Malawi, republic in south-eastern Africa, formerly the British protectorate of Nyasaland, bordered on the north by Tanzania, on the east by Lake Malawi, on the south-east and south by Mozambique, and on the west by Zambia. Malawi extends about 835 km (520 mi) from north to south and varies in width from about 80 to 160 km (50 to 100 mi). The total area of the nation is 118,484 sq km (45,747 sq mi), nearly a quarter of which is water, mainly Lake Malawi and three smaller lakes. The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe.