Under-five deaths in Malawi
Malawi: Under-five deaths was 32,177 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Under-five deaths in Malawi, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for under-five deaths in Malawi is 32,177, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, under-five deaths in Malawi peaked at 121,200 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 31,391, in 2020.
That places Malawi 34th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Under-five deaths in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 83,418 | — |
| 2001 | 121,200 | +45.3% |
| 2002 | 70,801 | -41.6% |
| 2003 | 65,841 | -7.0% |
| 2004 | 61,618 | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 58,540 | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 56,480 | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 54,603 | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 52,315 | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 49,850 | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 47,352 | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 44,062 | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 40,615 | -7.8% |
| 2013 | 37,789 | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 36,185 | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 34,514 | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 33,483 | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 32,351 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 31,555 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 31,489 | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 31,391 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 31,530 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 32,038 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 32,221 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 32,177 | -0.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 32,177 is below the median for low income countries, which is 52,477, 61% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 32,177 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31,720, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Under-five deaths 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +45.3% | 83,418 | 121,200 |
| 2002 | -41.6% | 121,200 | 70,801 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 67,467 | 49,850 | 121,200 | 10 |
| 2010s | 36,940 | 31,489 | 47,352 | 10 |
| 2020s | 31,871 | 31,391 | 32,221 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More development goals data for Malawi
- Red List Index 0.8845 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 2.52 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 70.35 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 31 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 31 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 31 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 16 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 16 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 17 (2025)
- Infant deaths 25,217 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is under-five deaths in Malawi?
- Under-five deaths in Malawi was 32,177 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest under-five deaths recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 121,200 in 2001.
- What is the lowest under-five deaths recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 31,391 in 2020.
- How does Malawi rank for under-five deaths?
- Malawi ranks 34th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is under-five deaths rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Under-five deaths (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).