Catholic Church in Malawi

By Type (8)

Metropolitan Sees (Archdioceses) Metr. Archdiocese (2)

By Rite

Roman Rite (8): Blantyre, Chikwawa, Dedza, Karonga, Lilongwe, Mangochi, Mzuzu, Zomba

by Type | by Name | by Ecclesiastical Province
Changes in Dioceses | Vacant Dioceses | Former Dioceses

Apostolic Nunciature: Malawi

Conference of Bishops: Episcopal Conference of Malawi

International Meeting of Bishops’ Conferences: Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (A.M.E.C.E.A.)

International Meeting of Bishops’ Conferences: Symposium des Conférences Episcopales d’Afrique et de Madagascar (S.C.E.A.M.)

Documents and Celebrations

Papal Visits

1989.05.04 – 1989.05.06: Apostolic Journey to Malawi

Geography

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Capital: Lilongwe

Area: 94,080 km²

Population: 19,196,246

Former Name: Nyasaland

Neighbouring Countries: ← Zambia , ↑ Tanzania , ↓ Mozambique

Cultural Summary

Religions: Protestant 27.2% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 17.7%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 2.6%), Catholic 18.4%, other Christian 41%, Muslim 12.1%, other 0.3%, none 1%

Languages: English (official), Chichewa (common), Chinyanja, Chiyao, Chitumbuka, Chilomwe, Chinkhonde, Chingoni, Chisena, Chitonga, Chinyakyusa, Chilambya

Ethnic Groups: Chewa 35.1%, Lomwe 18.9%, Yao 13.1%, Ngoni 12%, Tumbuka 9.4%, Sena 3.5%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1%, Nkhonde 0.9%, other 1.8%

Motto: Unity and Freedom (English)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 118,484 km²

Catholic Population: 7,031,000 Catholics (36.3% of 19,352,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 189 parishes, 885 mission stations (13 with resident priest, 872 without resident priest), 5 other centres

Clergy: 10 bishops (7 diocesan, 3 titular), 656 priests (401 diocesan, 255 religious)

Non-Clergy: 1,211 religious (92 brothers, 1,119 sisters), 8 members of secular institutes (sisters), 384 major seminarians, 55 missionaries, 658 catechists

Consecrated Persons (Not Ordained)

Seminarians

Lay Missionaries

Catechists