Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in Malawi
Malawi: Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities was 29.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in Malawi, 2010–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in Malawi stood at 29.4%. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in Malawi peaked at 36.2% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 29.4%, in 2023.
That places Malawi 49th out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 34.1% | — |
| 2011 | 36.2% | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 35.9% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 34.8% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 34.6% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 34.3% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 34.0% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 32.7% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 32.4% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 32.2% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 30.1% | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 29.7% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 29.6% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 29.4% | -0.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 29.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 35.4%, 83% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 29.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35.6%, 83% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 34.1% | 32.2% | 36.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.7% | 29.4% | 30.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 46 Nepal 29.7% compare
- 47 Bangladesh 29.6% compare
- 48 Tanzania 29.5% compare
- 50 East Timor 28.9% compare
- 51 Cape Verde 28.4% compare
- 52 Guatemala 27.6% 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 reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in Malawi?
- Reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities in Malawi was 29.4% in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 36.2% in 2011.
- What is the lowest reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4% in 2023.
- How does Malawi rank for reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities?
- Malawi ranks 49th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is reduction in human development index when adjusting for inequalities rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Reduction in Human Development Index when adjusting for inequalities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage difference between the IHDI value and the HDI value.