The Malawian diaspora refers to the group of Malawian citizens and foreign nationals of Malawian descent who relocate—temporarily or permanently to foreign countries. There are no reliable figures on how many Malawian live abroad. Populations of Malawians can be found in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. Malawians have historically been an important supply of both skilled and unskilled labor to other countries. Malawians were a source of labor to the diamond and gold mines in Southern Africa, particularity South Africa. Many Malawian health professionals have migrated to the Global North (developed nations) in search of employment. The migration of skiiled labor has contributed to the brain drain that is affecting most African nations.

Malawians in Africa

Malawians are the most dispersed group in Southern Africa. Large population of Malawians live in Southern African countries like Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe have a huge Malawian diaspora. Malawians were a source of labor to South Africa, and this supply of labor played a crucial role in Malawi-South Africa relations. This resulted in power and clout over Southern African foreign affairs an diplomacy.
In Zambia president Kenneth Kaunda

Kenneth Kaunda

Kenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...

 and Rupiah Banda

Rupiah Banda

Rupiah Bwezani Banda is a Zambian politician who was President of Zambia from 2008 to 2011.During the Presidency of Kenneth Kaunda, Banda held important diplomatic posts and was active in politics as a member of the United National Independence Party...

 were both thought to be of Malawian descent and this influenced their leadership.

Malawians in the Americas

In the United States there is a population of Malawians. US based Malawian start-up shops that cater to Malawians in the diaspora now. In the United States, Malawians in the diaspora have began to form cultural organizations that serve to promote Malawian culture. The oldest of these being the Malawi Washington Association

Malawi Washington Association

Malawi Washington Association was established in 1994 and is the first association in the United States that was organized to promote Malawian culture for Malawians in the diaspora residing in the United States and Canada. It was founded by Peter Kapakasa, Stafford Chipungu, Jonathan Kamkwalala,...

. African immigrants in the United States are part of the most educated group in the United States. Out of this group Malawians rank amongst the top five countries from Africa reporting a high school diploma or more. This means that Malawians are contributing towards development through skilled labor in the United States and Canada.

Malawians In Europe

Malawians in Europe largely reside in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 since Malawi was a former colony of England. Many of the Malawians in the U.K are health workers, particularity doctors. There are currently more than 250 Malawian doctors in Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

, which means that there are more Malawian doctors in Manchester than in the entire country of Malawi. Malawians in the U.K have managed to take interest in the politics and policies of Malawi and exert their influence in their host country. As an example, they successfully campaigned against awarding Mutharika a Food Prize by the Hunger Project (U.S based). Their involvement has led to reaction from the President Bingu wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...

. Mutharika has accused the diaspora at large of tarnishing the image of his government and the country to multilateral organizations.

Malawians in Scotland have been finding methods to help promote development in their home country by forming an organization to provide skill exchange in Malawi called MIND.

Notable Malawians in the Diaspora

• Masauko Chipembere Jr
  Masauko Chipembere Jr
  Masauko Chipembere is a Malawian Jazz musician. Chipembere was born in Malawi and was raised in Los Angeles while his parents were in political exile. He is the son of political nationalists Henry Masauko Blasius Chipembere and Catherine Chipembere...
  
   U.S based singer
• John Lwanda
  John Lwanda
  John Lloyd Chipembere Lwanda is a Malawian medical doctor, writer, poet, researcher, publisher and music producer. He is a published author and also a publisher of books and music.He was an honorary senior lecturer at the University Glasgow University Department of Primary Care until 2005...
  
   England based scholar, medical physician, producer, and writer
• Ray Phiri
  Ray Phiri
  Raymond Chikapa Phiri is an African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga. He became founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970's...
  
   South African based Jazz musician
• James Thindwa
  James Thindwa
  James Thindwa is a community organizer in the Chicago, Illinois area. He heads Chicago Jobs with Justice where he organizes for workers rights.He was born to Malawian parents in Zimbabwe...
  
  , U.S. based labor activist