Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 38.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malawi, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malawi stood at 38.6%.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malawi peaked at 41.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 36.6%, in 2011.
That places Malawi 43rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 41.9% | — |
| 2001 | 41.5% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 41.1% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 40.7% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 40.2% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 39.7% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 39.1% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 38.4% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 37.8% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 37.3% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 36.8% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 36.6% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 36.6% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 36.7% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 36.8% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 36.9% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 37.1% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 37.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 37.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 37.3% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 37.4% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 37.6% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 38.0% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 38.6% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.8% | 37.3% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.9% | 36.6% | 37.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.9% | 37.4% | 38.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 40 Tajikistan 39.6% compare
- 41 Madagascar 39.3% compare
- 42 Pakistan 39.1% compare
- 43 Bangladesh 38.6% compare
- 45 Sudan 38.0% compare
- 46 Djibouti 37.2% compare
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 prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malawi?
- Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Malawi was 38.6% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among pregnant women recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 41.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among pregnant women recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.6% in 2011.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of anemia among pregnant women?
- Malawi ranks 43rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among pregnant women rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia, pregnant women, is the percentage of pregnant women whose hemoglobin level is less than 110 grams per liter at sea level.