Reported cases of measles in Malawi
Malawi: Reported cases of measles was 958 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Reported cases of measles in Malawi, 1976–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 958 for reported cases of measles in 2024.
The figure is up 453.8% on the previous year and up 31,833.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported cases of measles in Malawi peaked at 246,511 in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2015.
That places Malawi 41st out of 210 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reported cases of measles in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 200,000 | — |
| 1977 | 201,000 | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 246,511 | +22.6% |
| 1979 | 195,644 | -20.6% |
| 1980 | 162,686 | -16.8% |
| 1981 | 84,610 | -48.0% |
| 1982 | 104,921 | +24.0% |
| 1983 | 150,248 | +43.2% |
| 1984 | 80,766 | -46.2% |
| 1985 | 126,581 | +56.7% |
| 1986 | 105,682 | -16.5% |
| 1987 | 114,061 | +7.9% |
| 1988 | 81,100 | -28.9% |
| 1989 | 93,100 | +14.8% |
| 1991 | 5,730 | -93.8% |
| 1992 | 32,177 | +461.6% |
| 1993 | 3,614 | -88.8% |
| 1994 | 2,164 | -40.1% |
| 1995 | 4,218 | +94.9% |
| 1996 | 9,120 | +116.2% |
| 1997 | 10,845 | +18.9% |
| 1998 | 3,591 | -66.9% |
| 1999 | 152 | -95.8% |
| 2000 | 304 | +100.0% |
| 2001 | 150 | -50.7% |
| 2002 | 92 | -38.7% |
| 2003 | 167 | +81.5% |
| 2004 | 1,116 | +568.3% |
| 2005 | 184 | -83.5% |
| 2006 | 1 | -99.5% |
| 2007 | 143 | +14200.0% |
| 2008 | 20 | -86.0% |
| 2009 | 21 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 118,712 | +565195.2% |
| 2011 | 26 | -100.0% |
| 2012 | 11 | -57.7% |
| 2013 | 1 | -90.9% |
| 2014 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 2015 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2016 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 4 | — |
| 2018 | 1 | -75.0% |
| 2019 | 17 | +1600.0% |
| 2020 | 76 | +347.1% |
| 2021 | 5 | -93.4% |
| 2022 | 29 | +480.0% |
| 2023 | 173 | +496.6% |
| 2024 | 958 | +453.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 958 is below the median for low income countries, which is 1,237, 77% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 958 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 551, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reported cases of measles 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +565195.2% | 21 | 118,712 |
| 2007 | +14200.0% | 1 | 143 |
| 2019 | +1600.0% | 1 | 17 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 210,789 | 195,644 | 246,511 | 4 |
| 1980s | 110,376 | 80,766 | 162,686 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,957 | 152 | 32,177 | 9 |
| 2000s | 219.8 | 1 | 1,116 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,878 | 0 | 118,712 | 10 |
| 2020s | 248.2 | 5 | 958 | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0718 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reported cases of measles in Malawi?
- Reported cases of measles in Malawi was 958 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reported cases of measles recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 246,511 in 1978.
- What is the lowest reported cases of measles recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2015.
- How does Malawi rank for reported cases of measles?
- Malawi ranks 41st out of 210 countries with data for 2024.
- Is reported cases of measles rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31,833.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Reported cases of measles. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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