Total dependency ratio in Malawi
Malawi: Total dependency ratio was 78.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total dependency ratio in Malawi, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 78.3% for total dependency ratio in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total dependency ratio in Malawi peaked at 100.3% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 78.3%, in 2023.
Malawi ranks 25th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 89.6% | 86.1% | 94.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 86.1% | 84.5% | 89.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 91.7% | 89.8% | 93.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 96.2% | 94.1% | 97.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.5% | 97.1% | 97.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 99.4% | 97.9% | 100.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 94.1% | 86.7% | 99.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.4% | 78.3% | 84.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 627.29 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.85 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 35,510 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 3.65 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.44 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total dependency ratio in Malawi?
- Total dependency ratio in Malawi was 78.3% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total dependency ratio recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 100.3% in 2007.
- What is the lowest total dependency ratio recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.3% in 2023.
- How does Malawi rank for total dependency ratio?
- Malawi ranks 25th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total dependency ratio rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total dependency ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The number of children (under 15) and people aged 65 and over per 100 working-age people (aged 15 to 64).