Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 58.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi, 2015–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi stood at 58.1%. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi peaked at 58.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 47.7%, in 2015.
Malawi ranks 2nd of 129 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 47.7% | — |
| 2016 | 48.5% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 49.7% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 48.3% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 49.5% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 51.0% | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 52.2% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 53.5% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 55.6% | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 58.1% | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 48.7% | 47.7% | 49.7% | 5 |
| 2020s | 54.1% | 51.0% | 58.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 1 South Sudan 62.9% compare
- 3 Haiti 45.4% compare
- 4 Democratic Republic of the Congo 43.9% compare
- 5 Liberia 35.5% 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 severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi?
- Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in Malawi was 58.1% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 58.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.7% in 2015.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
- Malawi ranks 2nd out of 129 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).