Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Malawi
Malawi: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 327,408 people in 2019. ▼ Falling
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Malawi, 1997–2019
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2019, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Malawi stood at 327,408 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.0% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Malawi peaked at 492,178 people in 1997 and was at its lowest, 260,352 people, in 2004.
That places Malawi 118th out of 120 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Malawi, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 492,178 people | — |
| 2004 | 260,352 people | -47.1% |
| 2010 | 437,276 people | +68.0% |
| 2016 | 404,442 people | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 327,408 people | -19.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 327,408 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 936,910 people, 35% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 327,408 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.29 million people, 25% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 492,178 people | 492,178 people | 492,178 people | 1 |
| 2000s | 260,352 people | 260,352 people | 260,352 people | 1 |
| 2010s | 389,709 people | 327,408 people | 437,276 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 115 Montenegro 497,359 people compare
- 116 Iceland 358,345 people compare
- 117 Gambia 343,888 people compare
- 119 Burundi 213,879 people compare
- 120 Guinea-Bissau 97,697 people compare
More poverty & inequality data for Malawi
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 3.65 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,857 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -4.49 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 15.06 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 15.1% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Malawi?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Malawi was 327,408 people in 2019, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 492,178 people in 1997.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 260,352 people in 2004.
- How does Malawi rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Malawi ranks 118th out of 120 countries with data for 2019.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $10 per day.