1 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Thyolo District?4 mapped - What is the P-code of Thyolo District?MW307 (OCHA common operational dataset)