Likoma (district)

Likoma district in Malawi

Likoma is the smallest of 28 districts in Malawi . As a small enclave in Mozambican territorial waters in Lake Malawi , the district is only about five kilometers from the Mozambican shores of Lake Malawi.

geography

The district belonging to the Northern Region extends over the two islands Likoma and Chizumulu . The Malawian mainland is 46 kilometers from Chizumulu and the nearest Malawian port, Nkhata Bay, is 55 kilometers away. The two islands are 10 kilometers apart.

population

10,445 people (2008), who are spread over both islands, live on an area of ​​18 km². Despite this relatively small area, the population grew by 29.4% between 1998 and 2008; the growth was only about two percentage points below the national average. Likoma has the highest population density of any district in Malawi. With 580 inhabitants per km², the district is almost twice as high as the next one. Likoma is also the leader in Malawi, including cities, in terms of the number of people per household with 5.2.

Ethnically, the majority of the population comes from the Nyanja and the Tonga , whereby Nyanja is mostly spoken and dialects such as Cobue and Tonga occur more on the island of Chizumulu. 99% of the population are Christians and mainly belong to the Anglican Church .

economy

Tourism plays a role. There are a few lodges for backpackers and for the middle standard. The district administration and the Malawian government are trying to develop the two islands for tourism.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Population and Housing Census , National Statistic Office, Zomba, September 2008.
2. ^ District Education Plan (DEP) 2008 / 09–2001 / 11 , Likoma District Assembly, Likoma, December 2007.

Coordinates: 12 ° 3 ′  S , 34 ° 41 ′  E