title: Balaka District
text: # Balaka District
  
  Balaka is a district in the Southern Region of Malawi. The capital is Balaka. The district covers an area of 2,193 km.² and has a population of over 310,000. The district's population is increasing at a rate of 2.3% per annum. Major attractions in Balaka District include the 1,850Ha estate Toleza Agricultural Enterprises, St. Louis Montfort Catholic Church, the Andiamo Vocational Complex and the Chifundo Artisans' Network.
  
  In this district is the town of Nkaya, an important urban center that serves as the junction point of the country's road-rail systems.
  
  ## Demographics
  
  At the time of the 2018 Census of Malawi, the distribution of the population of Balaka District by ethnic group was as follows:
  
  * 37.2% Yao
  * 25.2% Lomwe
  * 24.2% Ngoni
  * 5.0% Chewa
  * 2.8% Nyanja
  * 2.4% Sena
  * 2.1% Mang'anja
  * 0.6% Tumbuka
  * 0.2% Tonga
  * 0.1% Nkhonde
  * 0.0% Lambya
  * 0.0% Sukwa
  * 0.3% Others
  
  ## Government and administrative divisions
  
  There are four National Assembly constituencies in Balaka:
  
  * Balaka - Central East
  * Balaka - North
  * Balaka - South
  * Balaka - West
  