Country: Malawi
Number of People Groups
26
People Groups Unreached
4 (15.4%)
Progress Level
Total
Population
18,492,000
Population in Unreached
2,016,000 (10.9%)
Largest Religion
% Christian Adherent
75.7%
% Evangelical
17.01%
Evangelical Annual Growth Rate
2.9%
| Photo | People Group ▲ | Population this Country |
Global Population |
Indigenous | Primary Language | Primary Religion | Progress Scale |
% Christian Adherent |
% Evangelical | Est. Workers Needed * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Afrikaner | 3,500 | 4,349,000 | Afrikaans | Christianity | 4 ● | 95.00 % | 9.00 % | -1 - | |
|
British | 10,000 | 53,604,000 | English | Christianity | 4 ● | 60.00 % | 8.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Deaf | 186,000 | 46,968,000 | ● | Malawian Sign Language | Christianity | 3 ● | 76.00 % | -1 | -1 - |
|
French | 1,800 | 50,163,000 | French | Christianity | 3 ● | 62.00 % | 1.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Greek | 5,300 | 10,262,000 | Greek | Christianity | 3 ● | 92.00 % | 0.40 % | -1 - | |
|
Gujarati | 52,000 | 2,347,000 | Gujarati | Hinduism | 1 ● | 0.50 % | 0.10 % | 1 | |
|
Kachchi, Asian | 13,000 | 157,000 | Kacchi | Islam | 1 ● | 2.00 % | 0.30 % | 1 | |
|
|
Kokola | 311,000 | 477,000 | ● | Kokola | Christianity | 4 ● | 60.00 % | 7.00 % | -1 - |
|
Lambya | 70,000 | 196,000 | ● | Lambya | Christianity | 4 ● | 65.00 % | 8.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Lomwe, Nguru | 995,000 | 995,000 | ● | Lomwe, Malawi | Christianity | 5 ● | 85.00 % | 14.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Ndali | 100,000 | 505,000 | ● | Ndali | Christianity | 4 ● | 65.00 % | 7.00 % | -1 - |
|
Ngoni, Malawi | 1,911,000 | 1,911,000 | ● | Chichewa | Christianity | 4 ● | 64.00 % | 5.00 % | -1 - |
|
Nyakyusa, Ngonde | 191,000 | 1,585,000 | ● | Nyakyusa-Ngonde | Christianity | 5 ● | 92.00 % | 13.00 % | -1 - |
|
Nyanja, Chewa | 8,549,000 | 12,161,000 | ● | Chichewa | Christianity | 5 ● | 88.00 % | 27.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Nyiha, Malawi | 12,000 | 12,000 | ● | Nyiha, Malawi | Christianity | 4 ● | 60.00 % | 4.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Nyika | 6,000 | 16,000 | ● | Nyika | Christianity | 4 ● | 75.00 % | 4.00 % | -1 - |
|
Portuguese | 18,000 | 17,644,000 | Portuguese | Christianity | 4 ● | 94.00 % | 3.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Sena, Malawi | 600,000 | 600,000 | ● | Sena, Malawi | Christianity | 5 ● | 58.00 % | 12.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Senga | 32,000 | 175,000 | ● | Tumbuka | Christianity | 5 ● | 75.00 % | 12.00 % | -1 - |
|
Shona | 88,000 | 1,147,000 | Shona | Christianity | 4 ● | 75.00 % | 5.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Swahili | 3,600 | 1,759,000 | Swahili | Islam | 0 ☀ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
|
Tonga | 348,000 | 348,000 | ● | Tonga | Christianity | 5 ● | 97.00 % | 15.00 % | -1 - |
|
Tumbuka | 2,659,000 | 3,187,000 | ● | Tumbuka | Christianity | 5 ● | 97.00 % | 14.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Yao, Christian | 312,000 | 515,000 | ● | Yao | Christianity | 4 ● | 98.00 % | 4.00 % | -1 - |
|
Yao, Muslim | 1,947,000 | 2,739,000 | ● | Yao | Islam | 1 ● | 1.00 % | 0.50 % | 39 |
|
Zulu | 68,000 | 13,759,000 | Zulu | Christianity | 5 ● | 96.00 % | 15.00 % | -1 - | |
| Totals: 26 | 18,492,000 | 4 ● | 75.68 % | 17.01 % | 42 | |||||
| Unclassified / Other Individuals | 137,000 | |||||||||
| UN Country Population (2019) | 18,629,000 |
| State ▲ | Population | People Groups | Unreached Groups |
% Unreached Peoples |
Population in Unreached |
% Population Unreached |
Districts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country: | 18,492,000 | 26 | 4 | 15.4 % | 2,016,000 | 10.9 % | 0 |
| Class ▲ | Population | % Popl | % Hindu | % Muslim | % Christian | % Buddhist | % Sikh | % Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Forward Caste (FC) | 289,167,000 | 1,563.7 % | 97.4 % | 0.0 % | 1.1 % | 0.0 % | 0.0 % | 1.5 % |
|
|
Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 753,926,000 | 4,077.0 % | 70.9 % | 24.0 % | 1.7 % | 0.2 % | 2.5 % | 0.8 % |
|
|
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 200,921,000 | 1,086.5 % | 94.4 % | 0.0 % | 0.5 % | 2.8 % | 2.3 % | 0.0 % |
|
|
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 116,285,000 | 628.8 % | 81.8 % | 1.5 % | 9.2 % | 0.8 % | 0.0 % | 6.7 % |
| 18,492,000 |
| Language ▲ | Code | # Peoples Primary Language |
# Unreached Primary Language |
Scripture Status |
NT Text Online |
NT Audio Online |
Jesus Film Online |
Audio Recordings Online |
Gospel Tract Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | afr | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Chichewa | nya | 2 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| English | eng | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| French | fra | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Greek | ell | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gujarati | guj | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kacchi | kfr | 1 | 1 | 4 New Testament | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Kokola | kzn | 1 | 0 | 4 New Testament | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Lambya | lai | 1 | 0 | 4 New Testament | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Lomwe, Malawi | lon | 1 | 0 | 4 New Testament | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1 |
| Malawian Sign Language | lws | 1 | 0 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Ndali | ndh | 1 | 0 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Nyakyusa-Ngonde | nyy | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Nyiha, Malawi | nyr | 1 | 0 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Nyika | nkv | 1 | 0 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Portuguese | por | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sena, Malawi | swk | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Shona | sna | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Swahili | swh | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tonga | tog | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Tumbuka | tum | 2 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Yao | yao | 2 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Zulu | zul | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals: | 23 | 26 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 10 |
| MAJOR RELIGIONS ▲ | Percent |
|---|---|
| Buddhism | 0.0 % |
| Christianity (Evangelical 17.0 %) | 75.7 % |
| Ethnic Religions | 8.2 % |
| Hinduism | 0.2 % |
| Islam | 15.4 % |
| Non-Religious | 0.5 % |
| Other / Small Religions | 0.0 % |
| Unknown | 0.0 % |
| CHRISTIAN SEGMENTS ▲ | Percent |
|---|---|
| Anglican | 1.7 % |
| Independent | 9.7 % |
| Orthodox | 0.0 % |
| Other Christian | 0.0 % |
| Protestant | 40.6 % |
| Roman Catholic | 47.0 % |
Major Religions: Religion percentages are derived from summing Joshua Project's data for all people groups who live in each country. The number of individuals who practice each religion, by people group, are summed. This number is divided by the country's total population to derive the religion's percentage.
Christianity Segments: Christian segment percentages are derived from summing Joshua Project's data for all the people groups who live in each country. The number of individuals who practice each segment of Christianity, by people group, are summed. This number is divided by the country's total number of Christians to derive the Christian segment's percentage.
There are many agencies and churches looking for additional staff to help them in their mission and calling in Malawi. Internet searches are probably the best way to find these organizations. The following are some example search topics you might try:
- Church planting agencies in Malawi
- Christian ministry in Malawi
- Business as mission
- Christian literature distribution
- Evangelism agencies
- Christian discipleship
- Short term Christian missions
- Long term Christian missions
- Urban ministries
- Christian media opportunities
- Bible translation opportunities
- Relief and development agencies
- Clean water projects
- Christian medical outreaches
Below is a partial list of ministries that may work in Malawi or Africa, East and Southern. The lists below do not include all ministries at work in this country or region. This data is from circa 2006-2008 and is not being maintained by Joshua Project. There are likely many excellent ministries not listed here. Inclusion here is not an endorsement by Joshua Project.
| People Groups | 26 |
| Unreached People Groups | 4 (15.4%) |
| Population | 18,492,000 |
| Population Annual Growth Rate | 3.1% |
| Population in Unreached | 2,016,000 (10.9%) |
| Pioneer Workers Needed * | 42 |
| Primary Religion | Christianity |
| Percent Christian Adherent | 75.7% |
| Percent Evangelical | 17.0% |
| Evangelical Annual Growth Rate | 2.9% |
| Country Progress Level | 5 ● |
| Urbanization | 17% |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Africa, East and Southern |
| 10/40 Window | No |
| Country Code | MI |
| Official Language(s) | English | Chichewa |
| Literacy Rate | 66% |
| Estimated Illiterate Population | 6,287,000 |
| Persecution Ranking | Not ranked |
| Political Map (UN) |
| Language Map (Ethnologue) |
| Perry-Castaneda Map Collection |
 |
Malawi prayer cards. All Unreached |
| Operation World |
| World Factbook |
| Ethnologue Language Listing |
| National Bible Society |
| God Reports (stories from the field) |
| Religious Freedom Report |
| More great prayer resources at Prayercast |
* An estimate of the number of pioneer workers needed for initial church planting among unreached people groups. Estimates are calculated only for unreached people groups and are based on ratio of 1 worker for every 50,000 individuals living in an unreached people group. Some workers may already be onsite. The country estimate is a summation of the unreached people group estimates. Many more workers are needed beyond this initial estimate.
