Economy, jobs and prices in Northern Region, Malawi: official figures
19.2% of households in the Northern Region had electricity from the national grid (ESCOM) in 2024-2025, the highest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 14.2%).
Do people in the Northern Region have clean drinking water?
66.3% of people in the Northern Region had at least a basic drinking water service (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2024, the lowest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 72.5%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many people in the Northern Region have a proper toilet?
37.9% of people in the Northern Region had at least a basic sanitation service (an improved toilet not shared with other households) in 2024, the lowest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 40.2%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many people in the Northern Region have a bank or other financial account?
18.9% of people aged 15 and over in the Northern Region owned an account with a bank, credit union, microfinance institution, village savings group or other financial institution in 2024-2025, the second highest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 18.8%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi · saved copyHow many women in the Northern Region have work?
66.8% of women aged 15 to 49 in the Northern Region had worked in the 12 months before the 2024 survey and 48.8% were working at the time (Malawi: 61.8% and 51.7%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyMore figures
- 43.1% of households in the Northern Region ran a non-farm business in 2024-2025, the lowest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 48.8%). Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi · saved copy
- 51.4% of women aged 15 to 49 in the Northern Region owned a mobile phone in 2024 and 9.5% had and used a bank account (Malawi: 42.1% and 7.3%). Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copy
How Northern Region compares with other regions
Households with electricity from ESCOM (2024-2025)
Northern Region ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with electricity from ESCOM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Region | 19.2% |
| 2 | Southern Region | 15.2% |
| 3 | Central Region | 11.8% |
Population with at least basic drinking water (2024)
Northern Region ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Region | 74.7% |
| 2 | Central Region | 72.2% |
| 3 | Northern Region | 66.3% |
More on Northern Region: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Malawi
Sources
- National Statistical Office of Malawi (with ICF, The DHS Program): Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2024: Final Report (region rows of Tables 2.6, 2.12, 3.2.1, 3.6.1, 5.2, 5.12, 8.3, 9.7, 10.4, 11.1, 12.15, 15.6.1, 16.2 and 16.7), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 67bf038b8ed3…)
- National Statistical Office of Malawi: The Sixth Integrated Household Survey (IHS6) 2024-2025 Main Report: appendix Tables 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 6.1, 7.17, 9.1, 9.2, 10.3 and 12.1 by region, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 199eeaf84c4b…)
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