Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day in Malawi
Malawi: Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day was 12.6% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day in Malawi, 1997–2019
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day in Malawi stood at 12.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 50.5% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day in Malawi peaked at 16.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 5.7%, in 1997.
Malawi ranks 3rd of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 5.7% | — |
| 2004 | 10.6% | +85.2% |
| 2010 | 16.8% | +58.1% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | -50.2% |
| 2019 | 12.6% | +50.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 12.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.8%, 15.5× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 12.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.9%, 13.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 8.4% | 16.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 1 Mozambique 28.9% compare
- 2 Zambia 28.4% compare
- 4 Burundi 11.4% compare
- 5 Madagascar 7.9% compare
- 6 Ghana 6.8% 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 poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day in Malawi?
- Poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day in Malawi was 12.6% in 2019, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 16.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.7% in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day?
- Malawi ranks 3rd out of 120 countries with data for 2019.
- Is poverty: share of population living on less than $1 a day rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. 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 Poverty: Share of population living on less than $1 a day. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $1 per day.