Malawi: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Malawi?

Life expectancy at birth in Malawi was 67.6 years in 2024, according to the World Bank, which compiles estimates from UN population sources.

Life expectancy is the average number of years a newborn would live if that year's death rates stayed the same throughout their life. The same database puts the infant mortality rate at 38 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024 on the World Bank infant mortality indicator, a modelled estimate from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Malawi · World Bank: Infant mortality rate, Malawi

How common is malaria in Malawi?

Fever and malaria made up 39.3% of illnesses reported by people who had been ill in the two weeks before the interview, according to the National Statistical Office Sixth Integrated Household Survey (IHS6) 2024-2025. Overall, 35.3% of people reported an illness or injury in that period.

These are self-reported illnesses, not tested cases. The World Bank gives an incidence of 295 malaria cases per 1,000 people at risk in 2024, based on WHO estimates. The survey also found that 46.3% of people who were ill got treatment from pharmacies or grocery outlets, against 28.3% at government health facilities.

Official sources: NSO Malawi: Sixth Integrated Household Survey (IHS6) 2024-2025, main report (PDF) · World Bank: Incidence of malaria, Malawi

What is the maternal mortality rate in Malawi?

Malawi's maternal mortality ratio was 225 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the World Bank, which publishes the modelled estimates of the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group.

The ratio counts deaths from pregnancy-related causes during pregnancy or within 42 days of its end. Because many deaths are not registered, the figure is modelled from surveys, censuses and health records, and has a wide uncertainty range.

Official sources: World Bank: Maternal mortality ratio, Malawi

How much does Malawi spend on health?

Current health spending in Malawi was 6.5% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank, based on WHO Global Health Expenditure data.

The figure covers spending by government, households, insurers and donors on health goods and services, excluding capital investment. The same database records 0.05 doctors per 1,000 people in 2022 on the World Bank physicians indicator, or about one doctor for every 18,500 people.

Official sources: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP), Malawi · World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people, Malawi

What is life expectancy in Malawi?

67.6 years: that is life expectancy at birth in Malawi for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 64.3 years, and Malawi placed 13th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 147th highest.

What is Malawi's infant mortality rate?

38.0 per 1,000: that is the infant mortality rate in Malawi for 2024, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 37.2 per 1,000, and Malawi placed 24th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 29th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Malawi?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in Malawi at 225 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 32nd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 257 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 36th of 192.

What is Malawi's health spending?

The WHO puts current health spending in Malawi at 6.5% of GDP in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2013, at 8.2% of GDP; its low point was 2005, at 4.3% of GDP. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 4.4% of GDP, and Malawi placed 13th highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 94th highest.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Malawi?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 12.0%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 6.7% (2013) to 12.8% (2018). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 32.4%, and Malawi placed 40th highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 158th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Malawi?

In 2022, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Malawi was 0.05 per 1,000, according to the WHO. The peak was 0.15 per 1,000 in 2018 and the low 0.01 per 1,000 in 2013. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 0.18 per 1,000; Malawi is 43rd highest of 46. Worldwide: 122nd of 125.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Malawi?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 89.0%. The peak was 96.0% in 2011 and the low 81.0% in 2016. It is 13th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 81.0%. Worldwide: 103rd of 191.