Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) was 32.4 % in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Malawi, 2000–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 32.4 % for prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Malawi peaked at 33.7 % in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.4 %, in 2012.
Malawi ranks 54th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.7 % | — |
| 2001 | 33 % | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 32.3 % | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 31.7 % | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 31 % | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 30.3 % | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 29.5 % | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 28.7 % | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 27.9 % | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 27.2 % | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 26.7 % | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 26.5 % | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 26.4 % | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 26.6 % | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 26.9 % | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 27.3 % | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 27.8 % | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 28.2 % | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 28.7 % | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 29.1 % | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 29.7 % | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 30.5 % | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 31.4 % | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 32.4 % | +3.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 32.4 % is below the median for low income countries, which is 42.95 %, 75% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 32.4 % is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.95 %, 83% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.53 % | 27.2 % | 33.7 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.42 % | 26.4 % | 29.1 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 31 % | 29.7 % | 32.4 % | 4 |
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 prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Malawi?
- Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Malawi was 32.4 % in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 33.7 % in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.4 % in 2012.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years)?
- Malawi ranks 54th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.8%. 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 of the United Nations, published as part of Prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) (percent) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.