Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in Malawi
Malawi: Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children was 38.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in Malawi, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in Malawi is 38.6%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in Malawi peaked at 41.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 36.6%, in 2011.
That places Malawi 43rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 41.9% | — |
| 2001 | 41.5% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 41.1% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 40.7% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 40.2% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 39.7% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 39.1% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 38.4% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 37.8% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 37.3% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 36.8% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 36.6% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 36.6% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 36.7% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 36.8% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 36.9% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 37.1% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 37.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 37.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 37.3% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 37.4% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 37.6% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 38.0% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 38.6% | +1.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 38.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 44.7%, 86% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 38.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.8% | 37.3% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.9% | 36.6% | 37.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.9% | 37.4% | 38.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 40 Tajikistan 39.6% compare
- 41 Madagascar 39.3% compare
- 42 Pakistan 39.1% compare
- 43 Bangladesh 38.6% compare
- 45 Sudan 38.0% compare
- 46 Djibouti 37.2% compare
More gender data for Malawi
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 9,494 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.4 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 15,667 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 15,667 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.13 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 330,369 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 332,767 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 322,764 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 324,764 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 316,113 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in Malawi?
- Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children in Malawi was 38.6% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 41.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.6% in 2011.
- How does Malawi rank for anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children?
- Malawi ranks 43rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory / World Health Statistics - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Anemia: share of pregnant women vs. share of children. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of pregnant women with anemia vs the share of children aged between six months and five years who have anemia. Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.