Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in Malawi
Malawi: Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) was 87.3% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 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 % of population.
Analysis
In 2019, poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in Malawi stood at 87.3%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in Malawi peaked at 87.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 79.8%, in 1997.
Malawi ranks 2nd of 123 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 79.8% | — |
| 2004 | 86.7% | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 85.2% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 85.1% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 87.3% | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79.8% | 79.8% | 79.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 86.7% | 86.7% | 86.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 85.9% | 85.1% | 87.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 1 Mozambique 89.1% compare
- 3 Burundi 87.2% compare
- 4 Madagascar 83.9% compare
- 5 Zambia 81.4% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Malawi
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 2 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in Malawi?
- Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) in Malawi was 87.3% 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 headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 87.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.8% in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp)?
- Malawi ranks 2nd out of 123 countries with data for 2019.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 ppp) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. 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. 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 headcount ratio at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Poverty headcount ratio at $4.20 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $4.20 a day at 2021 international prices.