Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index in Malawi
Malawi: Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index was 0.365 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index in Malawi, 2010–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, inequality-adjusted human development index in Malawi stood at 0.365. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inequality-adjusted human development index in Malawi peaked at 0.365 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.308, in 2011.
Malawi ranks 135th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.313 | — |
| 2011 | 0.308 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 0.313 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 0.322 | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 0.327 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 0.331 | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 0.334 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 0.342 | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 0.345 | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 0.348 | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 0.358 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 0.358 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.361 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 0.365 | +1.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 0.365 is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.323, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 0.365 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.36, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.3283 | 0.308 | 0.348 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3605 | 0.358 | 0.365 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 inequality-adjusted human development index in Malawi?
- Inequality-adjusted human development index in Malawi was 0.365 in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest inequality-adjusted human development index recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 0.365 in 2023.
- What is the lowest inequality-adjusted human development index recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.308 in 2011.
- How does Malawi rank for inequality-adjusted human development index?
- Malawi ranks 135th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is inequality-adjusted human development index rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) is a summary measure of key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, a good education, and a decent standard of living, adjusted for inequalities in these dimensions. Higher values indicate higher and more equal human development.