Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) (%) in Malawi
Malawi: Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) (%) was 70.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) in Malawi, 1997–2019
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. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 70.4% for poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 ppp) in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 ppp) in Malawi peaked at 70.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 63.6%, in 1997.
That places Malawi 2nd out of 123 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) (%) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 63.6% | — |
| 2004 | 69.7% | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 69.7% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 68.2% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 70.4% | +3.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 70.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 52.5%, 1.3× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 70.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 51.2%, 1.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.6% | 63.6% | 63.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 69.7% | 69.7% | 69.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 69.4% | 68.2% | 70.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 1 Mozambique 74.8% compare
- 3 Burundi 69.9% compare
- 4 Zambia 69.6% compare
- 5 Madagascar 66.8% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Malawi
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 ppp) in Malawi?
- Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 ppp) in Malawi was 70.4% in 2019, according to 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.
- What is the highest poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 70.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.6% in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 ppp)?
- Malawi ranks 2nd out of 123 countries with data for 2019.
- Is poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures 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 part of Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Poverty gap at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $8.30 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.