Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi

Malawi: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 14.47 million in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
14.47 million
Change on year
up 14.1%
World rank
11th
of 120 countries
All-time high
14.47 million
in 2019
All-time low
6.94 million
in 1997
Years of data
5
1997–2019

Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi, 1997–2019

05.0M10.0M15.0M1997200820191997: 6.9M2004: 9.4M2010: 10.9M2016: 12.7M2019: 14.5M

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2019, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi stood at 14.47 million. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

That represents a change of up 14.1% on the previous year and up 33.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi peaked at 14.47 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6.94 million, in 1997.

That places Malawi 11th out of 120 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.

Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi, 1997 to 2019.
Year Value Change
1997 6.94 million
2004 9.36 million +34.8%
2010 10.88 million +16.3%
2016 12.69 million +16.6%
2019 14.47 million +14.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 6.94 million 6.94 million 6.94 million 1
2000s 9.36 million 9.36 million 9.36 million 1
2010s 12.68 million 10.88 million 14.47 million 3

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 8 Kenya 25.01 million compare
  2. 9 Madagascar 20.93 million compare
  3. 10 Niger 15.07 million compare
  4. 12 Zambia 14.44 million compare
  5. 13 Philippines 13.25 million compare
  6. 14 Ghana 11.65 million compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi?
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi was 14.47 million in 2019, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 14.47 million in 2019.
What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 6.94 million in 1997.
How does Malawi rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
Malawi ranks 11th out of 120 countries with data for 2019.
Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/total-population-living-in-extreme-poverty-by-world-region/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,148 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed