Air passengers in Malawi
Malawi: Air passengers was 3,507 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Malawi, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Malawi is 3,507, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and down 40.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Malawi peaked at 159,917 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1,290, in 2021.
Malawi ranks 174th of 183 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 51,700 | — |
| 1971 | 66,100 | +27.9% |
| 1972 | 74,700 | +13.0% |
| 1973 | 90,400 | +21.0% |
| 1974 | 98,300 | +8.7% |
| 1975 | 122,400 | +24.5% |
| 1976 | 93,700 | -23.4% |
| 1977 | 100,300 | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 106,400 | +6.1% |
| 1979 | 111,700 | +5.0% |
| 1980 | 94,000 | -15.8% |
| 1981 | 107,600 | +14.5% |
| 1982 | 130,300 | +21.1% |
| 1983 | 96,900 | -25.6% |
| 1984 | 127,000 | +31.1% |
| 1985 | 140,400 | +10.6% |
| 1986 | 140,200 | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 114,200 | -18.5% |
| 1988 | 115,800 | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 121,200 | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 120,300 | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 120,100 | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 121,400 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 132,100 | +8.8% |
| 1994 | 141,600 | +7.2% |
| 1995 | 148,700 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 152,500 | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 158,300 | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 157,700 | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 112,300 | -28.8% |
| 2000 | 115,831 | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 112,560 | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 104,711 | -7.0% |
| 2003 | 108,854 | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 122,477 | +12.5% |
| 2005 | 132,275 | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 145,747 | +10.2% |
| 2007 | 154,837 | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 159,917 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 157,007 | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 91,520 | -41.7% |
| 2011 | 82,710 | -9.6% |
| 2012 | 53,519 | -35.3% |
| 2013 | 5,856 | -89.1% |
| 2014 | 5,856 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 6,011 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 6,744 | +12.2% |
| 2017 | 10,545 | +56.4% |
| 2018 | 10,545 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7,117 | -32.5% |
| 2020 | 1,792 | -74.8% |
| 2021 | 1,290 | -28.0% |
| 2022 | 3,594 | +178.6% |
| 2023 | 3,507 | -2.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3,507 is below the median for low income countries, which is 48,278, 7% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3,507 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 109,542, 3% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +178.6% | 1,290 | 3,594 |
| 2013 | -89.1% | 53,519 | 5,856 |
| 2020 | -74.8% | 7,117 | 1,792 |
| 2017 | +56.4% | 6,744 | 10,545 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 91,570 | 51,700 | 122,400 | 10 |
| 1980s | 118,760 | 94,000 | 140,400 | 10 |
| 1990s | 136,500 | 112,300 | 158,300 | 10 |
| 2000s | 131,422 | 104,711 | 159,917 | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,042 | 5,856 | 91,520 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,546 | 1,290 | 3,594 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More reference data data for Malawi
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1596 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3426 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5353 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.6012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.87 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Malawi?
- Air passengers in Malawi was 3,507 in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 159,917 in 2008.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,290 in 2021.
- How does Malawi rank for air passengers?
- Malawi ranks 174th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.