GeoRealityMatch
Expansive aerial view showcasing agricultural fields and rural landscape near Lilongwe, Malawi.Wide aerial view of cityscape with central highway leading into the distance under a cloudy sky.

Malawi

Africa · Eastern Africa

High safetyLow development

Incomes are low.

Safety

82nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.994lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#82 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$600national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 52% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 31% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$1.0K$2.0K$1,899 PPP$672Inflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $441 a person, $1,124 at PPP, inflation 14%2007, $475 a person, $1,231 at PPP, inflation 8%2008, $554 a person, $1,311 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2009, $626 a person, $1,388 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2010, $683 a person, $1,458 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2011, $763 a person, $1,516 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2012, $558 a person, $1,464 at PPP, inflation 21.3%2013, $497 a person, $1,558 at PPP, inflation 27.3%2014, $530 a person, $1,506 at PPP, inflation 23.8%2015, $540 a person, $1,403 at PPP, inflation 21.9%2016, $451 a person, $1,410 at PPP, inflation 21.7%2017, $496 a person, $1,380 at PPP, inflation 11.5%2018, $533 a person, $1,364 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2019, $581 a person, $1,450 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2020, $603 a person, $1,513 at PPP, inflation 8.6%2021, $617 a person, $1,688 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2022, $604 a person, $1,778 at PPP, inflation 21%2023, $633 a person, $1,832 at PPP, inflation 28.8%2024, $522 a person, $1,860 at PPP, inflation 32.2%2025, $672 a person, $1,899 at PPP, inflation 28.4%$0$1.0K$2.0KInflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $441 a person, $1,124 at PPP, inflation 14%2007, $475 a person, $1,231 at PPP, inflation 8%2008, $554 a person, $1,311 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2009, $626 a person, $1,388 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2010, $683 a person, $1,458 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2011, $763 a person, $1,516 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2012, $558 a person, $1,464 at PPP, inflation 21.3%2013, $497 a person, $1,558 at PPP, inflation 27.3%2014, $530 a person, $1,506 at PPP, inflation 23.8%2015, $540 a person, $1,403 at PPP, inflation 21.9%2016, $451 a person, $1,410 at PPP, inflation 21.7%2017, $496 a person, $1,380 at PPP, inflation 11.5%2018, $533 a person, $1,364 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2019, $581 a person, $1,450 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2020, $603 a person, $1,513 at PPP, inflation 8.6%2021, $617 a person, $1,688 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2022, $604 a person, $1,778 at PPP, inflation 21%2023, $633 a person, $1,832 at PPP, inflation 28.8%2024, $522 a person, $1,860 at PPP, inflation 32.2%2025, $672 a person, $1,899 at PPP, inflation 28.4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
67.6years, at birthLow
#149 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
52WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
14.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
5.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Wide aerial view of cityscape with central highway leading into the distance under a cloudy sky.
How it changed

Malawi's Human Development Index

0.517Low human development

172nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 35th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #170Gambia0.524
  2. #171DR Congo0.522
  3. #172Malawi0.517
  4. #173Benin0.515
  5. #174Guinea-Bissau0.514
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.306 in 1990 to 0.517 in 2023.

0.250.400.550.51719902000201020231990: 0.3061991: 0.3101992: 0.3181993: 0.3241994: 0.3251995: 0.3701996: 0.3751997: 0.3791998: 0.3841999: 0.3922000: 0.3942001: 0.4002002: 0.4072003: 0.4142004: 0.4212005: 0.4272006: 0.4362007: 0.4442008: 0.4552009: 0.4652010: 0.4752011: 0.4832012: 0.4882013: 0.4942014: 0.5002015: 0.5042016: 0.5062017: 0.5082018: 0.5102019: 0.5132020: 0.5122021: 0.5092022: 0.5132023: 0.5170.250.400.5519902000201020231990: 0.3061991: 0.3101992: 0.3181993: 0.3241994: 0.3251995: 0.3701996: 0.3751997: 0.3791998: 0.3841999: 0.3922000: 0.3942001: 0.4002002: 0.4072003: 0.4142004: 0.4212005: 0.4272006: 0.4362007: 0.4442008: 0.4552009: 0.4652010: 0.4752011: 0.4832012: 0.4882013: 0.4942014: 0.5002015: 0.5042016: 0.5062017: 0.5082018: 0.5102019: 0.5132020: 0.5122021: 0.5092022: 0.5132023: 0.517

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
67.6 years2024at birthUp 15.1 years from 52.5 years in 2005
Internet users
19%2024of people onlineUp 19 points from 0% in 2006
Urban population
18%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 15% in 2006
Births per woman
3.592024births per womanDown 2.26 from 5.85 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
63%2022of energy usedDown 20 points from 82% in 2004
Access to electricity
16%2024of people with electricityUp 9 points from 7% in 2005
Infant mortality
382024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 27 from 65 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.1 t from 0.3 t in 2005
Forest area
22%2023of land under forestDown 8 points from 31% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Warm Heart of Africa: peaceful and friendly, one of the world's poorest nations. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Malawi

Malawi is a small landlocked country in southern Africa centred on the vast, clear Lake Malawi, one of the great freshwater lakes of the world with outstanding snorkelling and a slow, lakeside pace of life. The people have a widespread reputation as among the friendliest in Africa, and the country is safe and straightforward to travel independently. Those who want a gentle, nature-focused southern Africa experience that isn't dominated by expensive safari will find it very rewarding.

Practical facts

  • CapitalLilongwe
  • LanguagesEnglish, Chewa
  • CurrencyMalawian kwacha (MWK)
  • Area94,280 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Malawi's Human Development Index?

Malawi's Human Development Index is 0.517 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #172 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Malawi safe?

Malawi scores 1.99 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #82 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Malawi?

Life expectancy at birth in Malawi is 67.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #149 of 195 countries.