Malawi Income Share Bottom 10%
Income share held by lowest 10% SI.DST.FRST.10
Malawi's income share bottom 10% was 2.90% in 2019, ranked 40th globally. This represents a 11.5% increase from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1997–2019.
Overview
Malawi's income share bottom 10% stood at 2.90% in 2019, a rise of +0.30pp from 2016. Malawi ranked 40th globally.
Malawi’s share of total national income accruing to the bottom 10 percent of the population rose from 1.60 % in 1997 to a peak of 2.90 % in 2019, the highest value recorded in the series and the same level attained by Luxembourg, Sweden and South Korea in that year. The upward movement, measured over a five‑year coverage window, reflects modest progress in redistributive outcomes compared with many low‑income peers, yet the share remains well below the regional average for sub‑Saharan Africa, which typically exceeds 4 % for the poorest decile. The increase coincides with periods of expanded social protection programmes and incremental improvements in primary education enrolment, although fiscal constraints and limited private‑sector growth have constrained deeper gains. If Malawi can sustain higher public investment in health and education while enhancing agricultural productivity, the bottom‑decile income share is likely to continue its gradual rise, albeit at a measured pace.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Bottom 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2.90% | +0.30pp | #40 |
| 2016 | 2.60% | +0.40pp | #46 |
| 2010 | 2.20% | −0.70pp | #59 |
| 2004 | 2.90% | +1.30pp | #37 |
| 1997 | 1.60% | – | #26 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw income share bottom 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's income share bottom 10% was 2.90% in 2019. Ranked 40th globally. This represents a 11.5% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's income share bottom 10% peaked at 2.90% in 2004.
The lowest income share bottom 10% in Malawi was 1.60% in 1997.
Malawi ranks 40th globally in income share bottom 10% as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.FRST.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
The income share bottom 10% of Malawi in 2019 was 2.90%. This ranks 40th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_income-bottom-10,
title = {Malawi Income Share Bottom 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/income-bottom-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}