Malawi
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
68 / 100
Free
Internet Freedom
61 / 100
Partly Free
Malawi holds regular elections and has undergone multiple transfers of power between political parties. Political rights and civil liberties are largely respected by the state. However, corruption is rife, police brutality is common, and Malawians are in severe economic distress. Discrimination and violence toward women, members of minority groups, and people with albinism remain problems.
Research & Recommendations
Malawi
Free
68
100
| PR Political Rights | 30 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 38 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
65
100
Partly Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
Malawi holds regular elections and has undergone multiple transfers of power between political parties. Freedom of speech, expression, and association are for the most part respected, though individual violations continue to be reported. Corruption is rife, police brutality is common, and discrimination and violence toward women, members of minority groups, and people with albinism remain problems.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Malawi
Partly Free
61
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 11 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 26 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 24 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
59
100
Partly Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Political Overview
Malawi holds regular elections and has undergone multiple transfers of power between political parties. Freedoms of speech, expression, and association are for the most part respected, though individual violations continue to be reported. Corruption is rife, police brutality is common, and discrimination and violence toward women, members of minority groups, and people with albinism remain problems.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
68
/ 100
Free
Freedom on the Net Score
61
/ 100
Partly Free
Population: 20,410,000
Internet Facts
Status
Partly Free
Networks Restricted
No
Social Media Blocked
No
Websites Blocked
No
Pro-government Commentators
No
Users Arrested
Yes
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
September 16, 2025
Type of Election
General
Internet Penetration
27.70%
Election Year
2025
Vulnerability Index
69
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
