Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population was 81.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
81.6%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
5th
of 139 countries
All-time high
82.4%
in 2021
All-time low
78.1%
in 2015
Years of data
10
2015–2024
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi, 2015–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 81.6% for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in 2024.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi peaked at 82.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 78.1%, in 2015.
Malawi ranks 5th of 139 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 78.1% | — |
| 2016 | 79.2% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 80.3% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 78.8% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 79.9% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 81.3% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 82.4% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 81.7% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 81.7% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 81.6% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 79.3% | 78.1% | 80.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 81.7% | 81.3% | 82.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 2 Sierra Leone 88.1% compare
- 3 Haiti 83.5% compare
- 4 Democratic Republic of the Congo 81.7% compare
- 6 Liberia 79.0% compare
- 7 Afghanistan 77.8% compare
- 8 Nigeria 76.5% 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 prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi?
- Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi was 81.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 82.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.1% in 2015.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population?
- Malawi ranks 5th out of 139 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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