Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Malawi
Malawi: Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index was 75.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Malawi, 1997–2019
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 75.4% for share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Malawi peaked at 75.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 64.6%, in 1997.
Malawi ranks 2nd of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 64.6% | — |
| 2004 | 74.4% | +15.2% |
| 2010 | 72.9% | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 71.7% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 75.4% | +5.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 75.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 42.1%, 1.8× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 75.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.8%, 1.9× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.6% | 64.6% | 64.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 74.4% | 74.4% | 74.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 73.3% | 71.7% | 75.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 1 Mozambique 81.4% compare
- 3 Burundi 74.2% compare
- 4 Zambia 71.7% compare
- 5 Madagascar 69.2% 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 share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Malawi?
- Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Malawi was 75.4% in 2019, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 75.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.6% in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index?
- Malawi ranks 2nd out of 120 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. 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 (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.