Digital-ID in Malawi: Country Report

This report examines the evolution and impact of Malawi’s biometric identification (ID) system. Before 2017, Malawians relied on fragmented, function-specific ID such as driving licences, passports, and voter registration cards. The introduction of a centralised biometric ID in 2017 marked a major shift, enabling streamlined access to public services, voter registration, and digital platforms. However, it also raised critical questions about inclusion, surveillance, and rights.

This report examines how identity is constructed and governed within this new system, and what that means for citizen agency and digital inclusion. It is structured around three guiding questions: Does Malawi’s biometric ID system pass the rule of law test? Does it meet rights-based standards? And does it address potential risks? The analysis is presented in four sections: the first reviews the pre-digital-ID landscape; the second assesses the system against the rule of law principles; the third evaluates it through a rights-based lens; and the final section examines the risks centralised digital-ID poses.