Land under sorghum production in Malawi
Malawi: Land under sorghum production was 89,607 hectares in 2011. ▼ Falling
Land under sorghum production in Malawi, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 89,607 hectares for land under sorghum production in 2011.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 65.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land under sorghum production in Malawi peaked at 130,000 hectares in 1977 and was at its lowest, 21,302 hectares, in 1984.
That places Malawi 22nd out of 41 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 51 years of available data.
Land under sorghum production in Malawi, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 65,000 hectares | — |
| 1962 | 70,000 hectares | +7.7% |
| 1963 | 77,000 hectares | +10.0% |
| 1964 | 84,000 hectares | +9.1% |
| 1965 | 84,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 92,000 hectares | +9.5% |
| 1967 | 92,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 95,000 hectares | +3.3% |
| 1969 | 100,000 hectares | +5.3% |
| 1970 | 100,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 120,000 hectares | +20.0% |
| 1972 | 120,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 120,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 120,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 120,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 120,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 130,000 hectares | +8.3% |
| 1978 | 30,000 hectares | -76.9% |
| 1979 | 30,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 30,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 30,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 30,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 22,649 hectares | -24.5% |
| 1984 | 21,302 hectares | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 32,725 hectares | +53.6% |
| 1986 | 32,059 hectares | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 30,626 hectares | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 30,099 hectares | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 29,828 hectares | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 30,814 hectares | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 31,035 hectares | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 27,668 hectares | -10.8% |
| 1993 | 43,873 hectares | +58.6% |
| 1994 | 54,482 hectares | +24.2% |
| 1995 | 61,633 hectares | +13.1% |
| 1996 | 76,029 hectares | +23.4% |
| 1997 | 83,859 hectares | +10.3% |
| 1998 | 67,938 hectares | -19.0% |
| 1999 | 59,310 hectares | -12.7% |
| 2000 | 55,030 hectares | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 54,098 hectares | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 54,404 hectares | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 59,627 hectares | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 63,459 hectares | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 68,419 hectares | +7.8% |
| 2006 | 70,644 hectares | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 74,131 hectares | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 74,569 hectares | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 75,332 hectares | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 88,498 hectares | +17.5% |
| 2011 | 89,607 hectares | +1.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 89,607 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 119,355 hectares, 75% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 89,607 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 257,610 hectares, 35% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land under sorghum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | -76.9% | 130,000 hectares | 30,000 hectares |
| 1993 | +58.6% | 27,668 hectares | 43,873 hectares |
| 1985 | +53.6% | 21,302 hectares | 32,725 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 84,333 hectares | 65,000 hectares | 100,000 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 101,000 hectares | 30,000 hectares | 130,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 28,929 hectares | 21,302 hectares | 32,725 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 53,664 hectares | 27,668 hectares | 83,859 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 64,971 hectares | 54,098 hectares | 75,332 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 89,052 hectares | 88,498 hectares | 89,607 hectares | 2 |
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 land under sorghum production in Malawi?
- Land under sorghum production in Malawi was 89,607 hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest land under sorghum production recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 130,000 hectares in 1977.
- What is the lowest land under sorghum production recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,302 hectares in 1984.
- How does Malawi rank for land under sorghum production?
- Malawi ranks 22nd out of 41 countries with data for 2011.
- Is land under sorghum production rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Land under sorghum production (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Land under sorghum production refers to harvested area, although some countries report only sown or cultivated area. Production data on relate to crop harvested for dry grain only. Crop harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.