IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Malawi

Republic of Malawi

21,104,480
Population (as of Jan. 1, 2023)

7,202,756
Registered Voters (as of April 9, 2025)

70.69%
Average Turnout

13
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.580
Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Democracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Ratified
Ratified Date: March 12, 1987

SIGI* Score: 31.5
Level of Discrimination: Medium
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: Sept. 27, 2007
Ratified Date: Aug. 27, 2009

HDI* Score: 0.517
Category: Low
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Malawian Presidency	None	Head of State & Government
Malawian National Assembly		Assembly

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Lazarus McCarthy CHAKWERA (since 2 June 2014)
Head of Government: President Lazarus McCarthy CHAKWERA (since 2 June 2014)
Assembly: unicameral National Assembly with 193 seats

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by plurality vote to serve a 5-year term.
In the National Assembly, 193 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.

Elections

2025-09-16 | Status: Confirmed
Malawian Presidency
Votes -
Registered 7,202,756
Turnout -

2025-09-16 | Status: Confirmed
Malawian National Assembly
Votes -
Registered 7,202,756
Turnout -

2020-06-23 | Status: Held
Malawian Presidency
Votes 4,445,699
Registered 6,859,570
Turnout 64.81

2019-05-21 | Status: Held
Malawian National Assembly
Votes 5,031,264
Registered 6,859,570
Turnout 73.35

2019-05-21 | Status: Held
Malawian Presidency
Votes 5,105,983
Registered 6,859,570
Turnout 74.44

2014-05-20 | Status: Held
Malawian Presidency
Votes 5,285,278
Registered 7,470,806
Turnout 70.75

2014-05-20 | Status: Held
Malawian National Assembly
Votes 5,234,506
Registered 7,470,806
Turnout 70.07

2009-05-19 | Status: Held
Malawian Presidency
Votes 3,296,711
Registered 5,184,086
Turnout 63.59

2009-05-19 | Status: Held
Malawian National Assembly
Votes 3,164,240
Registered 5,705,390
Turnout 55.46

2004-05-20 | Status: Held
Malawian Presidency
Votes 3,296,711
Registered 5,184,086
Turnout 63.59

2004-05-20 | Status: Held
Malawian National Assembly
Votes 3,164,240
Registered 5,705,390
Turnout 55.46

1999-06-15 | Status: Held
Malawian Presidency
Votes 4,755,422
Registered 5,071,822
Turnout 93.76

1999-06-15 | Status: Held
Malawian National Assembly
Votes 4,680,262
Registered 5,071,822
Turnout 92.28

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Malawian Presidency	2025-09-16	Confirmed	-	7,202,756	-
Malawian National Assembly	2025-09-16	Confirmed	-	7,202,756	-
Malawian Presidency	2020-06-23	Held	4,445,699	6,859,570	64.81
Malawian National Assembly	2019-05-21	Held	5,031,264	6,859,570	73.35
Malawian Presidency	2019-05-21	Held	5,105,983	6,859,570	74.44
Malawian Presidency	2014-05-20	Held	5,285,278	7,470,806	70.75
Malawian National Assembly	2014-05-20	Held	5,234,506	7,470,806	70.07
Malawian Presidency	2009-05-19	Held	3,296,711	5,184,086	63.59
Malawian National Assembly	2009-05-19	Held	3,164,240	5,705,390	55.46
Malawian Presidency	2004-05-20	Held	3,296,711	5,184,086	63.59
Malawian National Assembly	2004-05-20	Held	3,164,240	5,705,390	55.46
Malawian Presidency	1999-06-15	Held	4,755,422	5,071,822	93.76
Malawian National Assembly	1999-06-15	Held	4,680,262	5,071,822	92.28

Voter Turnout

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