Country field notes / Sub-Saharan Africa

Malawi

Life expectancy 67.6 years (2024); GDP per person $1,634 in constant-2021 PPP dollars (2024). These are captured source observations, not a measure of household wealth. Dates can differ across indicators.

A first view of health, purchasing power, and essential services. These are observed source indicators; The experimental rankings provide a separate, explicitly weighted comparison where all inputs are available.

Ranking summary · 2023

Equal-domain rank 130 / 170 · Overall 28.3 · Rank across three weightings 122–133

Health: 24.3 · Essential services: 7.7 · Material resources: 4.1 · Civic voice: 51.5 · Air quality: 53.8

Experimental cohort percentile scores. Compare this economy and inspect the method.

Latest available observations in the captured 2000–2025 data. Periods vary; no gap-filling.
IndicatorValueUnitObservation periodProvider
Life expectancy67.56years2024World Bank
GDP per person$1,6342021 international $2024World Bank
Electricity access15.60% of population2024World Bank
Basic drinking water73.05% of population2024World Bank
Basic sanitation49.23% of population2024World Bank
Clean cooking access2.00% of population2024World Bank
Food insecurity81.60% of population2024World Bank
Poverty at $3/day75.40% of population2019World Bank
Income / consumption Gini38.50index, 0–1002019World Bank
Bottom 20% resource share7.00% of income or consumption2019World Bank
Under-five mortality48.80deaths per 1,000 live births2024World Bank
Maternal mortality225.00deaths per 100,000 live births2023World Bank
Child stunting35.50% of children under five2020World Bank
Out-of-pocket health spending12.00% of current health expenditure2023World Bank
Unemployment5.07% of labor force2025World Bank
Youth outside work and education39.42% of youth2024World Bank
Internet use18.96% of population2024World Bank
PM2.5 exposure16.72micrograms per cubic meter2023World Bank
Forest area22.00% of land area2024World Bank
Freshwater stress17.50% of available freshwater resources2022World Bank
Adjusted net savingsUnavailable% of GNI—World Bank
Voice and accountability57.56absolute score, 0–1002025World Bank
Rule of law56.39absolute score, 0–1002025World Bank
Government effectiveness40.00absolute score, 0–1002025World Bank
Control of corruption34.69absolute score, 0–1002025World Bank
Political stability62.74absolute score, 0–1002025World Bank
Regulatory quality45.36absolute score, 0–1002025World Bank
Tax revenue15.60% of GDP2024World Bank
Income, profit and capital-gains tax share39.23% of revenue2024World Bank
Goods and services tax share30.47% of revenue2024World Bank
International trade tax share6.80% of revenue2024World Bank
Government health spending0.84% of GDP2023World Bank
Government education spending2.75% of GDP2022World Bank
Intentional homicide1.78deaths per 100,000 people2012World Bank
Consumer price inflation28.37annual %2025World Bank
Tax wedge: Single, no children · 67% average wageUnavailable% of employer labour cost—OECD
Tax wedge: Single, no children · average wageUnavailable% of employer labour cost—OECD
Tax wedge: Single, no children · 167% average wageUnavailable% of employer labour cost—OECD
Tax wedge: Single parent, 2 children · 67% average wageUnavailable% of employer labour cost—OECD
Tax wedge: Couple, 2 children · one average-wage earnerUnavailable% of employer labour cost—OECD
Tax wedge: Couple, 2 children · 100% + 67% average wagesUnavailable% of employer labour cost—OECD
Tax wedge: Couple, 2 children · two average-wage earnersUnavailable% of employer labour cost—OECD
Tax wedge: Couple, no children · 100% + 67% average wagesUnavailable% of employer labour cost—OECD
Weekly work hours: All employed people30.76hours per employed person2025ILO
Weekly work hours: Women in employment27.23hours per employed person2025ILO
Weekly work hours: Men in employment34.00hours per employed person2025ILO
Life evaluation (3-year mean)3.28Cantril ladder, 0–102023–2025World Happiness Report

How to read this profile

GDP per person is measured in constant 2021 international dollars using purchasing power parity. It measures economic output, not household income or wealth. Life expectancy is period life expectancy at birth, not healthy life expectancy. Service access percentages are national averages and do not establish service reliability or equal access.

Missing values remain unavailable. Comparable years may have different underlying survey dates; source estimates can be revised.

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Cite this profile

Pluraterra. “Malawi: country field notes.” Atlas prototype, snapshot retrieved November 1–2, 2026; observation periods shown per row. Underlying data: World Bank World Development Indicators. This page is a mutable preview; use the accompanying CSV for the captured data.

Download the captured data · Source and release notes