Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Malawi
Malawi: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 3.59 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Malawi, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Malawi is 3.59 births per woman, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Malawi peaked at 7.52 births per woman in 1980 and was at its lowest, 3.59 births per woman, in 2024.
That places Malawi 41st out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.15 births per woman | 7.04 births per woman | 7.27 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.37 births per woman | 7.29 births per woman | 7.46 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.2 births per woman | 6.8 births per woman | 7.52 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.43 births per woman | 6.12 births per woman | 6.74 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.8 births per woman | 5.45 births per woman | 6 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.53 births per woman | 3.95 births per woman | 5.26 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.73 births per woman | 3.59 births per woman | 3.88 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.85 million people (2100)
- Population density 627.29 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 35,510 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.59 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.6% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.65 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 3.65 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Malawi?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Malawi was 3.59 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 7.52 births per woman in 1980.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.59 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- Malawi ranks 41st out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.