Malawi Income Share Top 10%
Income share held by highest 10% SI.DST.10TH.10
Malawi's income share top 10% was 31.00% in 2019, ranked 63rd globally. This represents a 18.6% decrease from 2018. Data from World Bank, covering 1997–2019.
Overview
Malawi's income share top 10% stood at 31.00% in 2019, a decline of +7.10pp from 2016. Malawi ranked 63rd globally.
Malawi’s share of total national income accruing to the top 10 percent of earners fell dramatically from its all‑time peak of 61.50 percent in 1997 to a trough of 31.00 percent in 2019, placing the country 63rd in the world in the latest year. This halving of the top‑decile share over a little more than two decades reflects a broadening of income distribution, albeit still leaving a sizable concentration of earnings among the richest households. The 2019 figure is virtually identical to that of Sri Lanka (30.80 percent) and Bolivia (30.80 percent), and only marginally below Peru (31.10 percent) and Argentina (31.30 percent), suggesting that Malawi now sits alongside middle‑income economies in terms of elite income share. The downward trajectory has been consistent across the five‑year coverage window, indicating that the reduction is not a short‑term fluctuation. Continued improvements in tax progressivity, social protection and inclusive growth could further compress the top‑10 percent share, extending the current trend toward a more equitable income distribution.
Data & projection
| Year | Income Share Top 10% | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31.00% | −7.10pp | #63 |
| 2016 | 38.10% | +1.20pp | #80 |
| 2010 | 36.90% | +4.10pp | #75 |
| 2004 | 32.80% | −28.70pp | #56 |
| 1997 | 61.50% | – | #36 |
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 top 10% improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's income share top 10% was 31.00% in 2019. Ranked 63rd globally. This represents a 18.6% decrease from the previous year.
Malawi's income share top 10% peaked at 61.50% in 1997.
The lowest income share top 10% in Malawi was 31.00% in 2019.
Malawi ranks 63rd globally in income share top 10% as of 2019.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.DST.10TH.10. Data sourced from World Bank.
The income share top 10% of Malawi in 2019 was 31.00%. This ranks 63rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_income-top-10,
title = {Malawi Income Share Top 10%},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/income-top-10/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}