What is .mw?
A little context on Malawi: the capital is Lilongwe, languages include English and Chewa, the currency is the Malawian kwacha (MWK) and the international dialing code is +265. It's landlocked.
Next door on the map, you'll find .mz for Mozambique, .tz for Tanzania and .zm for Zambia.
IANA lists Malawi Sustainable Development Network Programme (Malawi SDNP) as the manager of .mw, with an address in Malawi. The registry's website is http://www.registrar.mw. ccTLD managers set their own policies — who can register, which second-level names exist, pricing to registrars — so those rules differ from country to country.
Under the hood, the root zone points to 7 name servers for .mw, 5 of them reachable over IPv6. There is no DS record for .mw in the root zone, which means the TLD is not DNSSEC-signed at the top level. Registration data is published over WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.mw).
.mw FAQ
What country is .mw?
.mw is the country-code top-level domain for Malawi, in Eastern Africa.
What is Malawi's domain extension?
Malawi's website extension is .mw, its country-code top-level domain. "MW" is its ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code.
Who owns the .mw domain?
IANA lists Malawi Sustainable Development Network Programme (Malawi SDNP) as the manager of .mw: it runs the registry and sets the rules for Malawi's ccTLD. Individual .mw names belong to whoever registers them.
Can I register a .mw domain from the US?
It depends on Malawi Sustainable Development Network Programme (Malawi SDNP)'s policy. Some ccTLDs are open to anyone in the world, while others require a local address, company or trademark. Check the registry (http://www.registrar.mw) or an accredited registrar before you buy.
Is .mw DNSSEC-signed?
No. As of our last data refresh there is no DS record for .mw in the root zone.
How do I look up who owns a .mw domain?
Query the registry's registration data service: the WHOIS server is whois.nic.mw. Many registrants use privacy services, so personal details may be hidden.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed August 5, 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
