Balaka is a district in the Southern Region of Malawi. The district covers an area of 2,193 sq. km. and has a population of over 310,000.

The district’s main town is Balaka township and lies on the main road between Zomba and Lilongwe. Balaka is also a train stop on the Blantyre to Salima rail route. The town is situated roughly 130 kilometres North of Blantyre and about 200 kilometres South of Lilongwe. Balaka districts main commercial crops are cotton and tobacco while the main food crops are maize, beans and other pulses.

Balaka has three second level subdivisions of 1. TA Kalembo, 2. Balaka Town and 3. TA Nsamala