Poverty and living standards in Southern Region, Malawi: official figures
18.5% of people in the Southern Region belonged to the poorest fifth of Malawi's population by household wealth in 2024 and 18.5% to the richest fifth (nationally 20% each by definition); the poorest-fifth share is the second highest of the 3 regions.
Do households in the Southern Region have enough food?
76.8% of households in the Southern Region said their food consumption over the past month had been less than adequate in 2024-2025, the highest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 67.0%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi · saved copyHow common is hunger in the Southern Region?
In 57.0% of households in the Southern Region, someone went a whole day without eating at some point in the 12 months before the 2024-2025 survey, the highest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 52.1%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi · saved copyHow many households in the Southern Region consider themselves very poor?
33.2% of households in the Southern Region described themselves as very poor in 2024-2025, the highest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 30.3%).
Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi · saved copyMore figures
- 59.6% of households in the Southern Region rated their housing as less than adequate in 2024-2025, the highest of the 3 regions (Malawi: 54.6%). Source: National Statistical Office of Malawi · saved copy
How Southern Region compares with other regions
People in Malawi's poorest wealth fifth (2024)
Southern Region ranks 2 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in Malawi's poorest wealth fifth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Region | 24.2% |
| 2 | Southern Region | 18.5% |
| 3 | Northern Region | 11.9% |
Households with inadequate food consumption (own assessment) (2024-2025)
Southern Region ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with inadequate food consumption (own assessment) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Region | 76.8% |
| 2 | Central Region | 60.2% |
| 3 | Northern Region | 54.0% |
More on Southern Region: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · 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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