About Malawi Southern Region
The Southern Region is the most populated region with a wide variety of landscapes including the highest and lowest points in the country.
It covers an area of 31,753 km² with a total of thirteen districts.
These districts are Mangochi, Balaka, Machinga, Zomba, Phalombe, Mwanza, Neno, Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chikwawa and Nsanje.
| District | Land Area (km2) | Population | Population Density |
| Mangochi | 6,273km2 | 1,148,611 | 183/km2 |
| Balaka | 2,193km2 | 438,379 | 200/km2 |
| Machinga | 3,771km2 | 735,438 | 195/km2 |
| Zomba | 2,580km2 | 851,737 | 330/km2 |
| Phalombe | 1,394km2 | 429,450 | 308/km2 |
| Mwanza | 826km2 | 130,949 | 159/km2 |
| Neno | 1,469km2 | 138,291 | 94/km2 |
| Blantyre | 2,012km2 | 1,251,484 | 622/km2 |
| Chiradzulu | 767km2 | 356,875 | 465/km2 |
| Mulanje | 2056km2 | 684,107 | 333/km2 |
| Thyolo | 1,715km2 | 721,456 | 421/km2 |
| Chikwawa | 4,755km2 | 564,684 | 119/km2 |
| Nsanje | 1,942km2 | 299,168 | 154/km2 |
The region borders Mozambique to the east, south and south-west.
It also borders Salima, Dedza and Ntcheu districts to the north.
The headquarter of the Southern Region is Blantyre.
Blantyre which is the commercial capital and Zomba which is the old colonial capital, are in the region.
Population in the Southern Region of Malawi by Tribe
| Tribe | Lomwe | Yao | Ngoni | Sena | Others |
| Percentage | 39.34% | 24.92% | 8.25% | 8.15% | 19.33% |
*The data is as of 2018.
Economic Activities in the Southern Region of Malawi
Blantyre is Malawi’s centre of finance and commerce.
It is also referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi.
It is the region’s main economic hub with several heavy and light industries.
The main cash crop grown in the region is tobacco.
Other crops include cotton, tea, maize, sugarcane and rice.
Other economic activities include mining (titanium, gold, limestone, fluorite, diatomite, uranium and niobium), production of hydro-electric power, food processing, livestock rearing, fishing, iron and steel production, timber, cement, soap and textile manufacturing, furniture production and irrigation.
Fishing is mainly carried out in Lake Chilwa.
Textile manufacturing is done in Blantyre, Zomba and Chiromo.
Boat building and repair is done at Mpwepwe, Mangochi District.
The region is served by Chileka International Airport in Blantyre and a network of roads that link it to neighbouring countries and other districts.
Main Tourist Attractions in the Southern Region of Malawi
The region has 3 National Parks and 2 Wildlife Reserves namely Lake Malawi National Park, Liwonde National Park, Lengwe National Park, Majete Wildlife Reserve and Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve.
Other Major tourist attractions include Mount Mulanje, Zomba Plateau, Chikala Pillars, Elephant Marsh and Satemwa Tea Estate.
Districts in the Southern Region of Malawi
Mangochi
Balaka
Machinga
Zomba
Phalombe
Mwanza
Neno
Blantyre
Chiradzulu
Mulanje
Thyolo
Chikwawa
Nsanje
