2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Malawi
Malawi: 2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) was 60.9 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Malawi, 2015–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Malawi stood at 60.9 %. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Malawi peaked at 60.9 % in 2024 and was at its lowest, 51.4 %, in 2015.
Malawi ranks 2nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 51.4 % | — |
| 2016 | 52.2 % | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 53.5 % | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 52 % | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 53.3 % | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 54.8 % | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 55.2 % | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 56.3 % | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 58.2 % | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 60.9 % | +4.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 60.9 % is above the median for low income countries, which is 19.8 %, 3.1× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 60.9 % is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7 %, 3.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 52.48 % | 51.4 % | 53.5 % | 5 |
| 2020s | 57.08 % | 54.8 % | 60.9 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 1 Democratic Republic of the Congo 46.5 % compare
- 1 South Sudan 64.6 % compare
- 3 Haiti 49.1 % compare
- 3 Melanesia 26.1 % compare
- 4 Afghanistan 40.3 % compare
- 4 United Republic of Tanzania 24 % compare
- 5 Liberia 38.6 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Malawi
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 24.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.3003 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 201.66 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.8241 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 30.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 30.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Malawi?
- 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) in Malawi was 60.9 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 60.9 % in 2024.
- What is the lowest 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.4 % in 2015.
- How does Malawi rank for 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and)?
- Malawi ranks 2nd out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is 2.1.2 prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 2.1.2 Prevalence of severe food insecurity (female) (15 years old and over) (no breakdown by urbanisation) — Confidence interval: Upper bound. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and classifications, and disseminating data at global level. This FAOSTAT domain complements the global SDG database administered by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), as well as FAO’s SDG indicators portal, by providing access to the available data for all SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship. While this metadata page provides summary information on all SDG indicators data disseminated through FAOSTAT, indicator-specific metadata can be accessed from the link on the right hand navigation column. This additional metadata file provides details on the methodology used to compile each indicators, their data sources and the contact information of the relevant FAO focal point. It includes the links to the official SDG Indicator metadata documents accessible from the UNSD global SDG database.SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship, consisting of 22 indicators and 66 series that fall under six goals: • Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.• Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.• Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.