Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Malawi

Malawi: Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ was 2.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
2.7%
Change on year
down 7.8%
World rank
194th
of 194 countries
All-time high
15.7%
in 2000
All-time low
2.7%
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Malawi, 2000–2022

510152000201120222000: 15.72001: 14.72002: 13.72003: 12.72004: 11.82005: 112006: 10.22007: 9.42008: 8.72009: 82010: 7.42011: 6.82012: 6.22013: 5.72014: 5.32015: 4.82016: 4.42017: 4.12018: 3.72019: 3.42020: 3.22021: 2.92022: 2.7

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Malawi stood at 2.7%. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.8% on the previous year and down 56.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Malawi peaked at 15.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 2022.

That places Malawi 194th out of 194 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ years (age-standardized estimate) (%) in Malawi, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 15.7%
2001 14.7% -6.6%
2002 13.7% -6.7%
2003 12.7% -6.9%
2004 11.8% -7.0%
2005 11.0% -7.2%
2006 10.2% -7.3%
2007 9.4% -7.5%
2008 8.7% -7.6%
2009 8.0% -7.8%
2010 7.4% -7.9%
2011 6.8% -8.0%
2012 6.2% -8.1%
2013 5.7% -8.2%
2014 5.3% -8.2%
2015 4.8% -8.2%
2016 4.4% -8.2%
2017 4.1% -8.1%
2018 3.7% -8.1%
2019 3.4% -8.0%
2020 3.2% -7.9%
2021 2.9% -7.9%
2022 2.7% -7.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.6% 8.0% 15.7% 10
2010s 5.2% 3.4% 7.4% 10
2020s 2.9% 2.7% 3.2% 3

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 191 Niue 7.4% compare
  2. 192 Uganda 5.5% compare
  3. 193 Tanzania, United Republic of 4.3% compare

See the full ranking of 207 places →

More health data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Malawi?
Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Malawi was 2.7% in 2022, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 15.7% in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 2022.
How does Malawi rank for prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+?
Malawi ranks 194th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is down 56.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ years (age-standardized estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-insufficient-physical-activity-among-adults-aged-18-years-age-standardized/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ years (age-standardized estimate) (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
207 places, 4,761 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed