Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Malawi
Malawi: Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita was 35.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Malawi, 1992–2020
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 35.5% for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in 2020.
The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Malawi peaked at 62.3% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 2019.
That places Malawi 14th out of 97 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 55.4% | — |
| 1995 | 53.8% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 62.3% | +15.8% |
| 2000 | 54.7% | -12.2% |
| 2002 | 58.3% | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 52.5% | -9.9% |
| 2006 | 53.1% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 48.8% | -8.1% |
| 2010 | 47.3% | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 42.4% | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | -11.8% |
| 2016 | 38.3% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 39.3% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 39.0% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 34.0% | -12.8% |
| 2020 | 35.5% | +4.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 35.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 33.1%, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 35.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.2% | 53.8% | 62.3% | 3 |
| 2000s | 53.5% | 48.8% | 58.3% | 5 |
| 2010s | 39.7% | 34.0% | 47.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 35.5% | 35.5% | 35.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More economy & growth data for Malawi
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 56.42 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.005 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 2.61 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 257.97 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 20.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0228 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 11.91 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -29.8 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Malawi?
- Share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in Malawi was 35.5% in 2020, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 62.3% in 1998.
- What is the lowest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 2019.
- How does Malawi rank for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita?
- Malawi ranks 14th out of 97 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of children who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.