Qibla direction in Malawi
The Qibla in Malawi lies towards the north. Depending on the city the angle from true north ranges from 6.6° in Mulanje to 11.6° in Chitipa, and the Kaaba is between 3,534 km and 4,292 km away. The table gives the exact bearing for 23 cities.
Stand facing true north, then turn clockwise by the angle of your city. A phone compass shows magnetic north, which in Malawi can differ from true north by a few degrees; our Qibla finder corrects this automatically when your phone reports true heading.
Why the Qibla changes across the country
Between the cities in the table the Qibla angle varies by 5.0°. Chitipa is the closest to the Kaaba (3,534 km) and Nsanje the farthest (4,292 km). The farther apart two cities are, the more their bearings to Makkah diverge, which is why the angle of the capital, 9.6°, should not be used everywhere.
Inside a mosque, the mihrab already shows the Qibla. Elsewhere, a compass app, the position of the sun or our Qibla finder can be used; scholars agree that facing the general direction is enough when the exact angle cannot be known.
Qibla in Malawi: questions
What is the Qibla direction in Lilongwe?
9.6° from true north, towards the north, 3,990 km from the Kaaba.
Which city in Malawi is closest to Makkah?
Chitipa, 3,534 km from the Kaaba, among the 23 cities listed.
Does a phone compass show the right Qibla?
Only if it is calibrated and corrected for magnetic declination. Turn the phone in a figure 8 and keep it away from metal; our Qibla finder uses the true heading when the phone provides it.
| City | Qibla | Direction | Distance to Makkah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balaka | 7.6° | north | 4,082 km |
| Blantyre | 7.4° | north | 4,171 km |
| Chitipa | 11.6° | north | 3,534 km |
| Dedza | 8.7° | north | 4,026 km |
| Karonga | 10.4° | north | 3,545 km |
| Kasungu | 10.3° | north | 3,893 km |
| Lilongwe | 9.6° | north | 3,990 km |
| Liwonde | 7.2° | north | 4,088 km |
| Mangochi | 7.2° | north | 4,023 km |
| Mchinji | 11.1° | north | 3,989 km |
| Monkey Bay | 7.8° | north | 3,984 km |
| Mponela | 9.8° | north | 3,943 km |
| Mulanje | 6.6° | north | 4,191 km |
| Mwanza | 8.1° | north | 4,157 km |
| Mzimba | 10.4° | north | 3,767 km |
| Mzuzu | 9.9° | north | 3,712 km |
| Nkhata Bay | 9.4° | north | 3,722 km |
| Nkhotakota | 9.0° | north | 3,867 km |
| Nsanje | 6.8° | north | 4,292 km |
| Ntcheu | 8.1° | north | 4,070 km |
| Rumphi | 10.2° | north | 3,666 km |
| Salima | 8.6° | north | 3,958 km |
| Zomba | 7.0° | north | 4,122 km |