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
Latest (2024)
3.59 births per woman
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
41st
of 215 countries
All-time high
7.52 births per woman
in 1980
All-time low
3.59 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
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.
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Malawi, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.04 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 7.07 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 7.09 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 7.13 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 7.11 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 7.13 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 7.17 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 7.21 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 7.26 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 7.27 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 7.29 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 7.31 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 7.33 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 7.34 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 7.34 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 7.36 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 7.39 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 7.41 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 7.43 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 7.46 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 7.52 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 7.49 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 7.45 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 7.36 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 7.26 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 7.17 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 7.07 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 6.97 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 6.88 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 6.8 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 6.74 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 6.68 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 6.63 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 6.57 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 6.49 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 6.39 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 6.29 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 6.23 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 6.21 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 6.12 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 6 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 5.94 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 5.9 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 5.88 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 5.86 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 5.85 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 5.8 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 5.72 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 5.61 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 5.45 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 5.26 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 5.08 births per woman | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 4.9 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 4.76 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 4.57 births per woman | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 4.38 births per woman | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 4.22 births per woman | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 4.11 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 4.02 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 3.95 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 3.88 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 3.79 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 3.72 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 3.65 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 3.59 births per woman | -1.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 3.59 births per woman is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.11 births per woman, 87% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 3.59 births per woman is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.91 births per woman, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1183 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,159 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
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.
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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.