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 people in 2019. ▲ Rising
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi, 1997–2019
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2019, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Malawi stood at 14.47 million people. 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 people in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6.94 million people, 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
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 6.94 million people | — |
| 2004 | 9.36 million people | +34.8% |
| 2010 | 10.88 million people | +16.3% |
| 2016 | 12.69 million people | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 14.47 million people | +14.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 14.47 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.40 million people, 1.5× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 14.47 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.40 million people, 1.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.94 million people | 6.94 million people | 6.94 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.36 million people | 9.36 million people | 9.36 million people | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.68 million people | 10.88 million people | 14.47 million people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 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 people in 2019, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by 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 people 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 people 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 World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.