Hospital beds per 1,000 people in Malawi
Malawi: Hospital beds per 1,000 people was 1.3 per 1,000 people in 2011. ▬ Flat
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in Malawi, 1960–2011
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2011, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Malawi stood at 1.3 per 1,000 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Malawi peaked at 1.55 per 1,000 people in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.8419 per 1,000 people, in 1989.
Malawi ranks 124th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in Malawi, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.12 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1970 | 1.54 per 1,000 people | +37.5% |
| 1989 | 0.8419 per 1,000 people | -45.3% |
| 1990 | 1.55 per 1,000 people | +84.2% |
| 1998 | 1.34 per 1,000 people | -13.6% |
| 2007 | 1.1 per 1,000 people | -17.9% |
| 2011 | 1.3 per 1,000 people | +18.2% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 1.3 per 1,000 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.69 per 1,000 people, 1.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 1.3 per 1,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.75 per 1,000 people, 1.7× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.12 per 1,000 people | 1.12 per 1,000 people | 1.12 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 1.54 per 1,000 people | 1.54 per 1,000 people | 1.54 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.8419 per 1,000 people | 0.8419 per 1,000 people | 0.8419 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.45 per 1,000 people | 1.34 per 1,000 people | 1.55 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.1 per 1,000 people | 1.1 per 1,000 people | 1.1 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.3 per 1,000 people | 1.3 per 1,000 people | 1.3 per 1,000 people | 1 |
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 hospital beds per 1,000 people in Malawi?
- Hospital beds per 1,000 people in Malawi was 1.3 per 1,000 people in 2011, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1.55 per 1,000 people in 1990.
- What is the lowest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8419 per 1,000 people in 1989.
- How does Malawi rank for hospital beds per 1,000 people?
- Malawi ranks 124th out of 179 countries with data for 2011.
- Is hospital beds per 1,000 people rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Hospital beds per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases beds for both acute and chronic care are included.