Northern Region, Malawi

Geographic region of Malawi Region in Malawi The Northern Region is one of the three administrative regions of Malawi, located in the north of the country. It covers an area of approximately 26,200 square kilometres and had a population of 2,420,440 as per the 2018 census, making it the smallest region of Malawi by both area and population. Its regional capital is the city of Mzuzu, which is also the third largest city in Malawi. The common language (lingua franca) of the region is Tumbuka language which is understood by everyone and every ethnic group in the region. Historically, the first major ethnic group to strengthen its cultural and political presence in the Northern Region were the Tumbuka people, who established themselves primarily in present-day districts of Mzimba, Rumphi, Karonga, Chitipa and parts of Nkhata Bay. Geography The Northern Region is bordered by Tanzania to the north and northeast, Lake Malawi to the east, the Central Region to the south, and Zambia to the west. The landscape is predominantly mountainous, including parts of the Nyika Plateau, Viphya Mountains, and the Misuku Hills. The region is characterized by natural beauty, including national parks such