Malawi: cost of living

What is the poverty rate in Malawi?

47.3% of Malawi's population lived below the national poverty line in 2024/25, according to the National Statistical Office (NSO) Monetary Poverty and Inequality Report, based on the Sixth Integrated Household Survey (IHS6). This was down from 50.7% in 2019/20. Ultra-poverty, the share unable to meet minimum food needs, rose from 20.5% to 24.0%.

The total poverty line was MWK1,562.6 per person per day. Poverty was 52.6% in rural areas and 20.9% in urban areas, and highest in the Southern Region, at 55.8%. The Gini index of consumption inequality rose from 37.9 to 39.9. NSO notes that the 2024/25 consumption basket includes more items than the 2019/20 one.

Official sources: NSO Malawi: Monetary Poverty and Inequality Report, IHS6 (PDF)

How much is petrol in Malawi?

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) set petrol at K6,672 a litre and diesel at K6,687 a litre at the end of March 2026, according to its price review announcement of 1 April 2026. Paraffin was set at K5,824 a litre.

On 8 May 2026, MERA announced a 6.94% cut in the pump price of petrol and a 1.96% cut for kerosene, with other fuel prices unchanged. MERA said it used its Price Stabilisation Fund and the Automatic Pricing Mechanism, which adjusts prices for changes in international oil prices and exchange rates. Check MERA's site for later reviews.

Official sources: MERA: Fuel price review, 1 April 2026 · MERA: Fuel price adjustment, 8 May 2026

Are food prices rising in Malawi?

Food prices in Malawi were 13.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to the National Statistical Office (NSO), down from 14.3% in July. Non-food prices were 31.8% higher.

Food prices rose 2.5% between July and August 2026, according to the NSO index tables, after falling month on month from April to June. The Reserve Bank of Malawi attributes the slower food inflation in 2026 mainly to improved food availability.

Official sources: NSO Malawi: Consumer Price Index, August 2026 · NSO Malawi: Consumer price indices, August 2026 (XLSX) · Reserve Bank of Malawi: Monetary Policy Committee statement, 6 August 2026 (PDF)

What is the inflation rate in Malawi?

28.4%: that is consumer price inflation in Malawi for 2025, according to the IMF. The peak was 32.2% in 2024 and the low 7.4% in 2010. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 3.4%, and Malawi placed 2nd highest of 39. Worldwide: 5th of 165.

What share of people in Malawi live in extreme poverty?

The World Bank puts the share of people living on less than $3.00 a day in Malawi at 75.4% in 2019. It was 72.9% in 2010. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 59.8%; Malawi is 2nd highest of 5. World rank, highest first: 2nd of 77.

How many people in Malawi are poor?

In 2024, the share of people below the national poverty line in Malawi was 47.3%, according to the World Bank. It was 51.5% in 2016. Worldwide: 2nd of 31.

What is Malawi's Gini coefficient?

According to the World Bank, the Gini index in Malawi was 38.5 in 2019. That compares with 45.5 in 2010. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 42.7; Malawi is 4th highest of 5. Worldwide: 20th of 77.

What is food insecurity in Malawi?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2024, is 81.6%. Since 2015 it has ranged from 78.1% (2015) to 82.4% (2021). It is 4th highest of 34 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 60.5%. World rank, highest first: 5th of 135.