Cropland area in Malawi
Malawi: Cropland area was 2.51 million in 2010. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2010)
2.51 million
World rank
70th
of 179 countries
All-time high
2.51 million
in 2010
All-time low
169,537
in 1780
Years of data
24
1780–2010
Cropland area in Malawi, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 2.51 million for cropland area in 2010. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland area in Malawi peaked at 2.51 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 169,537, in 1780.
Malawi ranks 70th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland area in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 169,537 | — |
| 1790 | 172,938 | +2.0% |
| 1800 | 176,249 | +1.9% |
| 1810 | 179,830 | +2.0% |
| 1820 | 188,218 | +4.7% |
| 1830 | 197,733 | +5.1% |
| 1840 | 207,962 | +5.2% |
| 1850 | 218,877 | +5.2% |
| 1860 | 230,598 | +5.4% |
| 1870 | 253,549 | +10.0% |
| 1880 | 279,128 | +10.1% |
| 1890 | 307,723 | +10.2% |
| 1900 | 339,450 | +10.3% |
| 1910 | 373,772 | +10.1% |
| 1920 | 450,405 | +20.5% |
| 1930 | 552,775 | +22.7% |
| 1940 | 683,091 | +23.6% |
| 1950 | 839,865 | +23.0% |
| 1960 | 1.02 million | +21.8% |
| 1970 | 1.06 million | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 1.29 million | +22.2% |
| 1990 | 1.55 million | +19.8% |
| 2000 | 2.05 million | +32.3% |
| 2010 | 2.51 million | +22.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 2.51 million is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.53 million, 99% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 2.51 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.24 million, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 169,537 | 169,537 | 169,537 | 1 |
| 1790s | 172,938 | 172,938 | 172,938 | 1 |
| 1800s | 176,249 | 176,249 | 176,249 | 1 |
| 1810s | 179,830 | 179,830 | 179,830 | 1 |
| 1820s | 188,218 | 188,218 | 188,218 | 1 |
| 1830s | 197,733 | 197,733 | 197,733 | 1 |
| 1840s | 207,962 | 207,962 | 207,962 | 1 |
| 1850s | 218,877 | 218,877 | 218,877 | 1 |
| 1860s | 230,598 | 230,598 | 230,598 | 1 |
| 1870s | 253,549 | 253,549 | 253,549 | 1 |
| 1880s | 279,128 | 279,128 | 279,128 | 1 |
| 1890s | 307,723 | 307,723 | 307,723 | 1 |
| 1900s | 339,450 | 339,450 | 339,450 | 1 |
| 1910s | 373,772 | 373,772 | 373,772 | 1 |
| 1920s | 450,405 | 450,405 | 450,405 | 1 |
| 1930s | 552,775 | 552,775 | 552,775 | 1 |
| 1940s | 683,091 | 683,091 | 683,091 | 1 |
| 1950s | 839,865 | 839,865 | 839,865 | 1 |
| 1960s | 1.02 million | 1.02 million | 1.02 million | 1 |
| 1970s | 1.06 million | 1.06 million | 1.06 million | 1 |
| 1980s | 1.29 million | 1.29 million | 1.29 million | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.55 million | 1.55 million | 1.55 million | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.05 million | 2.05 million | 2.05 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 2.51 million | 2.51 million | 2.51 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 cropland area in Malawi?
- Cropland area in Malawi was 2.51 million in 2010, according to Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland area recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 2.51 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest cropland area recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 169,537 in 1780.
- How does Malawi rank for cropland area?
- Malawi ranks 70th out of 179 countries with data for 2010.
- Is cropland area rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cropland is land used to grow crops, excluding pasture used for livestock grazing.