Cholera case-fatality rate in Malawi
Malawi: Cholera case-fatality rate was 2.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cholera case-fatality rate in Malawi, 1973–2024
Source: World Health Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, cholera case-fatality rate in Malawi stood at 2.5%.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 59.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cholera case-fatality rate in Malawi peaked at 11.5% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1976.
Malawi ranks 22nd of 118 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cholera case-fatality rate in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 5.4% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 9.1% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1983 | 10.1% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1989 | 0.2% | — |
| 1990 | 3.6% | +1765.6% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | -15.3% |
| 1992 | 2.7% | -11.4% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | -22.5% |
| 1994 | 10.3% | +394.3% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1997 | 11.5% | — |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -63.2% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | -42.4% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | -4.2% |
| 2001 | 1.8% | -25.1% |
| 2002 | 2.8% | +59.3% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | -55.5% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -52.3% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | +68.0% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | +33.2% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -20.6% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +197.2% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | -30.5% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | -32.3% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | +126.5% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | -67.9% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | +48.4% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | +61.7% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | -43.4% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | +128.8% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 0.0% | — |
| 2021 | 0.0% | — |
| 2022 | 3.3% | — |
| 2023 | 2.5% | -23.7% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | +0.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 2.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.0%, 2.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 2.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.2%, 2.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cholera case-fatality rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +1765.6% | 0.2% | 3.6% |
| 1994 | +394.3% | 2.1% | 10.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.6% | 0.0% | 9.1% | 4 |
| 1980s | 2.6% | 0.0% | 10.1% | 4 |
| 1990s | 4.0% | 0.0% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 0.6% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cholera case-fatality rate in Malawi?
- Cholera case-fatality rate in Malawi was 2.5% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cholera case-fatality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 11.5% in 1997.
- What is the lowest cholera case-fatality rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1976.
- How does Malawi rank for cholera case-fatality rate?
- Malawi ranks 22nd out of 118 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cholera case-fatality rate rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cholera case-fatality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of reported cholera cases that result in death. Testing and reporting is limited in many countries.