Dietary compositions by commodity group in Malawi
Malawi: Dietary compositions by commodity group was 9.94 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
9.94 kilocalories per day per capita
Change on year
up 9.8%
World rank
184th
of 192 countries
All-time high
10.29 kilocalories per day per capita
in 2021
All-time low
1.9 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1984
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Dietary compositions by commodity group in Malawi, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per day per capita.
Analysis
In 2023, dietary compositions by commodity group in Malawi stood at 9.94 kilocalories per day per capita.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.8% on the previous year and up 65.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, dietary compositions by commodity group in Malawi peaked at 10.29 kilocalories per day per capita in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.9 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1984.
Malawi ranks 184th of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Dietary compositions by commodity group in Malawi, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.88 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | -25.0% |
| 1963 | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1964 | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1965 | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 2.92 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 2.93 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 2.95 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 2.96 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 1.99 kilocalories per day per capita | -33.0% |
| 1974 | 2.99 kilocalories per day per capita | +50.8% |
| 1975 | 3.01 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 3.03 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 3.03 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 3.01 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 1.99 kilocalories per day per capita | -33.9% |
| 1981 | 1.97 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 1.94 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 1.91 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 1.9 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 2.86 kilocalories per day per capita | +50.7% |
| 1986 | 1.94 kilocalories per day per capita | -32.2% |
| 1987 | 1.97 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 1.98 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 1.98 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 1.98 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 1.96 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 1.93 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 1.91 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | +52.5% |
| 1995 | 2.94 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 1.96 kilocalories per day per capita | -33.4% |
| 1997 | 2.96 kilocalories per day per capita | +50.7% |
| 1998 | 2.97 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 3.99 kilocalories per day per capita | +34.1% |
| 2000 | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | -24.7% |
| 2001 | 3.01 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 5.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +66.9% |
| 2003 | 5.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 5.03 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 5.03 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 7.06 kilocalories per day per capita | +40.2% |
| 2007 | 8.08 kilocalories per day per capita | +14.5% |
| 2008 | 7.08 kilocalories per day per capita | -12.4% |
| 2009 | 6.07 kilocalories per day per capita | -14.2% |
| 2010 | 5.33 kilocalories per day per capita | -12.2% |
| 2011 | 5.86 kilocalories per day per capita | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 6.18 kilocalories per day per capita | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 5.99 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 6.32 kilocalories per day per capita | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 6.51 kilocalories per day per capita | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 6.61 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 6.99 kilocalories per day per capita | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 7.34 kilocalories per day per capita | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 8.42 kilocalories per day per capita | +14.7% |
| 2020 | 8.88 kilocalories per day per capita | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 10.29 kilocalories per day per capita | +15.9% |
| 2022 | 9.05 kilocalories per day per capita | -12.1% |
| 2023 | 9.94 kilocalories per day per capita | +9.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 9.94 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for low income countries, which is 19 kilocalories per day per capita, 52% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 9.94 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.71 kilocalories per day per capita, 35% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Dietary compositions by commodity group 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +66.9% | 3.01 kilocalories per day per capita | 5.02 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1994 | +52.5% | 1.91 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1974 | +50.8% | 1.99 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.99 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1985 | +50.7% | 1.9 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.86 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1997 | +50.7% | 1.96 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.96 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 2006 | +40.2% | 5.03 kilocalories per day per capita | 7.06 kilocalories per day per capita |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.91 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.88 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.89 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.99 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.03 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.04 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.9 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.86 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.55 kilocalories per day per capita | 1.91 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.99 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.44 kilocalories per day per capita | 3 kilocalories per day per capita | 8.08 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.55 kilocalories per day per capita | 5.33 kilocalories per day per capita | 8.42 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.54 kilocalories per day per capita | 8.88 kilocalories per day per capita | 10.29 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 181 Angola 10.85 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 182 Guinea-Bissau 10.1 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 183 Rwanda 10.02 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 185 Poland 9.65 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 186 Democratic Republic of Congo 9.48 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 187 North Korea 9.38 kilocalories per day per capita compare
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 dietary compositions by commodity group in Malawi?
- Dietary compositions by commodity group in Malawi was 9.94 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest dietary compositions by commodity group recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 10.29 kilocalories per day per capita in 2021.
- What is the lowest dietary compositions by commodity group recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9 kilocalories per day per capita in 1984.
- How does Malawi rank for dietary compositions by commodity group?
- Malawi ranks 184th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is dietary compositions by commodity group rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Dietary compositions by commodity group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average per capita dietary energy supply by commodity groups, measured in kilocalories per person per day.