Politics & Government Guide in Malawi
Political system, governance structure, stability indicators, and democratic institutions
Malawi is a presidential republic led by President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party since October 2025, following his election victory. The country operates under a multi-party system with a unicameral National Assembly and is classified as a hybrid regime with a Democracy Index score of 5.17 in 2024. Political stability has persisted since the 1994 democratic transition, though challenges remain in institutional capacity and resources.
Democracy Index
Moderate
Government Type
Presidential representative democratic republic
Legal System
Independent judiciary based on English common law and customary law
Head of State
President Peter Mutharika(since 2025)
Head of Government
President Peter Mutharika(Democratic Progressive Party)since 2025
Political Indicators
Democracy Index
Scale: 0-10
Hybrid regime
Economist Intelligence Unit (2024)
Legislature
Major Political Parties
Centre-right
Voting Rights
Universal adult suffrage from age 18 for citizens in presidential, parliamentary, and local elections
Recent Developments
- Peter Mutharika won the presidential election on September 16, 2025
- Peter Mutharika sworn in as President on October 4, 2025
- Multi-party democracy continues since 1994 transition
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