Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in Malawi
Malawi: Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union was 53.2% in 2050. ▼ Falling
Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in Malawi, 2021–2050
Source: United Nations (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 53.2% for share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in 2050. That is the lowest value across all 30 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in Malawi peaked at 61.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 53.2%, in 2050.
Malawi ranks 142nd of 224 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 30 years of available data.
Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61.5% | — |
| 2022 | 61.0% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 60.5% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 60.0% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 59.6% | -0.7% |
| 2026 | 59.2% | -0.7% |
| 2027 | 58.9% | -0.5% |
| 2028 | 58.6% | -0.5% |
| 2029 | 58.3% | -0.5% |
| 2030 | 58.0% | -0.5% |
| 2031 | 57.8% | -0.3% |
| 2032 | 57.6% | -0.3% |
| 2033 | 57.3% | -0.5% |
| 2034 | 57.1% | -0.3% |
| 2035 | 56.8% | -0.5% |
| 2036 | 56.6% | -0.4% |
| 2037 | 56.3% | -0.5% |
| 2038 | 56.0% | -0.5% |
| 2039 | 55.7% | -0.5% |
| 2040 | 55.5% | -0.4% |
| 2041 | 55.2% | -0.5% |
| 2042 | 54.9% | -0.5% |
| 2043 | 54.6% | -0.5% |
| 2044 | 54.4% | -0.4% |
| 2045 | 54.2% | -0.4% |
| 2046 | 53.9% | -0.6% |
| 2047 | 53.7% | -0.4% |
| 2048 | 53.5% | -0.4% |
| 2049 | 53.4% | -0.2% |
| 2050 | 53.2% | -0.4% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 53.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 55.0%, 97% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 53.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 53.6%, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 59.7% | 58.3% | 61.5% | 9 |
| 2030s | 56.9% | 55.7% | 58.0% | 10 |
| 2040s | 54.3% | 53.4% | 55.5% | 10 |
| 2050s | 53.2% | 53.2% | 53.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 141 Sierra Leone 53.3% compare
- 142 American Samoa 53.2% compare
- 142 Anguilla 53.2% compare
- 142 Argentina 53.2% 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 share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in Malawi?
- Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union in Malawi was 53.2% in 2050, according to United Nations (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.2% in 2050.
- How does Malawi rank for share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union?
- Malawi ranks 142nd out of 224 countries with data for 2050.
- Is share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of women aged 15–49 who are married, or who live with a partner without being married.