Sex ratio at birth in Malawi
Malawi: Sex ratio at birth was 100.76 males per 100 females in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
100.76 males per 100 females
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
232nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
100.76 males per 100 females
in 2023
All-time low
96.01 males per 100 females
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio at birth in Malawi, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sex ratio at birth in Malawi is 100.76 males per 100 females, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio at birth in Malawi peaked at 100.76 males per 100 females in 2023 and was at its lowest, 96.01 males per 100 females, in 1950.
That places Malawi 232nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Sex ratio at birth in Malawi, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 96.01 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 99.16 males per 100 females | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 99.16 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1953 | 99.16 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1954 | 99.18 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 99.19 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 99.19 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 99.2 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 99.21 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 99.22 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 99.25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 99.27 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 99.28 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 99.27 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1964 | 99.27 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1965 | 99.28 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 99.29 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 99.27 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1968 | 99.27 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 99.27 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 99.27 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 99.3 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 99.36 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 99.37 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 99.36 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 99.35 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 99.33 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 99.31 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 99.31 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 99.38 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 99.49 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 99.58 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 99.71 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 99.88 males per 100 females | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 100.02 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 100.16 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 100.26 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 100.27 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 100.3 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 100.29 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 100.19 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 100.07 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 99.96 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 99.85 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 99.76 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 99.72 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 99.72 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 99.76 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 99.8 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 99.79 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 99.71 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 99.61 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 99.55 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 99.46 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 99.39 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 99.35 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 99.31 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 99.28 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 99.31 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 99.44 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 99.65 males per 100 females | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 99.8 males per 100 females | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 99.88 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 99.97 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 100.11 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 100.27 males per 100 females | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 100.4 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 100.48 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 100.53 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 100.57 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 100.62 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 100.66 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 100.74 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 100.76 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 100.76 males per 100 females is below the median for low income countries, which is 102.94 males per 100 females, 98% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 100.76 males per 100 females is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 102.58 males per 100 females, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 98.87 males per 100 females | 96.01 males per 100 females | 99.22 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 99.27 males per 100 females | 99.25 males per 100 females | 99.29 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 99.33 males per 100 females | 99.27 males per 100 females | 99.38 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 100 males per 100 females | 99.49 males per 100 females | 100.3 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 99.86 males per 100 females | 99.72 males per 100 females | 100.19 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 99.44 males per 100 females | 99.28 males per 100 females | 99.71 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 100.17 males per 100 females | 99.65 males per 100 females | 100.57 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 100.7 males per 100 females | 100.62 males per 100 females | 100.76 males per 100 females | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 229 Kenya 101.53 males per 100 females compare
- 230 Martinique 101.29 males per 100 females compare
- 231 Mozambique 101.22 males per 100 females compare
- 233 Namibia 100.46 males per 100 females compare
- 234 Zambia 100.39 males per 100 females compare
- 235 San Marino 100 males per 100 females compare
- 235 Vatican 100 males per 100 females 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 sex ratio at birth in Malawi?
- Sex ratio at birth in Malawi was 100.76 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio at birth recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 100.76 males per 100 females in 2023.
- What is the lowest sex ratio at birth recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 96.01 males per 100 females in 1950.
- How does Malawi rank for sex ratio at birth?
- Malawi ranks 232nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio at birth rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of male births per 100 female births.