Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Malawi
Malawi: Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines was 50.7% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Malawi, 1997–2019
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Malawi is 50.7%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Malawi peaked at 65.3% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 50.7%, in 2010.
That places Malawi 2nd out of 70 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 65.3% | — |
| 2004 | 52.4% | -19.8% |
| 2010 | 50.7% | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 51.5% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 50.7% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.3% | 65.3% | 65.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 52.4% | 52.4% | 52.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 51.0% | 50.7% | 51.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 1 Mozambique 65.0% compare
- 3 Guinea-Bissau 50.5% compare
- 4 Lesotho 49.7% compare
- 5 Kenya 39.8% 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 headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Malawi?
- Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Malawi was 50.7% in 2019, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W.
- What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 65.3% in 1997.
- What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.7% in 2010.
- How does Malawi rank for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines?
- Malawi ranks 2nd out of 70 countries with data for 2019.
- Is poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line(s). National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. For economies for which the data are from EU-SILC, the reported year is the income reference year, which is the year before the survey year.