Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Malawi
Malawi: Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) was 70.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Malawi, 1997–2019
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 70.1% for share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in 2019. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 6.6% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Malawi peaked at 70.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 58.5%, in 1997.
Malawi ranks 3rd of 119 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 58.5% | — |
| 2004 | 68.9% | +17.8% |
| 2010 | 68.4% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 65.7% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 70.1% | +6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.5% | 58.5% | 58.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 68.9% | 68.9% | 68.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 68.1% | 65.7% | 70.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 1 Madagascar 80.7% compare
- 2 Mozambique 74.5% compare
- 4 Zambia 64.3% compare
- 5 Burundi 62.1% compare
- 6 Rwanda 52.0% 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 of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Malawi?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) in Malawi was 70.1% in 2019, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 70.1% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.5% in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices)?
- Malawi ranks 3rd out of 119 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. 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 (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty (2017 prices). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $2.15 per day.