Rice production in Malawi
Malawi: Rice production was 127,000 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
127,000 tonnes
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
76th
of 143 countries
All-time high
155,000 tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
4,601 tonnes
in 1962
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Rice production in Malawi, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rice production in Malawi is 127,000 tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rice production in Malawi peaked at 155,000 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4,601 tonnes, in 1962.
That places Malawi 76th out of 143 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rice production in Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 9,404 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 4,601 tonnes | -51.1% |
| 1963 | 4,603 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 4,717 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 5,443 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1966 | 11,000 tonnes | +102.1% |
| 1967 | 12,000 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 9,100 tonnes | -24.2% |
| 1969 | 17,200 tonnes | +89.0% |
| 1970 | 21,772 tonnes | +26.6% |
| 1971 | 30,800 tonnes | +41.5% |
| 1972 | 41,700 tonnes | +35.4% |
| 1973 | 68,000 tonnes | +63.1% |
| 1974 | 61,000 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1975 | 77,000 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1976 | 90,000 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1977 | 85,000 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1978 | 92,000 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1979 | 44,000 tonnes | -52.2% |
| 1980 | 38,000 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1981 | 36,000 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 37,000 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 25,948 tonnes | -29.9% |
| 1984 | 34,886 tonnes | +34.4% |
| 1985 | 34,265 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 37,407 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1987 | 28,432 tonnes | -24.0% |
| 1988 | 32,321 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1989 | 45,690 tonnes | +41.4% |
| 1990 | 43,280 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1991 | 63,175 tonnes | +46.0% |
| 1992 | 23,798 tonnes | -62.3% |
| 1993 | 65,357 tonnes | +174.6% |
| 1994 | 41,128 tonnes | -37.1% |
| 1995 | 52,077 tonnes | +26.6% |
| 1996 | 72,629 tonnes | +39.5% |
| 1997 | 65,690 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1998 | 68,679 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 92,833 tonnes | +35.2% |
| 2000 | 71,601 tonnes | -22.9% |
| 2001 | 93,150 tonnes | +30.1% |
| 2002 | 92,027 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 88,184 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 49,722 tonnes | -43.6% |
| 2005 | 41,270 tonnes | -17.0% |
| 2006 | 91,450 tonnes | +121.6% |
| 2007 | 113,166 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 2008 | 114,885 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 135,988 tonnes | +18.4% |
| 2010 | 110,106 tonnes | -19.0% |
| 2011 | 117,733 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 110,964 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 125,156 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 2014 | 132,002 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 111,437 tonnes | -15.6% |
| 2016 | 83,757 tonnes | -24.8% |
| 2017 | 121,079 tonnes | +44.6% |
| 2018 | 112,313 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2019 | 132,728 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 2020 | 145,446 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 155,000 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 136,083 tonnes | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 124,300 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2024 | 127,000 tonnes | +2.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 127,000 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 243,900 tonnes, 52% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 127,000 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 212,050 tonnes, 60% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Rice production 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +174.6% | 23,798 tonnes | 65,357 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8,674 tonnes | 4,601 tonnes | 17,200 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 61,127 tonnes | 21,772 tonnes | 92,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 34,995 tonnes | 25,948 tonnes | 45,690 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 58,865 tonnes | 23,798 tonnes | 92,833 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 89,144 tonnes | 41,270 tonnes | 135,988 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 115,728 tonnes | 83,757 tonnes | 132,728 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 137,566 tonnes | 124,300 tonnes | 155,000 tonnes | 5 |
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 rice production in Malawi?
- Rice production in Malawi was 127,000 tonnes in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rice production recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 155,000 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest rice production recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,601 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Malawi rank for rice production?
- Malawi ranks 76th out of 143 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rice production rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Rice production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Rice production is measured in tonnes.