Sex ratio by age in Malawi
Malawi: Sex ratio by age was 27.91 males per 100 females in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
27.91 males per 100 females
Change on year
down 6.8%
World rank
75th
of 212 countries
All-time high
66.67 males per 100 females
in 1976
All-time low
0 males per 100 females
in 1957
Years of data
67
1957–2023
Sex ratio by age in Malawi, 1957–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 27.91 males per 100 females for sex ratio by age in 2023.
The figure is down 6.8% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in Malawi peaked at 66.67 males per 100 females in 1976 and was at its lowest, 0 males per 100 females, in 1957.
That places Malawi 75th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sex ratio by age in Malawi, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1958 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1959 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1960 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1961 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1962 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1963 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1964 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1965 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1966 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1967 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1968 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1969 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1970 | 25 males per 100 females | — |
| 1971 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 50 males per 100 females | +100.0% |
| 1975 | 60 males per 100 females | +20.0% |
| 1976 | 66.67 males per 100 females | +11.1% |
| 1977 | 66.67 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 66.67 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 59.26 males per 100 females | -11.1% |
| 1980 | 57.78 males per 100 females | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 54.41 males per 100 females | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 55.79 males per 100 females | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 56.35 males per 100 females | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 55.9 males per 100 females | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 56.19 males per 100 females | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 55.75 males per 100 females | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 56.07 males per 100 females | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 56.21 males per 100 females | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 56.22 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 55.7 males per 100 females | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 55.44 males per 100 females | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 54.69 males per 100 females | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 53.58 males per 100 females | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 51.9 males per 100 females | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 50.72 males per 100 females | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 49.38 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 47.17 males per 100 females | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 45.36 males per 100 females | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 45.95 males per 100 females | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 48 males per 100 females | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 48.03 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 47.81 males per 100 females | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 47.22 males per 100 females | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 46.69 males per 100 females | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 46.24 males per 100 females | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 45.41 males per 100 females | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 44.52 males per 100 females | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 43.37 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 41.81 males per 100 females | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 40.2 males per 100 females | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 38.75 males per 100 females | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 37.36 males per 100 females | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 36.06 males per 100 females | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 34.95 males per 100 females | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 33.91 males per 100 females | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 32.91 males per 100 females | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 32.41 males per 100 females | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 31.83 males per 100 females | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 31.04 males per 100 females | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 30.12 males per 100 females | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 29.82 males per 100 females | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 29.96 males per 100 females | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 27.91 males per 100 females | -6.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 27.91 males per 100 females is below the median for low income countries, which is 28.24 males per 100 females, 99% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 27.91 males per 100 females is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.72 males per 100 females, 91% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sex ratio by age in Malawi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +100.0% | 25 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 3 |
| 1960s | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.93 males per 100 females | 25 males per 100 females | 66.67 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.07 males per 100 females | 54.41 males per 100 females | 57.78 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.99 males per 100 females | 45.36 males per 100 females | 55.7 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.91 males per 100 females | 41.81 males per 100 females | 48.03 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.94 males per 100 females | 31.04 males per 100 females | 40.2 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.45 males per 100 females | 27.91 males per 100 females | 30.12 males per 100 females | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
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 by age in Malawi?
- Sex ratio by age in Malawi was 27.91 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 by age recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 66.67 males per 100 females in 1976.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 males per 100 females in 1957.
- How does Malawi rank for sex ratio by age?
- Malawi ranks 75th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.