Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Malawi
Malawi: Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness was 2.03 million People in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Malawi, 2013–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in People.
Analysis
In 2024, number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Malawi stood at 2.03 million People.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Malawi peaked at 2.49 million People in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.67 million People, in 2022.
That places Malawi 19th out of 31 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Malawi, year by year
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2.22 million People | — |
| 2014 | 2.29 million People | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 2.24 million People | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 2.28 million People | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 2.28 million People | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.48 million People | +8.5% |
| 2019 | 2.43 million People | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 2.49 million People | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 2.49 million People | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.67 million People | -32.8% |
| 2023 | 2.11 million People | +25.9% |
| 2024 | 2.03 million People | -3.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 2.03 million People is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.52 million People, 45% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 2.03 million People is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.03 million People, 67% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.32 million People | 2.22 million People | 2.48 million People | 7 |
| 2020s | 2.16 million People | 1.67 million People | 2.49 million People | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More population data for Malawi
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3622 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4293 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2289 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.45 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Malawi?
- Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness in Malawi was 2.03 million People in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 2.49 million People in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.67 million People in 2022.
- How does Malawi rank for number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness?
- Malawi ranks 19th out of 31 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people requiring preventive treatment for river blindness. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The estimated number of people at risk of river blindness) who require preventive chemotherapy.