Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
Malawi: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 75.4% (2019), 4th of 151 in the world and 4th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 87.3% (2019), 4th of 151 in the world and 4th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 97.1% (2019), 4th of 151 in the world and 4th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Undernourishment
MalawiSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
Food insecurity
MalawiLow incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Malawi in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 75.4%2019 | 4/151 | 4/44 | · | 72.9% | 75.4%2019 | +1.0 ppsince 2004 | 45.0% | 52.5% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 87.3%2019 | 4/151 | 4/44 | · | 85.2% | 87.3%2019 | +0.6 ppsince 2004 | 63.2% | 70.3% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 97.1%2019 | 4/151 | 4/44 | · | 96.1% | 97.1%2019 | +0.2 ppsince 2004 | 88.6% | 92.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 47.3%2024 | 21/145 | 18/45 | · | 50.7% | 50.7%2019 | −3.4 ppsince 2010 | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 38.52019 | 49/151 | 22/44 | · | 45.5 | 38.52019 | −3.5%since 2004 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 31.0%2019 | 36/151 | 19/44 | · | 36.9% | 31.0%2019 | −1.8 ppsince 2004 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 7.0%2019 | 84/151 | 21/44 | · | 5.5% | 7.0%2019 | +0.1 ppsince 2004 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 24.5%2024 | 16/167 | 11/44 | 23.2%2001 | 14.1% | 19.9% | +9.0 ppsince 2014 | 22.3% | 27.3% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 81.6%2024 | 6/155 | 5/38 | · | · | 81.3% | — | — | 65.4% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 50.4%2024 | 111/145 | 24/36 | · | 16.5%2011 | 42.7%2021 | +32.3 ppsince 2014 | 55.1% | 46.4% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 21.4%2025 | 117/190 | 27/46 | 9.3% | 20.8% | 22.9% | +4.8 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 24.8% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $1.7bn2023 | 24/145 | 12/48 | $448m | $884m | $1.5bn | +53%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $44.6bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 13.1%2023 | 20/139 | 8/47 | 17.8% | 8.8% | 12.7% | −1.2 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 8.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $82.02023 | 58/145 | 18/48 | $39.6 | $59.6 | $74.5 | +17%since 2013 | $51.5 | $61.4 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- National poverty rate−3.4 pp47.3% in 2024
- Gini index−3.5%38.5 in 2019
- Top 10% income share−1.8 pp31.0% in 2019
- Bottom 20% income share+0.1 pp7.0% in 2019
Worse than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty+1.0 pp75.4% in 2019
- Poverty, $4.20/day+0.6 pp87.3% in 2019
- Poverty, $8.30/day+0.2 pp97.1% in 2019
- Undernourishment+9.0 pp24.5% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Malawi and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Malawi. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Malawi | Tanzania | Mozambique | Zambia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 75.4%2019 | 51.3%2018 | 81.4%2022 | 71.7%2022 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 87.3%2019 | 70.0%2018 | 89.1%2022 | 81.4%2022 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 97.1%2019 | 91.5%2018 | 96.3%2022 | 94.0%2022 |
| National poverty rate | 47.3%2024 | 26.4%2018 | 65.0%2022 | 60.0%2022 |
| Gini index | 38.52019 | 40.52018 | 49.62022 | 51.52022 |
| Top 10% income share | 31.0%2019 | 33.1%2018 | 40.8%2022 | 39.1%2022 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 7.0%2019 | 6.9%2018 | 4.7%2022 | 3.9%2022 |
| Undernourishment | 24.5%2024 | 19.1%2024 | 22.3%2024 | 41.0%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 81.6%2024 | 57.0%2024 | — | 45.8%2024 |