Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in Malawi

Malawi: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income was 11.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
11.1%
Change on year
up 18.1%
World rank
69th
of 130 countries
All-time high
15.0%
in 2010
All-time low
9.4%
in 2016
Years of data
5
1997–2019

Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in Malawi, 1997–2019

0510151997200820191997: 9.82004: 10.32010: 152016: 9.42019: 11.1

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in Malawi is 11.1%, measured in 2019.

The figure is up 18.1% on the previous year and down 26.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in Malawi peaked at 15.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2016.

That places Malawi 69th out of 130 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income (%) in Malawi, 1997 to 2019.
Year Value Change
1997 9.8%
2004 10.3% +5.1%
2010 15.0% +45.6%
2016 9.4% -37.3%
2019 11.1% +18.1%

Malawi compared with similar countries

  • Malawi's 11.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 10.5%, 1.1× the median. (13 countries reporting)
  • Malawi's 11.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.1%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 9.8% 9.8% 9.8% 1
2000s 10.3% 10.3% 10.3% 1
2010s 11.8% 9.4% 15.0% 3

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 66 Australia 11.3% compare
  2. 66 Nigeria 11.3% compare
  3. 68 Senegal 11.2% compare
  4. 69 Madagascar 11.1% compare
  5. 71 Austria 11.0% compare
  6. 71 Portugal 11.0% compare
  7. 71 Sweden 11.0% compare

See the full ranking of 131 places →

More infrastructure data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in Malawi?
Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in Malawi was 11.1% in 2019, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 2010.
What is the lowest proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2016.
How does Malawi rank for proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income?
Malawi ranks 69th out of 130 countries with data for 2019.
Is proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.0%. 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 Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-people-living-below-50-percent-of-median-income-percent-2/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
131 places, 2,510 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed