Share of pregnant women who have anemia in Malawi
Malawi: Share of pregnant women who have anemia was 38.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of pregnant women who have anemia 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
In 2023, share of pregnant women who have anemia in Malawi stood at 38.6%.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of pregnant women who have anemia 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.
Share of pregnant women who have anemia 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% |
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)
- 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)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 318,049 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of pregnant women who have anemia in Malawi?
- Share of pregnant women who have anemia 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 share of pregnant women who have anemia recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 41.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of pregnant women who have anemia recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.6% in 2011.
- How does Malawi rank for share of pregnant women who have anemia?
- Malawi ranks 43rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of pregnant women who have anemia 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 Share of pregnant women who have anemia. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.