Share of women in parliament in Malawi
Malawi: Share of women in parliament was 21.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of women in parliament in Malawi, 1997–2025
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) monthly ranking of women in national parliaments, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of women in parliament in Malawi is 21.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women in parliament in Malawi peaked at 22.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 1997.
That places Malawi 119th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Share of women in parliament in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 5.6% | — |
| 1998 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 8.3% | +46.7% |
| 2000 | 9.3% | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 9.3% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 9.3% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 9.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 14.0% | +50.0% |
| 2005 | 13.6% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 13.6% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 13.0% | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 20.8% | +60.8% |
| 2010 | 20.8% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 22.3% | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 22.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 22.3% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 16.7% | -25.2% |
| 2015 | 16.7% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 16.7% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 16.7% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 16.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 22.9% | +37.5% |
| 2020 | 22.9% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 22.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 22.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 20.7% | -9.6% |
| 2024 | 20.7% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 21.4% | +3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.5% | 5.6% | 8.3% | 3 |
| 2000s | 12.5% | 9.3% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.4% | 16.7% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.9% | 20.7% | 22.9% | 6 |
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)
- 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)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 310,624 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 312,186 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women in parliament in Malawi?
- Share of women in parliament in Malawi was 21.4% in 2025, according to Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) monthly ranking of women in national parliaments, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women in parliament recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 22.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of women in parliament recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 1997.
- How does Malawi rank for share of women in parliament?
- Malawi ranks 119th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of women in parliament rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) monthly ranking of women in national parliaments, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women in parliament. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of seats in lower or single chamber of the legislature held by women.