IDA total vs Malawi: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line

IDA total
42.2%
in 2024
Malawi
75.4%
in 2019
IDA total rank
3rd
Malawi rank
2nd

Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line over time

  • IDA total
  • Malawi
020406080198920062024

How they compare

Malawi currently reports 75.4% against 42.2% in IDA total, a difference of 33.2%.

That makes Malawi's figure about 1.8 times IDA total's.

Across all 5 years both countries report, Malawi has been ahead every year.

IDA total ranks 3rd and Malawi ranks 2nd of 14 groups.

Malawi has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade IDA total Malawi Difference Ahead
1990s 60.4% 64.6% 4.2% Malawi
2000s 53.7% 74.4% 20.7% Malawi
2010s 43.2% 73.3% 30.1% Malawi

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line, IDA total or Malawi?
Malawi, at 75.4% against 42.2% in IDA total as of 2019.
What is the difference in poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line between IDA total and Malawi?
33.2%, with Malawi ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for IDA total and Malawi?
5 years are reported by both, from 1997 to 2019.
How do IDA total and Malawi rank globally for poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line?
IDA total ranks 3rd and Malawi ranks 2nd of 14 groups.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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IDA total vs Malawi: Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/compare/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-societal-poverty-line-percent-of-population/ida-total/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
137 places, 2,860 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2021 U.S. dollars and defined as max($3.00, $1.30 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $3.00. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.