The city has 221,272 residents and 20,000 commuters (Mzuzu University students) with about 1.7 million people in its metropolitan area.

Mzuzu lies in a gap in the Viphya Mountains, and the agricultural region surrounding the city specializes in tea, rubber and coffee cultivation.

[4] Some of the popularly known locations in the city include Chibavi, Luwinga, Area 1B, Chibanja, Katoto, Zolozolo, Masasa, Mchenga-utuba, Chimaliro, Kaning'ina and Katawa.

Other minor ethnic groups include the Ngoni (8.09% of the population), Tonga (7.36%), Nkhonde (4.08%), Lambya (3.75%), Yao (3.59%), Lomwe (3.54%), Sukwa (1.07%), Sena (0.66%), Mang'anja (0.38%), and Nyanja (0.28%).

These plants were spotted near the present Mzuzu Government Secondary School, also known as Area 1A where the tung planters settled.

Other common foods include: maize, bananas, plantains, cocoa, cassava and sweet potatoes.

A 2022 case study on Mzuzu funded by the European Union outlined areas of strength and possibilities for economic growth.

The Viphya Plantation in the mountains south of the city is claimed to be the largest man-made forest in Africa.

The center agricultural region and the area surrounding the city specializes in tea, rubber, and coffee cultivation.

Other entertainment venues include Mzuzu Golf Club, Villa Kagwentha (which hosts discos on Saturday nights) and the Squirrels Park.

In June 2015, Malawi Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced plans to develop a new airport, but a 2022 update suggested that building has not yet begun.

It is the northern terminus of the M5 highway, which runs eastwards through a gap in the Viphya Mountains towards Nkhata Bay, and then south along the shore of Lake Malawi.

Two teams, Moyale Barracks FC and Mzuni represent the city in the Malawi's top-flight league.