• Australia is represented in Malawi by its embassy in Harare.^[128]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1967 when first High Commissioner of Botswana Mr. H. Mannathoko presented his credentials to President of Malawi.^[19]

Both countries are full members of the Southern African Development Community, Commonwealth of Nations and of the Non-Aligned Movement.

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 February 1974^[26]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Hastings Banda recognized the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 1967. In January 2008, Malawi switched this recognition to the People's Republic of China.

Since 2008 there has been a significant shift by the Malawian government towards accepting investment from China.^[129] Potentially this may be part of a wider power struggle between the East and West in Africa.^[130]

• Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.

• Denmark is represented in Malawi by its embassy in Maputo, Mozambique.
• Malawi is represented in Denmark by its embassy in London, England, United Kingdom.

• Greece is represented in Malawi by its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.^[131]
• Malawi is represented in Greece by its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.^[131]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 October 1964 when has been accredited Acting High Commissioner of India to Malawi Mr. Dileep S. Kamtekar.^[1]

• Malawi is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.^[133]
• Mexico is accredited to Malawi from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.^[134]

Between 1985 and 1995, Malawi accommodated more than a million refugees from Mozambique. The refugee crisis placed a substantial strain on Malawi's economy but also drew significant inflows of international assistance. The accommodation and eventual repatriation of the Mozambicans is considered a major success by international organizations.

Neither country has an embassy in each other's territories. The Philippines's embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, is accredited to Malawi; on the other hand, Malawi's embassy in Tokyo, Japan, is accredited to the Philippines.

As of 25 May 2018, the date of presentation of credentials of Philippine non-resident ambassador Uriel Norman Garibay to President Arthur Peter Mutharika, there are 41 Filipino nationals residing in Malawi, mainly in Blantyre and Lilongwe.^[135]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 June 2001 when accredited first Ambassador of Rwanda to Malawi (resident in Dar es Salaam) Mr. Zephyr Mutanguha^[83]

In 1996, Malawi received a number of Rwandan and Congolese refugees seeking asylum. The government did not turn away refugees, but it did invoke the principle of "first country of asylum." Under this principle, refugees who requested asylum in another country first, or who had the opportunity to do so would not subsequently be granted asylum in Malawi. There were no reports of the forcible repatriation of refugees.

The colonial structures of Malawian labour export to South African mines continued after Malawi achieved independence in 1964. Led by dictator Hastings Banda, Malawi was the only African country to maintain close relations with White-ruled South Africa until the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela. Malawians were viewed as important workers in the South African mines due to their "skills, work discipline and lack of militancy"^[136] From 1988 to 1992, around 13,000 Malawian migrant laborers were forcefully repatriated out of South Africa. Officially, this was because 200 Malawians had tested positive for HIV in the previous two years, but many believe that it was due to the need for retrenchment of laborers during a crisis in South Africa's mining industry.^[136]

Since South Africa and Malawi had their first democratic elections in 1994, Malawi and South Africa have enhanced relations. In 2008, the two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to enhance the relationship between the two countries through enhanced security cooperation.^[137]

In 2011 Bilateral Trade between both nations totaled US$31 million.^[138]

Malawi has a dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi).

• Embassy of Malawi in Berlin is accredited to Turkey.^[139]
• Turkish Embassy in Lusaka is accredited to Malawi.^[139]
• Trade volume between the two countries was US$21 million in 2019 (Malawi's exports/imports: 16.4/4.67 million USD).^[139]

Historical ties make the UK historically one of the more important donors and supporters of Malawi. However, the expulsion of the UK's High Commissioner in April 2011 may change this relationship. Since the expulsion the UK has suspended direct government aid,^[140] citing concerns over governance and human rights.

The transition from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy significantly strengthened the already cordial U.S. relationship with Malawi. Significant numbers of Malawians study in the United States. The United States has an active Peace Corps program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, and an Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Malawi.

In July 2011, the United States suspended direct funding. The US government agency responsible, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, suspended aid because it was 'deeply upset' by the deaths of the 19 people during the July protests.^[141]